At WRITERS AT WORK, we understand the importance of a strong grasp of grammar for PSLE English success. Grammar forms the foundation of effective communication, and mastering key rules will significantly enhance your writing, comprehension, and editing skills. In this blog, we will explore some commonly tested grammar rules in the PSLE and provide practical tips to help you ace them.
Why Grammar Matters in PSLE English
Grammar is assessed in multiple components of the PSLE English paper, including:
- Editing: Correcting grammar mistakes in sentences.
- Grammar MCQs: Selecting the correct grammatical structure.
- Composition Writing: Ensuring accuracy and fluency in language use.
A strong command of grammar ensures clarity and precision in communication, which is essential for scoring well.
6 Commonly Tested Grammar Rules
1. Subject-Verb Agreement
The subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural). It’s crucial to correctly identify the main subject, even when additional words or phrases might be misleading. Here are some common pitfalls and examples to help you avoid mistakes:
- Singular Subjects: Use singular verbs.
- The boy runs to school every morning.
- Plural Subjects: Use plural verbs.
- The boys run to school every morning.
Common Mistakes:
- Incorrect: She like ice cream.
- Correct: She likes ice cream.
Further examples include:
a) Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns such as each, every, everyone, and everybody are always singular, even though they may refer to a group.
- Incorrect: Each of the girls are
- Correct: Each of the girls is
b) Phrases Set Off by Commas
When extra information is inserted between commas, it does not change the main subject of the sentence.
- Incorrect: Anna, together with her friends, are
- Correct: Anna, together with her friends, is
Although the phrase “together with her friends” is included for extra detail, the main subject is still “Anna,” which is singular. Some students mistakenly use “are” because they focus on “friends,” but the verb must agree with the principal subject.
C) Proximity Rule with ‘Neither/Nor’ and ‘Either/Or’:
When using compound subjects joined by phrases like “neither…nor” or ”either…or”, the verb should agree with the subject that is closest to it.
- Example:
- Neither the students nor the teacher is
Here, the noun closest to the verb is “teacher” (singular), so the correct form is “is.”
- Neither the students nor the teacher is
- Another Example:
- Either the teacher or the students are going to present.
In this sentence, “students” is the nearest noun and is plural, so “are” is used.
- Either the teacher or the students are going to present.
d) Long Subjects (Noun Phrases):
When the subject is a long noun phrase, especially one that begins with a gerund or includes multiple modifiers, it is important to identify the main subject correctly.
- Incorrect: Reading a collection of books are
- Correct: Reading a collection of books is
Here, the entire phrase “Reading a collection of books” functions as the subject and is singular. Some might mistakenly think the subject is “books” and use “are enjoyable,” but the activity of reading is what is being described, so the singular verb “is” must be used.
Tip: Always locate the main subject of the sentence before choosing the verb form. Be aware of signal words like “each” and phrases set off by commas that provide additional information but do not change the subject. Remember to apply the proximity rule with compound subjects to ensure proper agreement.
2. Tenses
Tenses indicate the time of an action, and using them correctly is essential for clear communication in your writing. In PSLE English, you’ll encounter various tenses that describe when something happens. Let’s look at the main tenses and include some examples for the Past Perfect and Present Perfect tenses.
a) Present Tense:
- Usage: Describes habitual actions, routines, or universal truths.
- Example:
- The sun rises in the east.
- I study English every day.
b) Past Tense:
- Usage: Describes actions that were completed in the past.
- Example:
- I visited the museum yesterday.
- She finished her homework last night.
c) Future Tense:
- Usage: Describes actions that will happen.
- Example:
- We will go to the park tomorrow.
- They will celebrate the festival next week.
d) Present Perfect Tense:
- Usage: Describes actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past or actions that started in the past and continue to have relevance in the present.
- Formation: has/have + past participle of the verb.
- Examples:
- I have finished my homework.
- She has visited the museum several times.
- They have lived in Singapore since 2010.
- We have learned a lot in our English lessons.
When using the present perfect, note that there is often no specific time mentioned because the focus is on the experience or result rather than when the action occurred.
e) Past Perfect Tense:
- Usage: Describes actions that were completed before another action in the past. This tense helps to show the sequence of events.
- Formation: had + past participle of the verb.
- Examples:
- I had finished my homework before I went out to play.
- She had left by the time I arrived at the party.
- They had already eaten when the guests arrived.
- We had studied the chapter thoroughly before the test started.
The past perfect tense is particularly useful when you want to make it clear which of two past actions occurred first.
3. Pronouns
Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number, gender, and person.
- Singular Pronouns:
- Each student must bring his or her book.
- Plural Pronouns:
- All the students must bring their books.
Common Mistakes:
- Incorrect: Everyone must bring their pencil.
- Correct: Everyone must bring his or her pencil.
Tip: Be cautious with indefinite pronouns like everyone, someone, or nobody, which are singular.
4. Prepositions
Prepositions show the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and another word in the sentence.
- Common Prepositions: in, on, at, by, with, to, for
- The book is on the table.
- She arrived at the station.
Common Mistakes:
- Incorrect: He is good in English.
- Correct: He is good at English.
Tip: Memorize common collocations (word pairs) to avoid prepositional errors.
5. Articles
Articles (a, an, the) are used to indicate specificity.
- Indefinite Articles: a, an (used with non-specific nouns)
- I saw a cat in the garden.
- Definite Article: the (used with specific nouns)
- The cat is sleeping under the tree.
Common Mistakes:
- Incorrect: She bought an apple and orange.
- Correct: She bought an apple and an orange.
Tip: Use a before words starting with a consonant sound and an before words starting with a vowel sound.
6. Conjunctions
Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses.
- Coordinating Conjunctions: and, but, or, so
- I wanted to play soccer, but it started raining.
- Subordinating Conjunctions: because, although, when, while
- I stayed home because it was raining.
Common Mistakes:
- Incorrect: She is tired so she go to bed early.
- Correct: She is tired, so she goes to bed early.
Tip: Ensure the conjunction fits the relationship between the clauses.
Common Grammar Errors to Avoid
1. Double Negatives:
- Incorrect: I don’t need no help.
- Correct: I don’t need any help.
2. Misplaced Modifiers:
- Incorrect: Running down the street, the book fell from his bag.
- Correct: Running down the street, he dropped the book from his bag.
3. Confusing Homophones:
- Incorrect: Their going to the park.
- Correct: They’re going to the park.
Tips for Mastering Grammar
- Practice Regularly: Complete worksheets and review PSLE grammar questions.
- Read Widely: Notice grammar structures in books and articles.
- Seek Feedback: Review your writing with teachers or peers to identify areas for improvement.
- Use Mnemonics: Create memory aids for tricky grammar rules.
- Join Us! WRITERS AT WORK is an education centre offering some of the best English enrichment courses for primary and secondary school students in Singapore.
Mastering these commonly tested grammar rules will give you a significant edge in the PSLE English paper. At WRITERS AT WORK, we are dedicated to helping students build a strong grammar foundation through targeted practice and expert guidance. Remember, consistency and practice are the keys to success. Let’s ace PSLE grammar together!
Attain Stellar Results with WRITERS AT WORK!
English is a compulsory subject which all students must undertake. However, mastering the English language is not something which happens overnight – it takes consistent practice and effort to learn the nuances of the language. Students must read more and practice writing to gradually improve. Cramming for a language subject nearer to the exams is an impossible feat. After all, Rome was not built in a day! Attaining such a skill will have positive implications for not only your child’s education in school, but also employment prospects in future.
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1. Which Tuition Centre is Good for English?
WRITERS AT WORK is an excellent option to help your child prepare for their English Language classes at school at any level. WRITERS AT WORK teaches students how to write compositions which are the basic building blocks for all communication, whether it be in school or outside in the workplace.
2. Why is it Important to Attend English Enrichment Classes?
Students will be able to develop important skills such as critical thinking which will serve them well in all areas of life. Students will learn how to incorporate critical thinking and analysis skills when they read comprehension passages and plan their ideas and arguments out for essays.
3. Is it Worth Getting an English Tutor?
If your child needs help in school, it could be worth considering getting an English tutor as English is a compulsory subject at school. English is used in all areas of life and learning how to read critically and write essays are highly important skills which should be learned early.
4. Why Do Students Have Poor Writing Skills?
Students often have poor writing skills as they do not have the knowledge of good exam habits to practise. For example, many students often do not plan their essays, which lead to a poor writing habit of rambling, going off on irrelevant tangents, and forgetting to list all good arguments.
