Lesson 3: Difference between \"Between and Among\"


Basic rule:
Use Between with two things, distance, intervals, before each, and after difference.
Use Among with three or more things.

Example:
John is standing between Peter and Jane.
The distance between the two bus stops is 500m.
We will be at the school between 1 and 2 pm.
Insert a new line between each paragraph.
What's the difference between normal and express stream?
The rich man divided his money equally between his two children.
The rich man divided his money equally among his three children.

Exception:
You can use the word Between when you are referring to distinct, individual items even if there are more then two of them. On the other hand, use Among if you are referring to things collectively.

Example:
My son chose between RI, NUS High and River Valley High.
My son chose among the top secondary school.

Lastly, it is incorrect to say:
“There were between 10 to 15 people at the meeting.”

It should be:
“There were between 10 and 15 people at the meeting.”

P5G:

Ms English Lessons,


I will be learning Percentage in Term 3.

I need your help to interprete the following Mathematics question:

Abel, Bob, Conan, Dave and Elijah divided a certain number of marbles amongst themselves in the following way: Abel took 1 marble and 20% of the remaining marbles, then Bob took 1 marble and 20% of the remaining marbles. Conan, Dave and Elijah did the same. At least how many marbles were there in tbe beginning?


Please advise which interpretation is correct.


http://www.onsponge.com/forum/35-thinkingmathonsponge/3458-p5-maths-percentage.html


http://psle2010a.blogspot.com/2010/06/challenging.html#comments

TIA.

Hi,

The conjunctive adverb \"then\" in the sentence \"..., then Bob ...\" shows the sequence between the two clauses, ie after Abel has taken his share of marbles, Bob then took his. Therefore I would agree with the latter's interpretation, although I could not determine on the correctness of the answer given.

Hope this helps.

EL

Lesson 2: Transitive and Intransitive Verbs


1) Transitive verb is one that requires an object, eg Lay, Set

2) Intransitive verb is one that does not require an object, eg Lie, Sit

The confusion is that Lay is also the past tense of Lie.

Present Tense: Lay
Past Tense: Laid
Present Particle: Laying
Past Particle: Laid

Present Tense: Lie
Past Tense: Lay
Present Particle: Lying
Past Particle: Lian

Example:
Transitive -
Lay down the pen. (Pres)
Last week, I laid the book on your desk. (Past)
She is laying the book on the table. (Pres Par)
I have laid the book on your desk. (Past Par)

Intransitive -
I want to lie down on the bed. (Pres)
Yesterday, he lay down on the bed. (Past)
She is lying on the floor. (Pres Par)
I have lain on the bed. (Past Par)

This is quite a common exam question. There is no easy way but to remember and practice using the various forms.

I like to start a series of short common lessons in English. Hope to share and learn with fellow parents in this forum.


Lesson 1 - Forms of pronoun

a) Nominative - I, we, he, she, they and who. Use of pronoun as subject.

b) Objective - Me, us, him, her, them and whom. Use of pronoun as object.

Common mistakes:
- The two persons were her and me.
- Him and me are good friends.
- It is them, surely.
- Who did you see?
- Who told you about it? It was me.
- Who cares? It is us.

Correct usage:
- The two persons were she and I.
- He and I are good friends.
- It is they, surely. (they is the subject)
- Whom did you see? (Whom is the object and you is the subject.
- Who told you about it? It was I. (I is the subject)
- Who cares? It is we. (we is the subject)

Grammar rule - When pronouns follow non-action verbs like is, are, was, were etc, use the subject pronouns such as I, she, he, they, and we.