Lucrecia R.

Kasilag Senior High School

Bansalangin St., Brgy. Veterans Vill., Project 7, Quezon City

ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES (EAPP)

Learning Activity Sheet (LAS)#1
Subject-Verb Agreement and Correct Usage
SY 2021-2022 First Semester
Objectives
1. to get the meaning of complex sentence structures by distinguishing between kernel and
embedded sentences
2. to observe subject – verb agreement in sentences
3. to revise faulty statements and paragraphs by observing the rules in subject-verb agreement,
correct usage of words and the mechanics in writing sentences and paragraphs

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

1. Singular subjects take singular verb; plural subjects take plural verbs.
The reporter discusses the cause and effects of playing online games.
The reporters discuss the cause and effects of playing online games.

2. Compound subjects
❖ Subjects joined by and usually take plural verbs.
Marilen and James are attending their online class right now.

❖ Compound subjects joined by and take the plural verb when they convey different ideas or when
the second subject is modified by an article. They take a singular verb when they convey a single
idea or when the second subject is not modified by an article.
The manager and the coach of the team want us to be present at the conference.
The manager and coach of the team wants us to be present in the conference.

❖ When compound subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
Either Bernadette or her friends are responsible for the error.

❖ If a compound subject includes one affirmative and one negative part, the verb agrees with the
affirmative part.
I, not you, am leaving the room now.

3. Indefinite Pronouns
❖ The following indefinite pronouns take singular verbs: each, everyone, anyone, someone,
everybody, anybody, somebody, nobody.
Somebody knocks at the door.
How do you react if someone gives you a compliment?

❖ The following indefinite pronouns take plural verbs: both, several, few, many.
Many are called but few are chosen.

❖ The words some, any, none, all and most may be singular or plural, depending on their meaning.
Some of the fruit is given to the scavenger.
Some of the fruits are given to the scavenger.

1|EAPP
4. Nouns ending in -s
❖ Some nouns like news, measles, and physics are plural in form but singular in meaning. They take
singular verbs.
Physics seems a difficult subject.

❖ Some nouns like pants, scissors, tweezers and tongs take plural verb although they refer to only
one object. Use “a pair of” in using the singular verb.
Shorts are comfortable for warm weather.
A pair of tweezers is all I need for the task.

5. Fraction
❖ When the subject is a fraction, the verb agrees with the noun in the of-phrase.
One-half of the glasses are broken.

6. The number - A number

❖ When used as a subject, the expression the number requires a singular verb while the expression
a number requires a plural verb.
The number of applicants represents the vigilant citizenry.
A number of applicants represent the vigilant citizenry.

7. Collective Nouns
❖ A collective noun takes a plural verb when the speaker is thinking of individual members of the
group; it takes a singular verb when the speaker is thinking of the group as a unit.
The team ranks first.
The team are talking about their new strategies.

8. Expressions stating amount (time, money, measurement, weight, volume)

❖ Expressions stating amount are usually singular when the amount is considered as a unit.
However, when the amount is considered as a number of separate units, a plural verb is used.
One hundred pesos is not enough for the day’s expenses.
The last five years have been very memorable.

9. Intervening expressions
❖ If the subject and the verb in a sentence are interrupted by an intervening expression (including,
along with, as well as, etc.), the verb must still agree with the simple subject.
Marthea, together with her peers, prays for those afflicted with Covid 19.

10. Inverted statements

❖ In inverted statements like sentences beginning with here or there, or in sentences where the
subject follows the verb, the verb agrees with the subject which usually follows the verb.
There is a problem with her internet connection.
Here come the most famous people in the group.

11. Title of literary work takes singular verb.

The “Little Women” inspires the youth of today.

2|EAPP
12. Adjectives used as nouns are considered plural, and thus require plural verb.
The poor are to be helped especially during this time of pandemic.

13. When the subject and the predicate nominative are different in number, the verb agrees with
the subject, not with the predicate nominative.
The most appreciated gift was the toys that you sent.

14. Usually, “police” is plural. To talk about an individual member of the police, we can
say “policeman” or “policewoman” – or the gender-neutral term “police officer”.
The police are investigating the murder.
The police officer has arrested the suspect.

CORRECT USAGE
1. The following nouns have no plural form.
➢ “Advice” in the normal sense of “counsel” has no plural form.
Fathers are expected to give advice to their sons.

➢ Equipment
The laboratory contained many different types of equipment.
(or) The laboratory contained a lot of different equipment.

➢ Furniture
A lot of furniture is on display in the department store.

➢ Information
The latest information will appear on the board shortly.
➢ Jewelry
The robbers took away some precious jewelry.

➢ “People” only has the plural –s when it means “race”.

The peoples of the world may have a common origin.

2. “Cope” is not followed by “up”.

He was unable to cope with the demands of his position.

3. Angry with someone; angry at something; angry to + verb.

My aunt was very angry with her neighbor because he threw his trash in her backyard.
(or) He was angry at hearing. (or) He was angry to hear how much money she had spent.

4. Ashamed of somebody; ashamed at something; ashamed to + verb.

I was ashamed of you; you did not allow anyone else to speak.

5. Disgusted at or by something; disgusted with somebody.

I was disgusted by his behavior towards his helper at home.

References:
https://www.grammarbook.com/grammar_quiz/subject_verb_agreement_1.asp
https://www.englishgrammar.org/subject-verb-agreement-exercise/
https://www.espressoenglish.net/advanced-subject-verb-agreement-exercises/
https://www.englishcurrent.com/grammar/subject-verb-agreement-exercises-grammar/
https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/verbs/quiz-in-subject-verb-agreement.html

3|EAPP
Name: ______________________________________________ Date: __________________________
Grade and Section: ____________________________________
LAS #2 – SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT AND CORRECT USAGE
Activity 1 – Subject-Verb Agreement
I. Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the sentence.
__________ 1. I don’t know if anybody (is, are) in the office right now.
__________ 2. The basketball team (has, have) a new coach.
__________ 3. This singer, along with a few others, (plays, play) the harmonica on stage.
__________ 4. Either the sculpture or the paintings (is, are) are in the museum today.
__________ 5. Almost all of the water (is, are) contaminated after the typhoon.
__________ 6. There (go, goes) the candidates for the prestigious pageant.
__________ 7. A number of evacuees (has, have) been given medical assistance by the doctors.

II. Rewrite the sentences by changing the underlined subject to singular/plural form then make the necessary
changes in the verb or other parts of the sentence to make the sentence correct. Observe the rules in S-V
agreement.
Example: The child follows the guidelines given by his mother.
The children follow the guidelines given by their mother.

1. The brothers as well as their sister are doing good in their online classes.
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. Some of the project shows how independent the members of the group are.
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. The scissors are kept in the drawer where the children could not reach them.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Activity 2 – Correct Usage

I. Choose the correct sentence in the following pairs of sentences.
1. A. Thank you for the advices you gave when I was very down.
B. Thank you for the advice you gave me when I was very down.
2. A. The participants are bombarded with a lot of informations during the webinar.
B. The participants are bombarded with a lot of information during the webinar.
3. A. I am disgusted with you; you should act your age.
B. I am disgusted at you; you should act your age.
4. A. Ms. Nhelia almost forgot to pay for the pieces of furniture she purchased from the shop.
B. Ms. Nhelia almost forgot to pay for the furnitures she purchased from the shop.
5. A. We need to embrace the new normal for us to cope up with the present situation.
B. We need to embrace the new normal for us to cope with the present situation.

II. Write CORRECT if the sentence applies correct usage of words. Write WRONG if it does not apply correct
usage of words, then revise the faulty sentence to its correct form.
Example: 1. My brother needs to cope up with the changing times; he is no longer young.
Answer: WRONG – My brother needs to cope with the changing times; he is no longer young.

1. The cashier was angry with the rude and arrogant costumer.

2. The heavy equipments blocked the way of the rescuers.

3. My teacher was disgusted with the rowdy student in the class.

4. The client was amazed with the intricate designs of the different furnitures.

5. The students are starting to cope up with the stress brought by the distance learning.

4|EAPP