REMEMBER…

You don't need to know a ton of grammar if you

can remember these three basic rules.
• CONSISTENCY: Correct answers are consistent
with the rest of the sentence and the passage.
• PRECISION: Correct answers are as precise as
possible.
• CONCISION: Barring other errors, correct
answers are as concise as possible.
• The speakers of what has come to be known
as 1 Appalachian English has used a form of
English that few can explain.
1. A) NO CHANGE
B) Appalachian English uses
C) Appalachian English use
D) Appalachian English using
• Many scholars believe Appalachian pronunciation
comes from Scots-Irish immigration, but 2 some
theorizes that this dialect of English may be closer
to what Londoners spoke in Elizabethan times.

2. A) NO CHANGE
B) some theorized
C) some have theorized
D) some theorize
SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT
 General Rule:
• A verb must agree with its subject in
person and number.

–He asks many questions about

his work.
–The people ask for help.
 Indefinite Pronouns as Subject
• Singular indefinite pronouns such as each,
either, neither, one, no one, nobody,
nothing, anyone, anybody, anything,
everyone, everybody, everything,
someone, somebody, and something take
the singular form of the verb.
– Nobody recites in the class.
– Either of these two cars is a good bargain.
– Each has something to offer.
• Plural indefinite pronouns such as
both, few, many and several take
the plural form of the verb.

–Many have gone to the

barrio fiesta.
• The indefinite pronouns all, any, most,
none and some may be either singular or
plural. If the pronoun refers to one person
or thing, it is singular and takes an –s form
verb. If it refers to more than one person
or thing, it takes the base form of the verb.
– Some of the excitement of a PBA game is
conveyed by TV. (some means “a part”)
– Some of the people are disappointed in the
candidate who won. (some refers to more
than one person)
 COMPOUND SUBJECTS
• Compound subjects joined by “and”
normally require plural verbs.
–His coat and cap are lying on the bed.
–The windows and the door are open.
–My classmate and my friend are
here.
 COMPOUND SUBJECTS
• Compound subjects that are closely
related or that refers to the same person
or thing or treated as one item or
considered as a unit take singular form
verb.
– My classmate and friend is here.
– Durian and pinipig makes a tasty snack.
– Bread and butter is good for breakfast.
 COMPOUND SUBJECTS
• A compound subject involving the
use of each and every requires a
singular verb.
– Each boy and girl has clothes made of
silk for special occasion.
– Every man and woman helps to make
the occasion memorable.
 COMPOUND SUBJECTS
Compound subjects
• Compound subjects joined by either-or,
neither-nor and or take the singular or
plural form verbs according to the
number of the nearer subject.
– The chief or his assistant is due to arrive
tonight.
– Neither the air-conditioner nor the lights
work.
• When the compound subject is
composed of an affirmative
and a negative part, the verb
agrees with the affirmative.
–Anna, not the boys, is noisy.
• Words separating subject and predicate – (ex.
with, along with, as well as, together with, in
addition to, including, accompanied by, in
cooperation with, etc.) The verb agrees with
its subject regardless of such intervening
words.
–The candidate, with two of his aides,
has entered the hall.
–My house, like all other Muslim houses,
is built differently.
• When the subject follows the verb,
as in sentences beginning with there
and here, determine the number of
the subject and make the verb agree
with it.
–There are three dove’s eggs in the
nest.
–Here comes Karen with her new
bike.
• Collective nouns such as class, family, team,
group, flock, committee, jury, band,
audience, council, couple, crew, personnel,
staff, etc. may be either singular or plural. A
collective noun is considered singular when
the group is regarded as a unit; it is plural
when the emphasis is upon the individuals of
the group.
– The class has decided to have a party. (as
one unit)
– The class were divided in their opinions.
(several individuals)
• The expression “the number” takes a
singular form verb; the expression “a
number” takes plural form verb.

–The number of learners is rather

small.
–A number of students are taking the
UPCAT.
• Use the expression “one of
the” + plural noun with the
singular form of the verb.
–One of the books is missing.
• The title of a book, story,
organization, or names of country,
musical compositions and other
creative works even when plural in
form takes a singular form verb.
–Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
is a popular story.
–The Maldives ranks first among the
most visited countries in the world.
• Plural names of countries or
regions may be used as plural to
refer to their representatives or
delegates.
–The Philippines are now in the
Asian Games semifinals.
–Overall, the United States are
the winners at the Olympiad.
• Names of mountain ranges
and groups of islands which
are in the plural form are
plural in number.
–The Alps - the Bahamas
–The Cordilleras - the Hawaiian
islands
• Adjectives (poor, rich, wicked, etc.)
when preceded by the article “the”
and used as nouns are followed by
the plural form verb.
–The poor have less privilege.
–The wicked are punished in hell.
• Expressions indicating an amount of money,
periods of time, weights and measurements
is usually regarded as singular, thus take the
–s form verb even when the form is plural.
However, note that when a determiner is
used, the plural noun becomes more
prominent and the plural verb appears to be
more natural.
– Ten pesos is not enough for lunch.
– The ten pesos are all gone by now.
– Five pounds of sugar meets our monthly need.
• Fractions may take singular or plural
verbs depending on the “of- phrase”.
If the object of the preposition “of” is
singular, the fraction takes a singular
verb; if it is plural, it takes a plural
verb.
–One-fourth of the cake has been eaten.
–One-fourth of the cakes have been sold.
• The expressions all of, some of, most of,
a lot of, none of, when used with the
plural count nouns require the plural
form of the verb or base verb. When
used with mass nouns, they require the
singular form of the verb or –s form verb.

–All of the cups were filled with cold tea.

–All of the sugar was placed in the jar.
• Doesn’t and don’t must agree with
their subjects.
–Use don’t with plural subject
noun and the pronouns I, you,
we, they.
•The answers don’t make
sense.
•Don’t you ride to school?
• Use doesn’t with singular
subject noun and pronouns
he, she, it.
–The boy doesn’t understand
the math problem.
–It doesn’t matter to him.
• Many is plural; much is
singular.
–Many believe in
superstitions.
–Much has been said about
our environmental problems.
• Some nouns are plural in form but singular
in meaning; hence, they take the singular
form or –s form verb. Some of these nouns
are physics, economics, mathematics,
measles, news, civics, mumps, dramatics,
politics, aerobics, molasses, athletics,
gymnastics, acoustics and linguistics.

– The news was not encouraging.

– Measles is a disease common to children.
• Some nouns are always plural in form; hence,
they take the plural form or base form verb.
Some of these nouns are eyeglasses,
tweezers, pants, shorts, jeans, pajamas,
trousers, overalls, pliers, tongs, spectacles,
clothes, thanks, dues, refreshments, oats,
goods, riches, tidings, headquarters, and
minutes (of meeting).
– My eyeglasses were brought two years ago.
– Refreshments were served at the
conference.
• Some nouns are always singular in form; hence, they
take the singular form or –s form verb. Some of these
nouns are work, chalk, music, laughter, soap,
homework, furniture, jewelry, fun, bread, scenery,
equipment, baggage, mail, dust, lumber, thunder,
blood, underwear, poetry, prose, applause, dirt, aid,
evidence, food, garbage, graft and corruption and
smoke.
– Much information reaches all parts of the
world.
Use an expression to express quantity with a base
form verb.
• Bits of information were heard by us.
• The relative of pronouns who, which and
that assume the grammatical number of the
noun they refer to. In effect, the verb agrees
with the referred noun, which is generally
the nearest noun immediately preceding it.
– She is one among the women managers
who complain about discrimination. (who
refers to managers)
– She is the only one among the women
managers who complains about
discrimination. (who refers to one)
• The nominal interrogative
pronouns who and what, when
functioning as subject, assume
the grammatical number of the
nouns they are eliciting.
–Who has the best essay?
–What are the answers to the
questions?
• Watch out for such adverbs as at
times, sometimes, and always.
Their final “-s” tends to make you
use a plural verb even if the
subject noun is singular.
–A Broadway musical always make
for good entertainment. (Incorrect)
–A Broadway musical always makes
for good entertainment.