Lessons1 in Grammar from EL Paper 1 (Prelims 2010)
- 1. Language Accuracy Lessons from EL Paper 1 Prelims (2010) Compiled by Mr Syamsul
- 3. Idioms
- 4. We were miffed when he let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party! An idiom’s meaning cannot be deduced from its individual words
- 6. Aria turned to deaf ears when they tried to advise her.
- 7. Aria turned a deaf ear to all the advice that was given.
- 8. We are taught not to look for a gift horse in the mouth.
- 9. We are taught not to look in the mouth for a gift horse.
- 10. Wrong understanding of idiom
- 11. Aisyah saw a degree as a stepping stone to a bright future
- 12. When Aisyah received criticism, she took it as a stepping stone
- 13. Literal use of idiom
- 14. He saw the light when...
- 15. He saw the light when... ... his fingers found the correct switch.
- 16. He saw the light when... ... he made time to understand the notes.
- 17. So do not use an idiom unless you are ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN of how to use it
- 18. Missing articles
- 19. Articles are words like a/an, the
- 20. Situation at home got worse as our parents were constantly bickering.
- 21. The situation at home got worse as our parents were constantly bickering.
- 22. Wearing correct dress makes a difference.
- 23. Wearing the correct dress makes a difference.
- 24. Pronouns
- 25. Pronouns are words used in place of nouns e.g. he, she, they, myself, themselves
- 26. I just could not resist myself from munching cookies
- 27. I just could not resist myself from munching cookies I just could not resist munching the cookies
- 28. I went to the party by myself
- 29. I myself am unsure how to use the microwave oven.
- 30. “I” vs “Me”
- 31. The girl and me then became close friends. The girl and I then became close friends.
- 32. Those books were bought by my mother and I.
- 33. Those books were bought by my mother and I. Those books were bought by my mother and me.
- 34. My mother and me bought those books. My mother and I bought those books.
- 35. My mother and me bought those books. Those books were bought by my mother and I
- 36. My mother and I bought those books. Those books were bought by my mother and me.
- 37. “I” is used as the subject of a sentence; “me” is not!
- 38. Missing subject
- 39. How my brother acted in difficult situations has not only opened my eyes but also (??who?) to become a stronger person inside.
- 40. How my brother acted in difficult situations has not only opened my eyes but also enabled me to become a stronger person inside.
- 41. I tried to calm him but failed to do so and (??what??) led him pushing me aside.
- 42. I tried to calm him but failed to do so and this led him to pushing me aside.
- 43. Missing verbs
- 44. Every sentence must have a verb! e.g. I love ice-cream
- 45. Shouts and screams here and there. Shouts and screams could be heard here and there.
- 46. Inaccurate choice of verbs
- 47. We really wanted to graduate quickly in order to prevent the presence of that arrogant Oscar.
- 48. We really wanted to graduate quickly in order to avoid the presence of that arrogant Oscar.
- 49. They exhausted their reserves. They depleted their reserves.
- 50. I was exhausted after the race. I was depleted after the race.
- 51. Lie vs Lay confusion
- 52. He laid down and went to sleep right away. He lay down and went to sleep right away.
- 53. I have to lie down now. base I lay down earlier. past lain I haveparticiplesince noon.
- 54. lay I have to base the blanket on the floor. I laid it before I left. past laid I have participleit for some time now.
- 55. Hanged vs Hung confusion
- 56. That is where we must hang the paintings base I hung the paintings past there this morning. The walls were hung participle with our paintings.
- 57. The mob is planning to hang the murderer base The mob hanged the past murderer this morning. The murderer was hanged by the mob. participle
- 58. Punctuation in dialogue
- 59. "Don't you want to enjoy tonight?" , he asked. "Please take me home, " , I pleaded.
- 60. "Don't you want to enjoy tonight?" he asked. "Please take me home," I pleaded.
- 61. Contractions
- 62. I questioned him, knowing there wouldn’t be a good answer. Use contractions only in dialogue!
- 63. Acronyms
- 64. In secondary school, we are asked to do CIP. In secondary school, we are asked to do the Community Involvement Programme (CIP).
- 65. Hockey was my CCA. Hockey was my Co-Currricular Activity (CCA).
- 67. The void deck was filled with people.
- 68. The ang moh got kicked out of the bar. The mamak made some prata for me.
- 69. Punctuation
- 70. There is only one person who would appear in my mind, my grandmother. It was difficult at first, I got grumpy easily.
- 71. There is only one person who would appear in my mind, my grandmother. It was difficult at first, I got grumpy easily.
- 72. Commas are only used to separate items in a list.
- 73. Colon :
- 74. The colon is used to introduce a list or an explanation/ example.
- 75. There is only one person who would appear in my mind, my grandmother. There is only one person who would appear in my mind: my grandmother.
- 76. Semi-colon ;
- 77. A semi-colon is used to link two sentences that are closely related or continue the same thought.
- 78. There is only one person who would appear in my mind; my grandmother. Semicolon is wrongly used because “my grandmother” is not a sentence
- 79. It was difficult at first, I got grumpy easily. It was difficult at first; I got grumpy easily.
- 80. I really wanted some ice-cream, however, I settled for a drink. I really wanted some ice-cream; however, I settled for a drink.
- 81. Vagueness
- 82. We cannot control which family we are born to, what skin colour we will have etc etc
- 83. She wanted to get the baby some clothes, toys and so on.
- 84. Less or Few?
- 85. He has less friends than me
- 86. He has less friends than me He has fewer friends than me
- 87. Few is used for countable nouns Less is for uncountable nouns
- 89. lesser means not of great importance compared to others!
- 90. Alphabet vs Letter confusion
- 91. He likes to write the alphabets XYZ wherever he goes.
- 92. The English alphabet is made up of 26 letters
- 93. He likes to write the letters XYZ wherever he goes.
- 94. Best Wishes!