English 5 – Week 5

Lesson: Subject-Verb
Agreement in
irregular nouns and
collective nouns

Prepared by:
Catherine C. Escalante
Malhacan Integrated School
Online Class Rules
Mute Use Use a Be
your your heads on
Mic cam et time

Be Be Pay
prepared respectful attention
Words that are commonly mispronounced…
Kwayr Choir
Is-kwi-rel Squirrel
a-ne-mo-ni Anemone
Collective
Nouns
 A collective noun
names a group such
as:
❑ committee
❑ crew
❑ enemy
❑ company
❑ government
❑ team
❑ pride
❑ herd
❑ flock
❑ pack
Pick out the collective
nouns in the following
sentences.
1. The choir sang in
the mass.
 2. A flock of birds
flew in V-formation.
3. The unruly mob
was caught by the
police.
 4. The president
called the cabinet
for an emergency
meeting.
 5. Iraq welcomed
the coalition troops.
What is a collective noun?

• A collective noun is a name for a

group of people, animals
or things such as a family, class,
pair or team.
People A group of people

Animals A swarm of bees

Things A set of tools
Are they singular or plural?
• Use a singular verb whenever the members of
the group are acting together as a unit.

• Example:
The couple eats out once a month.
Are they singular or plural?
• Use a plural verb when members or things in
the group are acting as individuals.
Example:
The couple are taking separate
cars to work today.
 Let Us Practice!
Choose the verb that agrees with
the collective noun used as a
subject.
1. The staff members (disagree,
disagrees) on the proposal.

2. My family (visit, visits) the National

Museum.

3. Filipino families (is, are) very hospitable.

4. The members of the jury (is, are) just
and fair.

5. The government (prepare, prepares)

many programs related to education.
Irregular
Nouns
 Irregular nouns

These are nouns that do not simply

add –s or –es in forming their
plural.
There are irregular nouns that
change its forms as it
becomes plural.
 a e
man men
woman women
 oo ee
foot feet
goose geese
tooth teeth
 f/fe ves
wolf wolves
life lives
wife wives
knife knives
 No Change
fish fish
sheep sheep
deer deer
Complete Change
mouse mice
person people
 +en
child children
ox oxen
There are also irregular nouns
that do not have a singular
form.
scissors scissors
clothes clothes
pants pants
goods goods
When irregular nouns are used as
subjects in sentences, make sure to
still apply the rule of subject-verb
agreement: a singular subject must
take a singular verb, and a plural
subject must take a plural verb.
The child is busy in painting.

The children are busy in painting.

The man helps in carrying heavy
boxes.

The men help in carrying heavy

boxes.
Choose the verb that agrees with the underlined
subject.
1. The alumni of the school (is, are) one in
campaigning for environment-friendly programs.
2. The primary basis of these analyses (is, are)
discussed in forums and seminars.
3. Data (is, are) presented very clearly.
4. The school curriculum (include, includes) topics on
environmental awareness.
5. Both men and women (take, takes) part in
promoting conservation of natural resources.
Let us see what you know about
subject-verb agreement rules by
answering the Let Us Practice More and
Evaluation parts of your AS.
Thank you for
listening!