Module in English Skills

Prepared by:

ROMEA, GENEVA L.
SAFLOR, LORDES II A.
MA-ESL

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Module: English Skills
Lesson: Subject- Verb Agreement

Objectives of this Lesson:

In this lesson will help you:
a. Have a brief overview of the rules of subject- verb agreement;
b. Identify the rules in subject- verb agreement;
c. Distinguish the errors in sentence construction through the rules of subject- verb
agreement; and
d. Guide you in using each rule in sentence construction.

Introduction
What is Subject- Verb Agreement?
In English language we often see different symbols above your essay, lab- report and
other written projects, it means that you have made an error in subject-verb agreement. General
rule: singular subjects need singular verbs; plural subjects need plural subjects.

English Language learners often commit errors in the following:

1. In the tenses (simple present, present progressive; present perfect)
2. In terms of number (singular or plural)
3. The usage of third person singular (he/)she/it and singular indefinite pronouns)

Tommy are playing basketball. Tommy is playing basketball.

SVA
INCORRECT CORRECT

Discussion Proper: A Basic Overview of Subject- Verb Agreement (SVA)

RULES FOR SVA:
RULE 1- A singular subject requires a singular verb while plural subject requires a
plural verb.

Example: Trains arrive at noon. A train arrives at noon.

plural subject plural verb singular subject singular verb

There is an old saying, “Opposites attract.” The rule for singular and plural verbs is just the
opposite of the singular and plural noun. Keep in mind that this is when you match subjects and
verbs. You might think that arrives is a plural verb because it ends with –s but it is not.

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 RULE 2- The number of the subject (singular or plural) is not changed by words that
come between the subject and the verb.

Example: One of the envelopes is not here.

singular subject singular verb

Of the eggs is a prepositional phrase. The sentence focuses in the subject one and the verb is are
both singular. Imaginarily, to make it easier for you to analyze the sentence omit the
prepositional phrase to make the subject- verb agreement.

Practice Exercise #1
Direction: Circle the correct verb in each of the sentence below. Check your answers on the
following page.

1. Your friend (talk, talks) too much.

2. The man with the roses (look, looks) like your brother.
3. That red- haired lady in the fur hat (live, lives) across the street.
4. The boys (walk, walks) to school every day.
5. (Is, Are) the towels dry?
6. Joanna and Rei (is, are) best buddies.
7. The women in the pool (swim, swims) well.
8. The center on the basketball team (bounce, bounces) the ball too high.
9. The coach and the players (arrive, arrives) early at the venue.
10. Jeziah (watch, watches) Kdrama.

CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Directions: Write four sentences of your own illustrating the first two subject- verb agreement rues.
RULE 1 _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
RULE 2 _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

RULES FOR SVA:

RULE 3- Compound subjects take plural verb.
Example: Rose and Lynda are best friends.
compound subject compound verb

The subject of the sentence above is formed by two subjects, Rose and Lynda (two different
individuals) therefore, the verb are agrees with the number of subjects.

RULE 4- Compound subject referring to a single person takes a singular verb.

Example: My confidant and adviser is my mom.
compound subject singular verb
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 (singular in meaning)

In this sentence, the subject is a compound subject. For you to identify the right verb form, you
need to analyze the subject. It is compound subject but singular meaning because the confidant
and the adviser of the speaker refers to one person his/her mom. Therefore, the subject takes
singular verb is.

Practice Exercise #2
1. The President of the Philippines and the father of Baste Duterte (is, are) Rodrigo Duterte.
2. Every toy and game (has, have) to be put away.
3. Each plate and glass (look, looks) new.
4. Her sister and her parents (plan, plans) to visit her next week.
5. The potato chips and cupcakes (is, are) bad for you.
6. My bestfriend and my pet (is, are) named Pochie.
7. His bread and butter (is, are) teaching at the local college.
8. Our national hero and the author of Noli Me tangere (is, are) Dr. Jose Rizal.
9. The killer and the suspect (is, are) named Dodong.
10. The dog and the cat (bother, bothers) me.

CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Directions: Write four sentences of your own illustrating the first two subject- verb agreement rues.
RULE 3 _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
RULE 4 _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

RULES FOR SVA:

RULE 5- Subjects joined by either-or, neither- nor, the verb agrees with the subject nearer
the verb.

Example: Either Sonny or the girls are to blame.

plural subject plural verb

The sentence above was joined by either- or, therefore the verb are (plural) agrees with the
subject nearer the verb, the girls (plural).

Neither the girls nor Sonny is to blame.

singular subject singular verb

The sentence was joined by neither- nor, therefore the verb is (singular) agrees with the subject
nearer the verb, Sonny (singular).

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RULE 6- Sentences which begin with THERE & HERE, the verb depends on the noun that
follows.
Example: There are few participants.
plural verb plural subject
The sentence begin with there but the verb are should agree with the noun follows it few (more
than one) participants.

Other examples: Here is my present. Here are the keys.

singular verb singular subject plural verb plural subject

Practice Exercise #3
1. Either the teacher or the students (is, are) explaining.
2. Here (is, are) my cellphone.
3. Neither Kdrama nor Korean nobela (is, are) my favourite.
4. Neither James nor John (know, knows) who is coming to the party.
5. There you (is, are).
6. There (is, are) the delegates.
7. Either the dog or the kids (was, were) making a racket downstairs.
8. Neither Juan nor his cousins (want, wants) to attend the concert.
9. Here (is, are) my ID.
10. Here (is, are) my book in physics.

CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Directions: Write four sentences of your own illustrating the first two subject- verb agreement rues.
RULE 5 _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
RULE 6 _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

RULES FOR SVA:

RULE 7-Nouns plural in form but singular in meaning take singular verb.

Example: Mathematics is my favourite subject.

In the sentence above, mathematics is a noun that ends with s but singular in meaning, therefore
it takes singular verb is.

RULE 8- Nouns plural in form take plural verb such as scissors, tongs, glasses, tweezers.

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Example The new scissors are sharp.
Scissors is a noun that is plural in form so it takes a plural verb are.

7. Indefinite Pronouns
a. each, either, neither, someone, anyone, everyone, anybody take singular verb.
Example Everyone takes my side.
b. both, many, several, few takes plural verb.
Example: Both are cousins.
c. none takes singular verb.
Example: None of these envelopes is to be opened.
Practice Exercise #4
1. Politics (is, are) dirty.
2. Everyone (is, are) invited.
3. Many (is, are) called but few (is, are) chosen.
4. One of my friends (believe, believes) feng shui.
5. None of the above (is, are) the answer.
6. Each of them (play, plays) the guitar.
7. Both of them (want, wants) to finish their studies.
8. No one (is, are) allowed to enter.
9. Each bag (cost, costs) php. 1500 pesos.
10. Someone (is, are) always saying thank you.

CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Directions: Write four sentences of your own illustrating the first two subject- verb agreement rues.

RULE 7 _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
RULE 8 _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

RULES FOR SVA:

RULE 9- “The number” takes singular verb. “A number” takes plural verb.

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Example: The number of accidents increases during rainy season.
A number of students are enrolled in this subject.
RULE 10- Impersonal pronoun “It” takes singular verb.
Example: It is Bing and Ruth.

RULE 11- Mathematical terms and operations take singular verb.

Ex. Five times two is ten.
RULE 12- Gerund (verb+ing) and infinitive (to+verb) takes singular verb.
Ex. Reading is my hobby.

Practice Exercise #5
1. The number of victims (is, are) increasing.
2. It (is, are) my daddy’s command.
3. Bullying (is, are) prohibited.
4. A number of good Samaritan (is, are) here to help.
5. Seven times twenty eight (is, are) equal to eighty four.
6. Ten dollars (was, were) given to Ben.
7. It (is, are) in the drawer.
8. Watching PBA and NBA (make, makes) him happy.
9. The number of foods (is, are) sufficient.
10. Singing (is, are) passion.

CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Directions: Write four sentences of your own illustrating the first two subject- verb agreement rues.

RULE 9 _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
RULE 10 _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
RULE 11 _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
RULE 12 _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

RULES FOR SVA:

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RULE 13- Title of books, songs and movies even when in plural in form take a singular
verb.
Example More than words is my favorite song.

RULE 14- When regarded as a unit, a collective noun is singular.

Example The committee stands firm to impose its decision.

RULE 15- When regarded as individuals, a collective noun is plural.

Example The audience are seriously watching the movie.

Practice Exercise #5
1. The town council (has, have) approved plans to create a new park.
2. The basketball team (include, includes) three players who are over six feet.
3. Snow white and the Seven Dwarfs (is, are) popular among children.
4. The panel (stand, stands) for their decision.
5. 365 Days (is, are) a romantic song.
6. The germs (was, were) examined by the scientists.
7. The Black Eyed Peas (is, are) my favourite group of singers.
8. The crowd (is, are) seriously watching the dance.
9. Daffodils (was, were) written by William Wordsworth.
10. The faculty (attend, attends) monthly meeting.

Directions: Write four sentences of your own illustrating the first two subject- verb agreement rues.

RULE 13 _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
RULE 14 _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
RULE 15 _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

KEY TO CORRECTION Practice Exercise #1

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1. talks 1. is
2. looks 2. is
3. lives 3. is
4. walk 4. are
5. are 5. is
6. are 6. was
7. swim 7. is
8. bounces 8. makes
9. arrive 9. is
10.watches 10.is

Practice Exercise #2 Practice Exercise #6

1. is 1. has
2. has 2. includes
3. looks 3. is
4. plan 4. stands
5. are 5. is
6. is 6. is
7. is 7. is
8. is 8. are
9. is 9. was
10. bother 10. attends

Practice Exercise #3
1. are
2. is
3. is
4. knows
5. are
6. are
7. were
8. want
9. is
10. is

Practice Exercise #4
1. is
2. is
3. are, are
4. believes
5. is
6. place
7. want
8. is
9. cost
10. is

Practice Exercise #5