Lexical Features of Philippines English

Lesson 1: Subject –Verb Incongruences

I. Introduction

In expressing your ideas both in oral or in writing, you need to

observe the rules to be better understood by your listener or by the
reader. So, you have to follow strictly the rules in subject-verb
agreement to form a unified and sensible sentences.
In this module, you shall be introduced to the different rules to
observe in spoken and in written forms.

II. Learning Outcomes

At the end of this lesson, you are expected to have:

a. mastered the rules in subject-verb agreement;

b. constructed sentences observing the rules;
c. identified errors in sentences;
d. written a well-organized sentence in paragraph using the rules
learned.

III. Learning Content

The Subject-Verb Agreement

Today, you are going to study the rules to follow in
constructing correct sentences, especially in writing a paragraph.

1. VERB-NUMBER AGREEMENT
Singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take
plural verbs.

The list of to-dos was too long for me to handle.

 The lists of to-dos were too long for me to handle.

Even an animal has its own territory.

Even animals have their own territory.

EXCEPTION to this rule:

A plural verb is always required after the pronoun ‘YOU’ even
when it is used in singular, referring to one person.

You are going to send the documents to my office.

You are my inspiration.

2. RULE FOR WHEN VERB HAS ‘S’ AT THE END

The‘s’ added after a noun indicates plural. But an ‘s’ added
after a verb indicates THIRD PERSON SINGULAR

i.e. the sentence is in third person and the subject is

singular.

She goes to the library every day.

They go to the restaurant every day for their favorite dish.
3. THE VERB HAS TO AGREE ONLY WITH THE TRUE MAIN SUBJECT,
not with the intervening plural object of a preposition or any other
intervening plural.

The box of Nestle’s chocolates is missing.

Here, the main subject is box, not the chocolates. Hence, we use ‘is’
instead of ‘are’.
More examples:
His experience as a teacher to young kids gives him a lot of understanding.
The prices of the new iPhone vary from country to country.

4. SUBJECTS JOINED BY 'AND' ARE USUALLY PLURAL AND TAKE

PLURAL VERBS.
 His laptop and my iPad were stolen from the desk.

Chennai and Kolkota have very hot weather.

EXCEPTIONS to this rule:

• If the subject has two singular nouns connected by AND;

and both are about the same person/thing, then the verb
remains singular.

My best friend and roommate is going to US for a vacation.

Soup and bread is our Sunday breakfast.

• When two subjects connected by AND are preceded by

'each, every or many', a singular verb is used.

Every chair, table and sofa, every single piece of furniture

in the house is up for auction.

Every man and woman in the store is requested to go

through the security check.

5. RULE FOR 'WITH, TOGETHER WITH, ALONG WITH, BESIDES, AS

WELL AS, INCLUDING, IN ADDITION TO'.

Words like 'with, together with, along with, besides, as well as,
including, in addition to, etc. do not affect the number of the
verb. If the main subject is singular, the verb must be singular;
if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

The television, along with the cabinet, is to be sold.

 Our chief competitor, as well as ourselves, is obliged to
increase the prices.

The decoration of the room, including all the paintings on the

wall, is most pleasing.

6. RULE WHEN BOTH SINGULAR AND PLURAL SUBJECTS ARE

PRESENT.
If the subject is made up of both singular and plural words
connected by or, nor, either-or, neither-nor, also agrees with the
nearer subject.

Neither the quality nor the prices have changed.

Neither the prices nor the quality has changed.

Neither the salesman nor the buyers are in favor of the system of
management.

Neither the buyers nor the salesman is in favor of the system of

the management.

7. RULE FOR NEITHER-NOR, EITHER-OR &OR

Neither the laptop nor the phone was in working order.

Either January or February is going to be her wedding month.

8. RULE FOR NOUNS THAT ARE PLURAL IN FORM BUT SINGULAR IN

MEANING

Nouns that are plural in form but singular in meaning such as

news, measles, mumps, physics, electronics, tactics, economics
and so on usually take singular verbs.

News is travelling faster than ever before.

 Physics has fascinated my hostel mate for months.

Some nouns ending in '-ics' such as athletics, statistics and

politics are considered singular when referring to an
organized body of knowledge and plural when referring to
individual facts, qualities or activities.

Athletics provide good recreation. ( i.e. various games)

Economics is an important subject for every field of study

9. A LINKING VERB USUALLY AGREES WITH ITS SUBJECT, NOT WITH

ITS COMPLIMENT.

Excessive absences were the reason for his failure.

The reason of his failure was excessive absences.

10.RULE FOR NOUNS THAT DO NOT HAVE SINGULAR FORMS

Plural verbs are required for many nouns that have no singular
form, such as proceeds, goods, ashes, remains, credentials,
premises etc.

The proceeds of the magic show are to be given to the fund for
soldier's welfare.

The goods are being dispatched today by goods train.

11.WHEN A GROUP ACTS AS A UNIT, THE VERB SHOULD BE
SINGULAR.

The committee has agreed to submit its report on Friday.

The board of directors meets once in a month.

 The firm is one of the most reputed in the country.

The majority has made its decision.

12.WHEN THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP ARE THOUGHT OF AS

ACTING SEPERATELY, THE VERB SHOULD BE PLURAL.

The teams are arguing over who should be the captain

(individual members in the team are arguing).

The committee were not in agreement on the action to be

taken.

The audience were cheering and laughing, even crying.

13.COMPANY NAMES MAY BE EITHER SINGULAR OR PLURAL

ACCORDING TO THEIR MEANING.

The plural form emphasizes the individual personnel making up the

company.

Mudra and corporation have retained the goodwill of their

customers.

The oil corporations is located at Nariman Point, Mumbai.

14. RULE FOR NOUNS EXPRESSING TIME, MONEY OR QUALITY

When nouns expressings periods of time, amounts of money or

quantities are considered as a singular unit, singular verbs are
used.

For e.g.

Rs 10 seems too much for the job.

 The number of board members is very small.

15. AFTER SUCH EXPRESSIONS AS 'ONE HALF OF', 'TWO-THIRDS OF',

'A PART OF', 'A MAJORITY OF'

• Use singular verb if a singular noun follows the 'of' phrase.

A part of the office is closed.

Two-third of the mailing list has been typed.

A majority of 3500 indicates his popularity in the constituency.

• Use plural verb when a plural noun follows the 'of' phrase.

Part of the walls are to be painted.

Two-thirds of our workers live in the suburbs.

The majority of our staff members live in villages.

16. RULES FOR 'THE NUMBER'

The expression 'the number' has a singular meaning and

requires a singular verb, whereas the expression 'a number' has
a plural meaning and takes a plural verb.

The number of board members is very small.

A number of board members were absent.

The number of orders is still to be executed is estimated at

nearly a 100.

A number of our staff are going on leave.

17. IN SENTENCES CONTAINING THE WORDS 'ONE OF', THE VERB IS

CHOSEN AS FOLLOWS:
 • In simple form, one of or one of the, a singular verb is
used.

One of the reasons for his demotion is his carelessness.

One of the pens is missing from my desk.

• The sentences containing phrases 'one of those who' or

'one of the things that', a plural verb is required.

He is one of those managers who favor increasing the

staff.

• Here favor agrees with those. In the phrase one of those

who, those is the plural object of the preposition of. In the
subordinate clause who favor, the relative pronoun who is
the subject and must agree with its antecedent those.

Mr. Varma is one of our officers who is accompanying

me.

He is one of our enployees who are always alert.

• However, when only precedes one of/one of those, a

singular verb is used.

Ramesh is only one of our employees who is always alert.

Mr. Verma is the only one of our officers accompanying me.

18. RULE OF SINGULAR NOUNS AND PLURAL VERBS

Certain collective nouns, those which are singular in form, are

always used in the plural sense and take a plural verb. For e.g.
gentry, cattle, poultry, alphabets, offspring, etc.

These poultry are ready for sale.

There are 26 alphabets in English.

 The cattle are grazing near the canal.

19. THE ALWAYS SINGULAR NOUNS

Certain nouns are always used in singular and followed by

singular verbs. These are not used in the plural sense and do not
take a plural verb.

For e.g. hair, issue, advice, information, scenery, luggage, mischief,

bread, abuse, furniture, land, business, machinery, poultry etc.

Her hair has turned gray now.

The scenery of Kasauli is beautiful.

Is there any information in this regard?

All the machinery is sold.

I have sold all the furniture that was useless.

My luggage is lying at the bus stand.

20. COUNTABLE NOUNS have plural forms and can be used with
a/an.

Uncountable nouns do not have plural forms and cannot be

used with a/an. For e.g. we say books but we do not say milks.

 The following nouns are usually uncountable in English:

Advice, news, information, furniture, lullage, work,

business, weather, traffic, scenery, paper, and bread.
Most of these are countable in Indian languages and
therefore Indian students often wrongly use them with
'a/an' and in the plural.
 Example:

He gave me some advice.

The scenery here is very good.

21. EACH, EVERY, EITHER, NEITHER

The words 'each, every, either, neither', used as pronouns or

else adjectives, are always singular and require verbs.

Each of them does have political ambitions.

Each employee is responsible for clearing is desk in the

evening.

Neither of the boys is eligible for taking the examination.

Neither boy is eligible for selection.

EXCEPTION: If a parenthetical each follows a plural noun or

pronoun; the verb should be singular.

The members each feel their responsibility.

They each have their own problem.

10 each of these books is required.

22. ALL, ANY, MANY....

All, any, more, most, some - may be singular or plural or plural

depending on the meaning, and take verbs accordingly.

Some of the books seem too old.

Some of the food is not good. (food is a singular noun)

 All the typing has been finished. (Typing is an activity.
Can't be plural)

All the reports have been typed.

Most of the goods have been sold.

Most of the stock has been sold, but more of these shirts are
due. (stock is always singular)

23. THE TITLES OF BOOKS OR MAGAZINES are considered singular

and take singular verbs.

The Hindustan times still has wide circulation.

The Shiva Trilogy is a best seller.

END OF MODULE 3, LESSON 1

IV. Assessment

Activity 1. Choose the underlined word or phrase labeled

1, 2, 3, and 4 which is not acceptable in formal written
English. Write number 5, if there is no error. Encircle the
number of your answer.

1. No one was happy about the crisis which Filipinos are

experiencing. No Error.
1 2 3 4
5
2. Television viewers claim that the number of scenes
depecting alcohol
1 2 3
consumption have increased dramatically over the last
decades. No error.
4
5
3. I like to sing, to dance, and to running. No error.
1 2 3 4 5
4. A pair of scissors used by the dressmakers are placed on the
sewing machine.
1 2 3 4
No Error.
5
5. Stranded on a dessert island, coconuts and other fruits was
the basis of the
1 2
3 4 passengers diet. No Error.
5
6. Today's politics are very dirty. No Error.
1 2 3 4 5
7. Reading books widens one's knowledge and vocabulary. No
Error.
1 2 3 4
5
8. Shoes of these brands are bad for the feet. No Error.
1 2 3 4 5
9. Have either of the book borrowed been returned. No error.
1 2 3 4 5
10. The number of test papers corrected was returned to the
owner. No Error.
1 2 3
4 5
11. Two hundred pesos is all I need for my project. No error.
1 2 3 4 5
12. One of the book in the library was lost. No Error.
1 2 3 4 5
13. For we, watching movie every day is fun and enjoyable. No
Error.
1 2 3 4
5
14. I can't hardly forget our past memories. No Error.
1 2 3 4 5
15. Does Leny plans to study abroad? No Error.

16. I wonder if I can borrow your book in Linguistics. No Error.

1 2 3 4
5
17. Don't you didn't have enough allowance today? No Error.
1 2 3 4 5
18. Can you bought me a piece of chalk? No Error.
1 2 3 4 5

19. Twenty percent of the students fails in the final exam. No

error.
1 2 3 4
5
20. Alex, together with his friends, attend the symposium. No
error.
1 2 3 4
5
21. None of the girls joins the choir. No Error.
1 2 3 4 5
22. Three-fourths of the apples were rotten. No Error.
1 2 3 4 5
23. Won't your parents will approve of my proposal? No Error.
1 2 3 4 5
24. One of the greatest gifts I received from my parents are my
new dress.
1 2 3
4
 No Error.
5
25. Five kilometers are not enough for an old woman to walk. No
Error.
1 2 3 4 5

Activity 2. Choose an object that you like the best. Then write a
paragraph of 200 words using the rules learned.

Module 3, Lesson 2: Aspects of Verbs and Verb Tenses

Discussion

Simple Tenses
1. Simple Present Tense
The simple present tense form of a verb is the same as the verb’s base
form, except for the third person singular, which adds – ‘s’ or –‘es’.
Exceptions are the verbs be and have.

 If singular form of the subject or a singular pronoun is used, add

“s” or “es” after the main verb.
Examples:

 She loves walking in the park.

 He plays piano, but his brother plays football.
 Jessica leads the discussion for fifteen minutes.
 If the plural form of the subject or a pronoun is used, use the
based form of the verb.

Examples:
 Scientists produce vaccine for COVID19.
 All of your classmates agree with your plan.

2. Simple Past Tense

The simple past tense expresses an action, or situation that occurred
in the past. This action, condition, or situation took place or existed at
some time that occurred in the past has no connection with or is not
carried over to the present or to the time of speaking.
 When the regular verb is used, add – ‘ed’ or – ‘ied’ or – d at the
end of base word, whether the subject is singular or plural.
Examples:
 She wanted to go to the museum.
 The dancers danced gracefully in the concert yesterday.
 The Ancient believed in superstitions.
 He prepared some tea for the guests.

 When the irregular verb is used, to form it into simple past

tense, you need to change the spelling, but some maintain their
original words. Irregular verbs have special forms.
 Examples:
 I bought this red and elegant dress in the mall.
 The water balloon burst when it hit its target.
 He met me at the canteen.
 I talked loudly.

 When the be verb is used, use was for singular subject and
were for plural subject; and had for either singular or plural
subject.

Examples:

 The children were present the whole day.

 This was an interesting experience in my life.
 He had a beehive when he was a child.
 She had everything in her life.

3. Simple Future Tense

It is used to expressed action or condition that will certainly occur in
the future.

 To form the simple future tense, use the auxiliary verb shall or
will with the base form of the verb. NOTE: In modern English
will is preferred to shall. Shall is mainly used with I and we to
make an offer or suggestion or to ask for advice.
Examples:
 Shall I open the window?
 What shall I tell the boss about this money?
 I will pay for the tickets by credit card.
 He will give me a book as a gift on my birthday.
 We will move to a new house next month.

Perfect Tenses

1. Present Perfect Tense

 Use the perfect tense to express an action or a condition that occurred
at some indefinite time in the past. Do not be confused by the word
present for the present perfect tense. This tenses expresses past time.
The word present refers to the tense of the auxiliary verb has or
have.

 To form the present perfect tense, used has or have with the
past participle of the main verb.
Examples:
 She has finished six modules for one month.
 They have already submitted their outputs.

2. Past Perfect Tense

Use the past perfect tense to indicate that one past or condition began
or ended before another action or condition occurred.
 To form the past perfect tense, use the auxiliary verb had plus
the past participle of the main verb whether the subject is
plural or singular.
Examples:
 They had finished their work before the bell rang.
 After Mary had finished her work, she went home.

3. Future Perfect Tense

Use the future perfect tense to express one future action or condition
that will begin and end before another event starts.
 To form the future perfect tense, us will have or shall have
plus the past participle form of the main verb.

Examples:
 Methods of learning will have improved greatly by the
next semester.
 He will have completed his project by Saturday.
Progressive Tenses

These are verb phrase made up of be verb plus – ing form of the main
verb that indicate an action or a condition continuing in the present, past or
future. A verb in the progressive aspect (also known as the continuous form)
usually describes something that takes place during a limited period of time.
1. Present Progressive Tense
 This tense is formed with the helping “be” verb, in the present
tense, plus the present participle of the main verb ending in –
ing.
Examples:
 The summer is passing too quickly.
 We are cleaning the garage every Sunday.
 My sister is going to the party this weekend.

2. Past Progressive Tense

 This tense is formed with the helping verb “be” verb, in the
present tense, plus the present participle of the main verb
ending in – ing.
Examples:
 I was sleeping on the couch when my brother smashed
through the door.
 The band was playing hit songs the whole night.
 She was doing her homework when the power went off.

3. Future Progressive Tense

 This tense is formed with modal “will” plus “be”, plus the present
participle of the main verb ending in – ing.

Examples:
 All students will be getting letters in the mall about
changes for the coming year.
 The amusement park will be increasing ticket prices later
this year.
Perfect Progressive Tenses

It indicates continuous action that has been finished at some

point in the past or that was initiated in the past and continued
to happen. The action is usually of limited duration and has some
current relevance.
 It is formed with the modal “has” plus “been”, plus the present
participle of the verb (with an – ing ending).

Examples:
 George has been painting that house for as long as I can
remember.
 I have been working in the garden the whole morning.
 Have we been telling the truth to customers about tobacco?
 Alex has been writing her dissertation for the last six years.

1. Past Perfect Progressive

It indicates action that was completed at some point in the past.

 It is formed with the helping verb “had” plus “been”, plus the
present participle of the verb (with an – ing ending).
Examples:
 You had been waiting there for more than two hours when she
finally arrived.
 Mike wanted to sit down because he had been standing all day
at work.
 James had been teaching in a university for more than a year
when he left for Asia.
 Kristy was tired because she had been jogging for more than
six minutes.

2. Future Perfect Progressive

 It indicates continuous action that will completed at some point of
in the future.
 It is formed with the modal “will” plus “been”, plus the present
participle of the verb (with an – ing ending).
Examples:
 She will have been singing songs for three hours.
 They will have been discussing the issue for five days.
 My friend will have been working as an engineer in this factory
since January.

End of Module 3, Lesson 2.

IV. Assessment

Activity 1
 A. Identify the italicized verb form by writing one of these labels:
present progressive, past progressive, future progressive, present
perfect progressive, past perfect progressive, and future perfect
progressive.

___________________1. Will you be sending this letter overseas?

___________________2. Joann had been working for an hour.
___________________3. Our gymnastics team is collecting newspaper and
soda cans to raise money.
___________________4. Are you planning a trip to South Africa anytime
soon?
___________________5. Stella’s mother has been working all day.
___________________6. Our recycling efforts are making a difference in
the amount of waste taken to landfills.
___________________7. You will be hearing from us within a week as
regards to your application.
___________________8. We have been eating pizza since yesterday
evening.
___________________9. By next week we will have put our boat away for
the winter.
__________________10. Researchers are working every day to find a cure
for cancer.
__________________11. Last night we were trying to place a call to Korea,
but we couldn’t get through.
__________________12. The city planters had been making changes in
traffic patterns long before citizens called for them.
__________________13. Planted after the turn of the century, this tree
soon will have been growing for over one hundred years.
__________________14. My group is leading the discussion.
__________________15. While the victim was lying on the wayside, a
priest passed by.

Activity 2
Circle the verb or verbs in each sentence below. Then, write whether the
sentence is written in present, past or future tense. Write your answer on
the space provided.

Example: Sam walked to the store yesterday.

Answer: Past Tense

1. I lost my wallet when I sat on a chair at the shopping center.

____________________
2. Michael will participate in the marathon this December.
____________________
3. The team will wash cars to earn money for their uniforms.
____________________
4. We went shopping at the mall over weekend.
____________________
5. Suzy and Sharon will bring food to the potluck.
____________________
6. According to the weather report, it will rain tomorrow.
____________________
7. They go to the movies once a week.
____________________
8. Though he is aware of the danger, Benjamin Franklin decides to risk
electrocution to verify his history.
____________________
9. Monica sneezed, so I handed her a tissue.
____________________
10. In a few weeks, those seeds we planted will grow into bean
plants.
____________________
11. We already shopped for school clothes last week.
____________________
12. Brittany and her sister Karen live in this street.
____________________
13. I almost steeped on the shovel that you left in the backyard!
___________________