Compiled by Mr Syamsul, Bukit View Secondary School

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

5. Malformed Idioms

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).

66. Local expressions

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!