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RULES IN SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
1. The verb must agree with the subject.
a. Singular subjects require singular verbs.
What constitutes a singular subject?
i. A singular noun (Dennis, chair, bike, cat, wind, tree)
Ex. Dennis rides his bike everyday.
This chair needs repainting.
The cat plays with a tangled bundle of yarn.
ii. Personal pronouns, singular, third person-(he, she, it)
Note: Refrain from using pronouns as subjects unless there is a noun antecedent
previously mentioned in the same or another sentence,
Ex. Marian participates in many baking contests. She bakes heavenly tasting chocolate
chips cookies. Marian is the antecedent of “She” in the next sentence.
Richard is a drag car racer. He owns several cars that he uses for the race.
The wind increases in intensity as it moves towards the northern end of the
Philippines.
iii. Collective nouns taken as a unit (Ex. choir, team, herd, family, majority, minority)
Ex. The family prays the rosary every night.
This herd grazes in the north pasture.
The majority has rejected the Reproductive Health Bill
iv. Mass nouns (Ex. sand, water, air, gas, oil, rice, flour, blood)
Ex. The sand tickles my toes.
The cold water refreshes the old woman’s tired body.
Cassava flour makes the pastries flaky.
v. Indefinite pronouns considered as singular. (Ex. another, any, anybody, anyone, anything,
each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, no one, nobody, nothing, one,
,somebody, someone, something)
Ex. Mr. Abello hires three boys to help in the house. Each receives a salary of 3000PhP
per month.
Everybody helps to make this event a success.
Nobody knows the number combination of this safe except the general manager.
vi. Indefinite pronouns, (all, more, most, much , none, some ) when referring to mass nouns.
Ex, All of the water has flowed into the basin of the river.
Most of the oil from Saudi Arabia goes to United States.
Some of the spilled oil has reached as far as the beaches of Negros.
vii. Singular demonstrative pronouns (this, that)
Ex. This needs the signature of the manager.
Don’t buy that house. That requires extensive renovation.
viii. Fractions of a unit or mass nouns. The fractions must be written in words.
Ex. Three fourths of the earth’s surface is covered with water.
1
, 2
One half of the deceased’s estate was donated to several charities.
Two thirds of the salad was served to the guests.
ix. Measurements (volume, distance, length) time, quantities and sums of money considered
as a unit.
Ex. Ten liters of gasoline is the capacity of this tank.
Forty kilometers demands much endurance from a marathon runner.
Three yards is not enough for a long gown.
Two cups of milk is needed for this recipe.
Ten million in one’s possession makes a person worry about his safety.
x. Personal pronoun I ( only with the verb “to be “ in the past tense)
Ex. I was notified of the result of the exam.
I was considering transferring to the farm for my health.
xi. Percentage of a unit or mass noun (The percentage must be written in words)
Ex. Twenty one percent of our atmosphere consists of oxygen.
Thirty percent of our income goes to taxes.
Ten percent is the discount given for this item.
b. Plural subjects require plural verbs
What constitutes a plural subject?
i. All plural count nouns (Ex. children, buses, trees, dogs, marbles etc.)
Ex. The children watch an educational movie during their break.
Marbles are sold by packs of fifties.
Majestic trees line the road leading to an equally majestic mansion.
ii. The personal pronoun I in the present tense, and present perfect tense, except with the
verb “to be” in present progressive tense .
Ex. I work at a call center for a living.
I have received your message.
BUT: I am studying for my master’s degree.
Note; The personal pronoun I in the present tense of the verb “to be” uses the form “am”
I am the captain of my fate; I am the master of my soul.
iii. Personal pronoun You whether singular or plural.
Ex. You write with such a delicate stroke.
You are managing your business extremely well.
You have recovered from your ailment.
You are the hope of our land. (addressed to the youth – Plural in sense)
iv. All plural personal pronouns (we, they) in present, present progressive, past progressive
and present perfect tenses.)
Ex. We celebrate the coming of a new day.
They prefer to watch comedy rather than drama.( in contrast or in opposition
We are having a garage sale.
They are experiencing power outages these days.
We were enjoying ourselves at your party last night.
They were shooting the movie “Tiktik” in our place last month.
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RULES IN SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
1. The verb must agree with the subject.
a. Singular subjects require singular verbs.
What constitutes a singular subject?
i. A singular noun (Dennis, chair, bike, cat, wind, tree)
Ex. Dennis rides his bike everyday.
This chair needs repainting.
The cat plays with a tangled bundle of yarn.
ii. Personal pronouns, singular, third person-(he, she, it)
Note: Refrain from using pronouns as subjects unless there is a noun antecedent
previously mentioned in the same or another sentence,
Ex. Marian participates in many baking contests. She bakes heavenly tasting chocolate
chips cookies. Marian is the antecedent of “She” in the next sentence.
Richard is a drag car racer. He owns several cars that he uses for the race.
The wind increases in intensity as it moves towards the northern end of the
Philippines.
iii. Collective nouns taken as a unit (Ex. choir, team, herd, family, majority, minority)
Ex. The family prays the rosary every night.
This herd grazes in the north pasture.
The majority has rejected the Reproductive Health Bill
iv. Mass nouns (Ex. sand, water, air, gas, oil, rice, flour, blood)
Ex. The sand tickles my toes.
The cold water refreshes the old woman’s tired body.
Cassava flour makes the pastries flaky.
v. Indefinite pronouns considered as singular. (Ex. another, any, anybody, anyone, anything,
each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, no one, nobody, nothing, one,
,somebody, someone, something)
Ex. Mr. Abello hires three boys to help in the house. Each receives a salary of 3000PhP
per month.
Everybody helps to make this event a success.
Nobody knows the number combination of this safe except the general manager.
vi. Indefinite pronouns, (all, more, most, much , none, some ) when referring to mass nouns.
Ex, All of the water has flowed into the basin of the river.
Most of the oil from Saudi Arabia goes to United States.
Some of the spilled oil has reached as far as the beaches of Negros.
vii. Singular demonstrative pronouns (this, that)
Ex. This needs the signature of the manager.
Don’t buy that house. That requires extensive renovation.
viii. Fractions of a unit or mass nouns. The fractions must be written in words.
Ex. Three fourths of the earth’s surface is covered with water.
1
, 2
One half of the deceased’s estate was donated to several charities.
Two thirds of the salad was served to the guests.
ix. Measurements (volume, distance, length) time, quantities and sums of money considered
as a unit.
Ex. Ten liters of gasoline is the capacity of this tank.
Forty kilometers demands much endurance from a marathon runner.
Three yards is not enough for a long gown.
Two cups of milk is needed for this recipe.
Ten million in one’s possession makes a person worry about his safety.
x. Personal pronoun I ( only with the verb “to be “ in the past tense)
Ex. I was notified of the result of the exam.
I was considering transferring to the farm for my health.
xi. Percentage of a unit or mass noun (The percentage must be written in words)
Ex. Twenty one percent of our atmosphere consists of oxygen.
Thirty percent of our income goes to taxes.
Ten percent is the discount given for this item.
b. Plural subjects require plural verbs
What constitutes a plural subject?
i. All plural count nouns (Ex. children, buses, trees, dogs, marbles etc.)
Ex. The children watch an educational movie during their break.
Marbles are sold by packs of fifties.
Majestic trees line the road leading to an equally majestic mansion.
ii. The personal pronoun I in the present tense, and present perfect tense, except with the
verb “to be” in present progressive tense .
Ex. I work at a call center for a living.
I have received your message.
BUT: I am studying for my master’s degree.
Note; The personal pronoun I in the present tense of the verb “to be” uses the form “am”
I am the captain of my fate; I am the master of my soul.
iii. Personal pronoun You whether singular or plural.
Ex. You write with such a delicate stroke.
You are managing your business extremely well.
You have recovered from your ailment.
You are the hope of our land. (addressed to the youth – Plural in sense)
iv. All plural personal pronouns (we, they) in present, present progressive, past progressive
and present perfect tenses.)
Ex. We celebrate the coming of a new day.
They prefer to watch comedy rather than drama.( in contrast or in opposition
We are having a garage sale.
They are experiencing power outages these days.
We were enjoying ourselves at your party last night.
They were shooting the movie “Tiktik” in our place last month.
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