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Original poster

Son's homework even i am struggling with this

64 replies

Preciosaundostres · 08/12/2019 00:02

My son has homework from his english class .. the question is .
I feel that clara's mibd will change before the december time comes ahead !
Sorry if i sound "thick" but does this mean before december starts or before december ends. Before and ahead in the thesaurus mean the same thing totally confused.com any help would be greatly appreciated thank you

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GlamGiraffe · 08/12/2019 01:23

SERIOUSLY😯😯

This is nglish homework set by a gcse level teacher. It's not the teacher you need to be complaining to, it's the departmental head. This person cannot be qualified to teach english, they cannot construct a reasonable sentence in the language.

Pieceofpurplesky · 08/12/2019 01:23

I also think it should be 'to a head'

Original poster
Preciosaundostres · 08/12/2019 01:23

Yeah i really think the teacher has made a huge error with this one definately needs to be re written absoultely no logic in it whatsoever !! "Before the december time comes ahead" massive strokie beard moment here

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QueenOfOversharing · 08/12/2019 01:33

I would read it as "before December appears"

Wellmet · 08/12/2019 01:48

Is it from a poem? Could you upload a photo of the sheet?

TheGoldenNotebook · 08/12/2019 09:02

Honestly I don't think it's that tricky. "December time" isn't "bad English". If asked a question like "when is their baby due?", the answer could legitimately be, "I not sure, around December time."

The construction of the sentence reminds me of poetry and I'm assuming the question has been designed to have your child think about unusual sentence constructions. If your child (and you) are struggling with this have your child speak to his teacher but don't write a note or query as suggested by pp. That's OK in primary but not in 4th year.

FlaviaAlbia · 08/12/2019 09:09

*December time" by itself isn't but "the December time" is odd.

user1493494961 · 08/12/2019 09:39

I think it means before the end of December, as pp said before it comes to a head. It sounds like a quote from an old book or poem.

GlamGiraffe · 08/12/2019 10:41

@TheGoldenNotebook
I was assuming it was an 8 year old when I commented about writing on the childs homework.

"the" december time and "ahead are the confusing issues here to me. You dont have the december and, ahead doesnt make sense.

HeronLanyon · 08/12/2019 10:44

I Confess to having a liking for ‘the December time’ reminds me of eg archaic folk song lyric or similar.

Original poster
Preciosaundostres · 08/12/2019 13:01

No its not from a poem either just that sentence only Confused

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Onesnowballshort · 08/12/2019 13:06

I suspect homework written after the staff night out? Though you haven't passed on the info very well to be honest, would be easier if you screenshotted the task sheet or typed out exactly what was asked.

Original poster
Preciosaundostres · 08/12/2019 13:49

That is the sentence no sheets or paper work . Is it before december starts or before december ends
"Clara will change her mind beore the december time comes ahead "
I think i will go with before december comes to a head its the only sane way for it to make sense Gin mwahahahha

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Original poster
Preciosaundostres · 08/12/2019 13:53

Its a very old fashioned way to say something i think thats the jist of it really to get you thinking of different dialects of language even tho we are all totally baffled. Thanks HeronLanyon thats a good point to add in to the answer Smile

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HeronLanyon · 08/12/2019 14:00

Think the only way I could begin to understand it the other way. The December time comes ahead on or before final day of November. By the time December starts ‘the December time’ is no longer ‘ahead’ - you’re in it !
???

1066vegan · 08/12/2019 14:03

I'm a primary school teacher (used to be the English lead), studied English at A Level and am reasonably well-read. I think that sentence is gibberish. If one of my pupils had written it, I'd be asking them to edit it so that it made sense.

PigletJohn · 08/12/2019 14:04

maybe spool chucker has jumbled the worms?

Original poster
Preciosaundostres · 08/12/2019 14:13

Yeah that was my first thought then the ahead threw me a bit as you know before and ahead in thesaurus mean the same thing absolutely insane this is a question for the black chair moment very confusing to say the least !!! We shall get a lightbulb moment on this yet

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merryhouse · 08/12/2019 14:27

But what's the actual question?

TheGoldenNotebook · 08/12/2019 14:42

But "ahead" in general means "in front", "before", "first".

I read the sentence as "I think Clara will change her mind before December"

TheGoldenNotebook · 08/12/2019 14:42

Not end of December... But before December.

HeronLanyon · 08/12/2019 14:45

I wish Clare would just say she doesn’t want it (whatever it is) so we don’t need any December changed mind malarkey !

Apolloanddaphne · 08/12/2019 14:53

That is a bonkers question but my guess would be before December starts.

Spied · 08/12/2019 15:01

Before December comes to an end.
Changes her mind before December ends.

Original poster
Preciosaundostres · 08/12/2019 15:06

Tell me about it guys i wish clara would make her mind up & bugger off its a strange one we are still no further forward. The majority of people are saying before december begins which was my initial thought. Im onto the school first thing im sure other parents will be going stir crazy with this one. Thanks so much for all the input netters so much appreciated

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