7

Speech and
Grammar
Quarter 1- ILM 3- Week 3
Subject and Verb Agreement
 Welcome to the Speech and Grammar Grade 7 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM)
Module on Speech Communication and Basic Structures of Grammar. This module was
collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators both from public and private
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For the Learner:

Welcome to the Speech and Grammar Grade 7 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM)
Module on Speech Communication and Basic Structures of Grammar. This module was
designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for guided and independent
learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to process the contents of the learning
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2
 In this part of ILM, the new lesson will be introduced. A number
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Learn
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Reflect
1.What important concepts have you gained in the lesson?
2.What are the difficulties have you encountered in the
process of learning?
3. How will you apply the lesson learned in real-life
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This part will compile the references used in the ILM. IPA
format will be used to cite the references and separate the list
References of books, electronic and websites.

Answer Key This contains answers to all activities in the module.

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Lesson
SUBJECT and VERB
3 AGREEMENT

This Individualized Learning Material (ILM) was designed and develop to help you in
learn and recognize important concepts in Grammar. The coverage of this module will make
you elaborate basic and increasing concept in mechanics. The language used recognizes the
diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard
sequence of the course.

Goals

At the end of exploring this ILM, the student is expected to:

Use the Basic Structures and Forms of Grammar in formulating sentence in Writing
Composition on Subject and Verb Agreement.

i. Identify the different rules of SVA

ii. Use SVA rules in sentences

iii. Supply correct verb forms in a sentence

iv. Use Subject and Verb Agreement rules in a sentence

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 Explore
Activity A

Activity A

Directions: Read and understand the statements carefully. Encircle the letter of the
correct answer.

1. I had the best teacher in 5th grade. She teached me many things.

The word "teached" should be changed to:

a. taught c. teaches
b. will teach d. no change

2. Simon and Carol _______ (love) to _______ (go) to their cabin in the winter.
a. loves go c. loves, goes
b. love, goes d. love, go

3. The school ________ looking for responsible students to be role models.

a. is c. are
b. be d. am

4. Several __________ waiting by the backstage door.

a. was c. were
b. are d. we’re

5. Noah and Logan _________ want to be late for class.

a. doesn't
b. don't

6. One of the students __________ in the city.

a. work
b. works

7. Now that the orchestra is gone, everyone _________ the musicians terribly.
a. miss
b. misses

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 8. Neither of the members _________ scrambled eggs, so we will serve cereal for
breakfast.
a. likes
b. like

9. If you have a singular subject, then the verb must also be singular.
a. True
b. False

10. Some orchestra members are from other countries, but all _____ English well.
a. speaks
b. speak

LEARN

Subject-Verb Agreement
Subjects and verbs must AGREE with one another
in number (singular or plural). Thus, if a subject is
singular, its verb must also be singular; if a subject is
plural, its verb must also be plural.

Most native English speakers know the standard verb-subject combinations by

ear. Examples of these combinations are he talks, not he talk and she has, not she
have. However, if you don’t trust your ear or you find simple sentence formations
confusing, just follow these simple rules and you will be ready to write flawless
sentences in no time!

In the present tense, verbs agree with their subjects in NUMBER (singular/plural)

and in PERSON (first, second, or third). The present tense ending –s (or –es) is used on a

verb if the subject is THIRD PERSON SINGULAR. Otherwise, the verb takes NO ENDING.

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 SINGULAR PLURAL

First Person I love We love

Second Person You love You love

Third Person He/she/it loves they love

❖ If the concept still confuses you, try answering the following questions to understand
when to use the –s (or –es) form of a present tense verb.

Is the verb’s subject he, she, it or Use –s form

YES
one?
(loves, tries, has)
NO
oO

Is the subject a singular noun

YES Use –s form
(such as parent) ?

NO
oO

Is the subject a singular indefinite

noun – anybody, anyone, each,
either, everybody, everyone, YES Use –s form
everything, neither, no one,
someone, or something?

NO
oO

Use the base form of

From Hacker, D. (2006). The
the verb
Bedford handbook (7th ed.).
(love, try, have) Boston: Bedford/ St. Martins.

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Here are the Subject and Verb Agreement rules

Rule 1. A subject will come before a phrase beginning with of. This is a key rule for
understanding subjects. The word of is the culprit in many, perhaps most, subject-verb
mistakes.

Hasty writers, speakers, readers, and listeners might miss the all-too-common mistake in
the following sentence:

Incorrect: A bouquet of yellow roses lend color and fragrance to the room.

Correct: A bouquet of yellow roses lends . . . (bouquet lends, not roses lend)

Rule 2. Two singular subjects connected by or,

either/or, or neither/nor require a singular verb.

Examples:
My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.
Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.
Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with stage decorations.

Rule 3. The verb in an or, either/or, or neither/nor sentence agrees with the noun or
pronoun closest to it.

Examples:
Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that shelf.
Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf.

This rule can lead to bumps in the road. For example, if I is one of two (or more) subjects,
it could lead to this odd sentence:

Awkward: Neither she, my friends, nor I am going to the festival.

If possible, it's best to reword such grammatically correct but awkward sentences.

Better:
Neither she, I, nor my friends are going to the festival.
OR
She, my friends, and I are not going to the festival.

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Rule 5a. Sometimes the subject is separated
from the verb by such words as along with,
as well as, besides, not, etc. These words
and phrases are not part of the subject.
Ignore them and use a singular verb when
the subject is singular.
Examples:
The politician, along with the newsmen, is
expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the
cause of her shaking.
In those sentences, breaking and
entering and bed and breakfast are
compound nouns
. Here are the keys.
Rule 5b. Parentheses are not part of the
subject.
Example: Joe (and his trusty
mutt) was always welcome.
If this seems awkward, try rewriting the
sentence.
Rule 4. As a general rule, use a plural verb
with two or more subjects when they are
connected by and.
Example: A car and a bike are my means of
transportation.
But note these exceptions:
Exceptions:
Breaking and entering is against the law.
The bed and breakfast was charming.
In those sentences, breaking and
entering and bed and breakfast are
compound nouns
Rule 6. In sentences beginning
with here or there, the true subject follows the
verb.
Examples:
There are four hurdles to jump.
There is a high hurdle to jump.
NOTE:
The word there's, a contraction of there is,
leads to bad habits in informal sentences
like There's a lot of people here today, because
it's easier to say "there's" than "there are."
Take care never to use there's with a plural
subject.
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 Rule 7. Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time,
sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit.

Examples:
Three miles is too far to walk.
Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
BUT
Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on the floor.

Rule 8. With words that indicate portions—e.g., a lot, a majority, some, all—Rule 1
given earlier in this section is reversed, and we are guided by the noun after of. If the
noun after of is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.

Examples:

A lot of the pie has disappeared.

A lot of the pies have disappeared.
A third of the city is unemployed.
A third of the people are unemployed.
All of the pie is gone.
All of the pies are gone.
Some of the pie is missing.
Some of the pies are missing.

NOTE

In recent years, the SAT testing service has considered none to be strictly
singular. However, according to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage:

"Clearly none has been both singular and plural since Old English and still is. The
notion that it is singular only is a myth of unknown origin that appears to have arisen
in the 19th century. If in context it seems like a singular to you, use a singular verb; if
it seems like a plural, use a plural verb. Both are acceptable beyond serious criticism."
When none is clearly intended to mean "not one," it is followed by a singular verb.

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Rule 9. With collective nouns such as group, jury, family, audience, population, the
verb might be singular or plural, depending on the writer's intent.

Examples:
All of my family has arrived OR have arrived.
Most of the jury is here OR are here.
A third of the population was opposed OR were opposed to the bill.

NOTE

Anyone who uses a plural verb with a collective noun must take care to be
accurate—and also consistent. It must not be done carelessly. The following is
the sort of flawed sentence one sees and hears a lot these days:

The staff is deciding how they want to vote.

Careful speakers and writers would avoid assigning the singular is and the
plural they to staff in the same sentence.

Consistent: The staff are deciding how they want to vote.

Rewriting such sentences is recommended whenever possible. The preceding

sentence would read even better as:

The staff members are deciding how they want to vote.

Rule 10. The word were replaces was in sentences that express a wish or are contrary
to fact:

Example: If Joe were here, you'd be sorry.

Shouldn't Joe be followed by was, not were, given that Joe is singular? But Joe isn't
actually here, so we say were, not was. The sentence demonstrates the subjunctive
mood, which is used to express things that are hypothetical, wishful, imaginary, or
factually contradictory. The subjunctive mood pairs singular subjects with what we
usually think of as plural verbs.

Examples:
I wish it were Friday.
She requested that he raise his hand.

In the first example, a wishful statement, not a fact, is being expressed;

therefore, were, which we usually think of as a plural verb, is used with the
singular it. (Technically, it is the singular subject of the object clause in the
subjunctive mood: it were Friday.)

Normally, he raise would sound terrible to us. However, in the second example,
where a request is being expressed, the subjunctive mood is correct.

Note: The subjunctive mood is losing ground in spoken English but should still
be used in formal speech and writing.
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 Other Rules

11.Indefinite pronouns typically take singular verbs.

Example: Everybody wants to be loved.

12. * Except for the pronouns (few, many, several, both) that always take the

plural form.

Example: Few were left alive after the flood

13. If two infinitives are separated by and they take the plural form of the

verb.

Example: To walk and to chew gum require great skill.

14. When gerunds are used as the subject of a sentence they take the singular

verb form of the verb, but when they are linked by and they take the plural

form.

Example: Standing in the water was a bad idea. Swimming in the ocean and
playing drums are my hobbies.

18. Collective nouns like herd, senate, class, crowd, etc. usually take a

singular verb form.

Example: The herd is stampeding.

❖ Remember, only the subject affects the verb!

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 Apply

Activity B

Directions: Underline the subject (or compound subject) and then identify the verb
that

agrees with it.

❖ Everyone in the telecom focus group (has/have) experienced problems with

cell phones

1. Your friendship over the years and your support (has/have) meant a great deal to
us.

2. Hamilton Family Center, a shelter for teenage runaways in San Francisco,

(offers/offer) a wide variety of services.

3. The main source of income for Trinidad (is/are) oil and pitch.

4. The chances of your being promoted (is/are) excellent.

5. There (was/were) a Pokémon card stuck to the refrigerator.

6. Neither the professor nor his assistants (was/were) able to solve the mystery of
the eerie glow in the laboratory.

7. Many hours at the driving range (has/have) led us to design golf balls with GPS
locators in them.

8. Discovered in the soil of our city garden (was/were) a button dating from the Civil
War dating from the turn of the century.

9. Every year, during the midsummer festival, the smoke of village bonfires (fills/fill)
the sky.

10. The story performers (was/were) surrounded by children and adults eager to see
magical tales.

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Activity C

Directions: Edit the following sentences to eliminate problems with subject-verb

agreement and write the edited sentence. If a sentence is correct, write “correct.”

❖ Jack’s first days in the infantry was gruelling

Edited sentence: Jack’s first days in the infantry were gruelling

1. One of the main reasons for elephant poaching are the profits received from

selling the ivory tusks.

___________________________________________________________________

2. Not until my interview with Dr. Chang were other possibilities opened to me.

___________________________________________________________________

3. Batik cloth from Bali, blue and white ceramics from Cambodia, and a bocce

ball from Turin has made Hannah’s room the talk of the dorm.

___________________________________________________________________

4. The board of directors, ignoring the wishes of the neighborhood, has voted to

allow further development.

___________________________________________________________________

5. Measles is a contagious childhood disease.

___________________________________________________________________

6. The presence of certain bacteria in our bodies are one of the factors that

determines our overall health.

___________________________________________________________________

7. Leah is the only one of the many applicants who has the ability to step into this

job. ________________________________________________________________

8. Neither the explorer nor his companions was ever seen again.

___________________________________________________________________

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Activity D

Directions: For each of the following, choose the sentence in which the subject and
verb agree. Shade the letter of your choice.

1.

A) Every one of the shirts has a green collar.

B) Every one of the shirts have a green collar.

2.

A) This singer, along with a few others, play the harmonica on stage.

B) This singer, along with a few others, plays the harmonica on stage.

3.

A) Sandals and towels are essential gear for a trip to the beach.

B) Sandals and towels is essential gear for a trip to the beach.

4.

A) The president or the vice president are speaking today.

B) The president or the vice president is speaking today.

5.

A) Either Cassie or Marie pays the employees this afternoon.

B) Either Cassie or Marie pay the employees this afternoon.

6.

A) Either the sculpture or the paintings are in the museum today.

B) Either the sculpture or the paintings is in the museum today.

7.

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 A) The coat or the hats are in that closet.

B) The coat or the hats is in that closet.

8.

A) Neither she nor I is getting the lunch special.

B) Neither she nor I am getting the lunch special.

C) Neither she nor I are getting the lunch special.

9.

A) Each of the dancers twirls brilliantly.

B) Each of the dancers twirl brilliantly.

10.

A) Mustard greens are my favorite vegetable.

B) Mustard greens is my favorite vegetable.

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 Assess

Directions: Shade the letter of the correct answer.

1. Choose the correct form of the verb for the following sentence:
Scientists __________ for information about how animals
communicate.
(A) searches
(B) search

2. Choose the correct form of the verb for the following sentence: A
police officer _________ with the Crime Watch program to keep
our neighborhood safe.
(A) works
(B) work

3. Identify the subject and verb of the following sentence as either

singular or plural: Several businesses have moved into the area
recently.
(A) singular subject and verb
(B) plural subject and verb

4. Identify the subject and verb of the following sentence as either

singular or plural: Matthew often climbs the four flights of stairs for
exercise.
(A) singular subject and verb
(B) plural subject and verb

5. Choose the correct verb to complete the following sentence: Laurel

and Hardy ________ famous comedians.
(A) Was
(B) Were
6. Choose the correct verb to complete the following sentence: Either
Mom or Dad ___________ the dishes.
(A) does
(B) Do

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7. Choose the correct verb to complete the following sentence: Neither
Angela nor her friends ________ going to the concert.
(A) Is
(B) Are

8. Choose the correct verb to complete the following sentence: Each of

the pictures ________ a star's autograph on it.
(A) Have
(B) Has

9. Choose the correct verb to complete the following sentence: The

neighbors down the street ________ going to water our plants while
we are away.
(A) Is
(B) Are

10. Choose the correct verb to complete the following sentence:

__________ your friends from Australia arrived yet?
(A) Has
(B) Have

Reflect

What important concepts have you learned in this lesson?

1. What are the difficulties have you encountered in the process of learning?

2. In your future career, do you think you can apply this lesson in real life? Why or

why not?

References 18
https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/sub-verb.htm

https://www.menlo.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/SUBJECT-VERB_AGREEMENT.pdf

http://www3.kau.se/kurstorg/files/t/C10B9A3D0a47e29FFBrlsiED2C12/The%2020%20Rules
%20of%20Subject%20Verb%20Agreement%20in%20Standard%20English.pdf

https://www.helpteaching.com/questions/Subject_and_Verb_Agreement/Grade_7

https://www.classzone.com/books/lnetwork_gr06/page_build.cfm?id=quiz&ch=7

https://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asp

file:///C:/Users/User/Desktop/2020%20Module/SUBJECT-VERB_AGREEMENT.pdf

https://www.grammarbook.com/grammar_quiz/subject_verb_agreement_1b.asp

Answer Key
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Activity A

1. C 6. B
2. D 7. B
3. A 8. B
4. B 9. A
5. B 10. B

Activity B

1. Friendship, support - have 6. Assistants - were

2. Hamilton Family Center - offers 7. Many hours - have
3. Main source - is 8. Button –was
4. Chances - are 9. Smoke - fills
5. Pokemon card - was 10. Performers – were

Activity C

1. One of the main reasons for elephant poaching is the profits received from

selling the ivory tusks.

2. Correct

3. Batik cloth from Bali, blue and white ceramics from Cambodia, and a bocce

ball from Turin have made Hannah’s room the talk of the dorm.

4. The board of directors, ignoring the wishes of the neighborhood, have voted to

allow further development.

5. Correct

6. The presence of certain bacteria in our bodies is one of the factors that

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determines our overall health.

7. Correct

8. Neither the explorer nor his companions were ever seen again.

Activity D Assessment

1. A 1. B
2. B 2. A
3. A 3. B
4. B 4. A
5. A 5. B
6. A 6. A
7. A 7. B
8. B 8. B
9. A 9. B
10. B 10. B

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