How good is your English?

Do you know that the English

language has more than 600,000
words? How many of them are yours?
 
The average child in school learns
about 4,000 words a year. But the
adult, after leaving school, learns only
about 40 words a year or even lower.
 
 
 
People who understand the cash value of
their words on how to use the English
language are successful.
 
In this competitive age of ours, we should
always remember that our best capital is
an adequate vocabulary and a knowledge
on how to put it to work.
RULES OF SUBJECT
VERB AGREEMENT
 RULE # 1 - A singular subject
requires a singular verb.

1. When a person questions the

authority of the Government, the
burden of proof rests upon him.
RULE # 2. A plural subject requires a
plural verb

2. The dogs always bark at passersby.

3. The presence of armed men has forced residents

in remote villages to flee to the city.
RULE # 3. A singular subject requires a singular
even if there is a prepositional phrase with a
plural object between them.

 A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition
and ends with an object which is usually a noun.
Common preposition of, at, in, on, by, for, from.
Example of Prepositional Phrase – of school, at
risk, in time, on board, by choice, for love, from
Naga.
.
 4. The list of Social
Amelioration Program
(SAP) beneficiaries contains
a total of 10,000 names.
RULE # 4. A singular subject
requires a singular verb even if
there is a relative clause with a
plural object between them.
 Relative clauses begin with a relative pronoun
such as that, which, whose, when, where.
 They describe the noun that they precede.

 5. The police operation that led to the arrest

of five drug suspects was covered by the
local media.
RULE # 5. A singular subject takes a
singular verb even if there is a phrase
beginning with “as well as”, “along with”,
or “together with”
 Ignore the phrases, they are not part of the
subject.

5. The President, along with the

members of the cabinet, attends the
ASEAN conference.
RULE # 6. The indefinite pronouns such as
“each” and “neither” require singular verbs
even when they are followed by a
prepositional phrase with a plural object.

 6. Neither of the drug suspects was

found guilty of the crime charged.

 7. Each of the ladies has a designer

handbag.
RULE # 7. The indefinite pronouns are
always singular and require a singular
verb.
 Anyone, someone, everyone, no one, one,
anybody, somebody, everybody, nobody any
 thing something and nothing.

8. Everyone, in a democratic
regime, is entitled to his own
opinion.
RULE # 8. Indefinite
pronouns are always plural
and require plural verbs.

Several, few, both, many and

others.

9. Many have attended the public

hearing.
RULE # 9. Two singular subjects joined
by “or” “either” or “neither” “nor”
require a singular verb.

10. The Governor or the Vice Governor is

arriving to grace the City of Naga’s
Charter Day anniversary.

11. Neither the teacher nor the student

was to blame for the mistke.
RULE # 10. Two or more subjects linked by
“and” require a plural verb, except when
referring to the same person or thing.

 12. Carmella and Mercy regularly

dance to the tune of Macarena .

 13. My teacher and friend is having a

great time in the province.
RULE # 11. In mixed singular and plural subjects
joined by “or” “either” or “neither” “nor”, the
verb must agree with the subject nearer to it.
This is RULE OF PROXIMITY.

14. Neither the apple nor the oranges were

delivered on time.

15. Neither the firearms nor the bullet was

recovered at the scene.
RULE 15. Expressions of time, distance,
weight and sums of money when taken as
one unit, takes a singular verb.

16. Five years is the maximum term of

employment abroad. (taken as one period).

17. Sixty pesos is too expensive for that shirt.

18. Ten kilometers is too long a distance for a

walk.
RULE NO. 16. Nouns which have two parts
such as scissors or pants require plural verb.
However, when regarded as a pair, a singular
verb is used.

19. The scissors need sharpening.

20. The pair of scissors needs

sharpening.
RULE 17. In the subjunctive mood that is
when expressing a wish or a condition that
is contrary to fact, use “were” instead of
was.
 21. If Eyas were the President, he
would not allow this to happen.

 22. I wish Oberes were here to affirm

the incident.