DOMINICAN SCHOOL OF CALABANGA

San Francisco, Calabanga, Camarines Sur

MODULE IN ENGLISH GRADE 7

FIRST QUARTER

WEEK 2

FOREWORD

This module was designed in response to the “new normal” school year, resilience must be built into our
educational systems to ensure that knowledge and skills remain a priority for all students. This module contains the Most
Essential Learning Competencies (MELC), an innovative response to the present situation of our educational system. With
the distance education or learning, the school hoped for a continuous learning for the students who may not be
physically present at school. This is also to ensure the safety and health of the students.

Lesson 2: Recognizing Subject-Verb Agreement

Here are the tasks you must accomplish for this module:

 Analyze the rules for subject-verb agreement

 Construct sentences that observe correct subject-verb agreement
 Identify the proper subject/verb in a sentence

Before we proceed with our literature topics, let’s have a pause for a while. How is you
feeling today? Hmm. . . It doesn’t sound good, right? I saw you rolled your eyes. But I do
understand, it feels like there is something wrong with a particular part of the sentence, but
which one?
You’re correct, just like the relationship between you and your crush, “is” and “you” are not
for each other. Kidding aside, we must know that the relationship between subjects and verbs lie at the
heart of grammatically correct English writing. Subject-verb agreement unifies a sentence and makes it easier
to understand.
Diagnostic Test
I. Put a shade on the like button if you think the statement is grammatically correct and dislike if it is incorrect.

1. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, is in this case.

2. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, greet the press cordially.

3. Are the tweezers in this drawer?

4. The committee members lead very different lives in private.

5. There were fifteen candies in that bag. Now there are only one left!

6. Mathematics are John's favorite subject, while Civics are Andrea's favorite subject

7. The movie, including all the previews, takes about two hours to watch.

8. George and Tamara doesn't want to see that movie.

9. Annie and her brothers are at school.

 10. The dog or the cats is outside.

The Basic Principle: Singular subjects need singular

Roses are red
Violets are blue
If you always agree with your friend’s advice
Well subject must be with verb too!
verbs; plural subjects need plural verbs. 
My teacher is so handsome.
My friends are saying that he looks like James Reid.

However, there are exceptions to every rule and some of these rules are quite confusing which makes someone
being bashed on the social media (sad truth). So you always have to be careful when using verb on a particular
subject. Here are some of those rules…

Rule #1
 Subject must agree with its verb.
In present tenses, nouns and verbs form plurals in opposite ways:  nouns ADD an s to the singular form,
but verbs REMOVE an s from the singular form.

• The dog growls when he is angry. (correct)

• The dog growl when he is angry. (incorrect)
Rule #2
 Don’t get confused with the words that come between the subject and the verb; they do not affect
agreement.
• The dog, who is chewing on my jeans, is usually very good. (correct)
• Mark, together with some of his friends, paint a mural. (wrong)
Rule #3
 Prepositional phrase of the between subject and the verb usually do not affect agreement.
• The colors of the rainbow are beautiful. (correct)
• The center on the basketball team bounce the ball too high. (of course, wrong)
Rule #4
 When sentences start with “there” or “here,” the subject will always be placed after the verb, so care
needs to be taken to identify it correctly.
• There is a problem with the balance. (correct)
• Here is the papers you requested. (opposite of correct)
Rule #5
 Subject don’t always come before verbs in questions. Make sure you accurately identify the subject before
deciding on the proper verb form to use.
• Where are the pieces of this puzzle? (correct)
• When is we going to leave? (not correct)
Rule #6
 If two subjects are joined by “and”, they typically require a plural verb form.
• The cow and the pig are jumping over the moon. (correct)
• The book and notebook is needed when studying. (erroneous)
Rule #7
 The verb is singular of the two subjects separated by “and” refer to the same person or thing.
• Red beans and rice is my mom’s favorite meal. (correct)
• The bed and breakfast were charming. (confusing, but incorrect)

Perhaps, this is somehow confusing to you. Given the example above, “Red beans” and “rice” are not
taken separately thus having it as singular. It would be different if it were written as “The rice and the
red beans were placed on different bowls.” where Rule #6 will be applied. On the second example,
bed and breakfast is a compound subject which also takes a singular verb.
Rule #8
 If the subjects are both singular and are connected by the words “or,” “nor”, “neither-nor”, “either-or’,
and “not only – but also” the verb is singular.
• Neither the customer nor the manager was aware of the storm. (correct)
• We tried to tell the teacher that either Bob or Kiko were responsible for the broken desk. (incorrect)
Rule #9
 If the subjects are both plural and are connected by the words “or,” “nor”, “neither-nor”, “either-or’, and
“not only – but also” the verb is plural.
• Neither the managers nor the employees handling all the outstanding accounts have been successful
in reconciling the financials. (correct)
• We offered them advice, but neither the girls nor the boys was interested in our opinions . (incorrect)
Rule #10
 If one subjects is singular and the other one is plural and connected by the words “or,” “nor”, “neither-
nor”, “either-or’, and “not only – but also”, you will use the verb form of the subject nearest to the verb.
• Either the boys or their father was talking excitedly about the event. (correct)
• Neither Jerry nor his parents is willing to accept responsibility for the broken window. (guess what,
wrong)
Information overload? Okay, let’s have some exercise first… No, do not do the stretching…. What I
mean is this…

I. Underline the correct verb for each sentence.

1. The books which I borrowed from the library (is/are) on my desk.

2. My supervisor (help/helps) me to get the promotion.
3. A bow and arrow (is/are) is required before you start an archery lesson.
4. John’s friend and girlfriend (was/were) here yesterday.
5. Where (do/does) you go after the ceremony?
6. There (is/are) people who will pull you down while succeeding.
7. The guy (do/does) not wear face mask.
8. Either Blaster or his bandmates (is/are) answering the comments of their fans.
9. Neither the teachers nor the students (is/are) being happy with the new learning procedures.
10. Either Cardo or Joaquin (get/gets) the reward money.
=-

ludicrous /ˈlo͞odəkrəs/ adjective

so foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to “Go!” is the shortest grammatically correct
be amusing; ridiculous. sentence in English.
‘

"It's ludicrous that I have been fined."

Going back…

Rule #11
 The only time when the object of the preposition factors into the decision of plural or singular verb forms
is when noun and pronoun subjects like “some’, “half”. “none”, “more” or “all” are followed by a
prepositional phrase. In these sentences the object of the preposition determines the form of the verb.
• All of the chicken is gone. (correct)
• None of the characters was revealed. (wrong)
Rule #12

 The singular verb form is usually used for units of measurement or time.
• Four quarts of oil was required to get the car running. (correct)
• Five dollars are too much to ask. (incorrect)
Rule #13
 Indefinite pronouns typically take singular verbs…
each, someone, either, anyone, neither, nobody, somebody, no one, anybody everyone, everybody
• Everybody wants to be loved. (correct)
• Someone in the game were hurt. (incorrect)
Rule #14

 … except for FEW, MANY, SEVERAL, BOTH, ALL and SOME that always take the plural form.
• Few were left alive after the flood. (correct)
• Several of them likes pineapple pie. (wrong)
Rule #15
 If two infinitives are separated by “and” they take the plural form of the verb.
• To walk and to chew gum require great skill. (correct)
• To love and to serve the people is my goals in life. (not correct)
Rule #16
 When gerunds are used as the subject of a sentence, they take the singular form of the verb, but when
they are linked by “and”, they take the plural form.
• Standing in the water was a bad idea. (correct)
• Swimming in the ocean and playing drums is my hobbies. (incorrect)
Rule #17
 Collective nouns like “herd”, “senate”, “class” and “crowd” usually take a singular verb form.
• The herd is stampeding. (correct)
• The class are not doing the homework. (wrong)
Rule #18
 Plural form subjects with a singular meaning take a singular verb. (e.g. news, measles, mumps, physics, etc.)
while Plural form subjects with a plural meaning take a plural verb. (e.g.  scissors, trousers)
• Politics is quite a big issue nowadays. (correct)
• The scissors are on the table. (also correct)
• Measles are a contagious disease. (incorrect)
• The pair of scissors are on the table. (also incorrect, see rule #2)
Rule #19
 Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. are treated as singular and take singular verb.
• The Burbs is a movie starring Tom Hanks. (correct)
• The Ghostbusters are a funny movie. (incorrect)
 Rule #20
 Final rule: Remember, only the subject affects the verb! Nothing else matters.
• Jacob, who owns sixteen houses, is on his way to becoming a billionaire. (correct)
• Jacob, who owns sixteen houses, are on his way to becoming a billionaire. (and finally, incorrect)

II. Put an (X) on the verb that corresponds for each

subject.

1. Ten days (is/are) not nearly enough time.

2. Half of the class (is/are)
3. Some (is/are) not participating in the lessons.
4. Nobody (want/wants) to volunteer for the bloodletting event.
5. Reading my favorite novel (serve/serves) as my pastime.
6. To love and to hate (is/are) both difficult.
7. In each of the cases, the ethics (is/are) are relatable to the processes whereby decisions are made.
8. The basketball team (celebrate/celebrates) their first victory.
9. Everyone, who does good every day, (deserve/deserves) to be happy.
 10. Avengers (is/are) the greatest movie of all time for me.
Great job! Now let us have more examples so you can get the hang of it.

III. Identify what rule applies for each sentence given.

The first item is provided as example.

Rule #13 1. Everyone has done his or her homework.

Rule #__ 2. You are responsible for doing your own work.
Rule #__ 3. Either my father or my brothers are going to sell the car.
Rule #__ 4. Neither my sisters nor my friends are watching the movie.
Rule #__ 5. The samples on the tray in the lab need testing.
There is name for the small dot
Rule #__ 6. Mary and John usually play together.
in the letter “i” – a “tittle”.
Rule #__ 7. The Smurfs teaches us that we should dare to be different.
Rule #__ 8. To serve and to protect my countrymen are my duties.
Rule #__ 9. Learning how to play piano is a very hard task.
Rule #__ 10. The crowd shouts for the wrestler’s name.
Rule #__ 11. When are we getting back to normal?
Rule #__ 12. There are a lot of things that we should be thankful every day.
Rule #__ His mother, who works at the bank, is very strict.
Rule #__ 14. Both of them are smart.
Rule #__ 15. All of his answers were correct.

Way to go!

IV. Complete the sentences by supplying the appropriate predicate. Subject is already
provided. Observe correct subject-verb agreement. First item serves as an example.
1. The woman inside the room is my wife.
2. His parents ______________________
3. Either Jack______________________
4. Romeo and I______________________
5. Nobody______________________
6. Several protesters______________________
7. Gymnastics______________________
8. Fifteen pesos______________________
9. Making an origami______________________
10. Marisol, a person whom I trust the most, ______________________

You made it, great job! Since that you already understand the rules in observing the correct
subject-verb agreement, let me ask you few more questions for me to know your own perspective
on these matters. Write a tweet about it and give a hashtag for your post.

Many people are being bashed on the internet because they write
posts that have grammatical errors, especially SV agreement. In
your simple ways, how can you stop this form of cyberbullying?
1. What I have learned?
__________________________________________________________________________

2. What were the difficulties encountered in the topic?

__________________________________________________________________________

3. In summary/In a nutshell…

I have learned that learning SV agreement is important because…

__________________________________________________________________________________________

“Grammar is the logic of speech, even as logic is the grammar of reason.”

- Richard Chenevix Trench