Homework Help: Middle school Engllish

Posted by Jin on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 7:53pm.

My son recently had an English test where he was marked incorrectly, but I think he was correct. I just need some verification. The question:
"The whole neighborhood watched him climb in his old pickup and ______ down our street at full speed."
The word to use was the form of "careen" His answer was "careen" but his teacher corrected him and said it should be in the past tense "careened." Who is correct? Thanks for your help

Middle school Engllish - Ms. Sue, Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 7:54pm
I vote for "careen" because it's parallel with "climb." The whole neighborhood is not the subject.
Middle school Engllish - Writeacher, Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 7:55pm
The present tense "careen" is correct; otherwise the sentence would be saying that the "neighborhood watched ... and careened ... " which clearly doesn't make sense.

The word "careen" needs to be parallel to "climb" (present) not "watched" (past).
Middle school Engllish - bobpursley, Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 7:55pm
careen is correct. The neighborhood was watching what was happening in the present.
Middle school Engllish - Anonymous, Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 8:19pm
Thank you for your help! I asked my son to go back to school and let his teacher know that my husband and I agreed with him. He told me his teacher would not listen. Hopefully she will listen to your responses and believe him.
Middle school Engllish - Ms. Sue, Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 8:26pm
You're very welcome.

I suggest that your son politely explain our rationale in supporting "careen." Also note, that the three of us are all retired teachers -- middle school, high school, and college.

Answer this Question

Related Questions

math help - I need help solving this math problem, please: Problem: Angela's...
Math - I need help solving this math problem, please: Problem: Angela's math...
English expression - I am a first grader at New York Middle School. I am a first...
english - i teach English at a high school and my students recently read of mice...
maths - A farmer had a plot in the shape of a parallelogram. He divided into ...
3 grade english ms sue - PREFIXES prepaid,midnight,overflow,outdoors,outline,...
1 Credit for HS - How to earn one credit for high school? Last year when the ...
law - Identify and analyze the different crimes for which students are most at ...
maths-parallelogram - A farmer had a plot in the shape of a parallelogram. He ...
maths-parallelogram - A farmer had a plot in the shape of a parallelogram. He ...

For Further Reading

First Name:
School Subject:
Answer: