1. A verb agrees
with its subject in person and in number.
Wrong: They doesn’t understand what to do.
Right: They don’t understand what to do.
2. The number of
noun in a phrase introduced by the preposition “of” does not affect the form of
the verb.
Wrong: A list of books were made by Bong.
Right: A list of books was made by Bong.
3 .Compound subjects joined by “and” ordinarily take the
base form of the verb.
Wrong: Here comes Nanding and Manny.
Right: Here come Nanding and Manny
4. When two or
more singular subjects are joined by “or” or “nor” the “s” form of the verb is
required.
Wrong: A man’s success or failure lie in his hands.
Right: A man’s success or failure lies in his hands.
5. Intervening
phrases introduced by “of, with, together with, as well as, including,
Besides, no less than, in addition to, accompanied by,
not, do not affect the form of the verb.
Wrong: The teacher, together with her pupils were there.
Right: The teacher, together with her pupils was there.
6. Compound nouns
joined by “and” use the “s” for of the verb if they are regarded as a unit.
Example: Bread and butter was all he asked for.
7. When the
subject and predicate nominative differ in number, the verb must agree with the
subject “not” the complement.
Wrong: The theme of the essay are the experiences of our
heroes.
Right: The theme of the essay is the experiences of our
heroes.
8.
Compound
subjects joined by “either-or, neither-nor, not only- but also” ordinarily Take
verbs agreeing in number with the nearer subject.
Wrong: Not only the students but also the teacher are
learning. Right: Not only the students but also the teacher is leaning.
9. When the
subject comes after the verb make sure that the veb agrees with its subject.
Wrong: In this school is enrolled several alien students.
Right: In this school are enrolled several alien
students.
10. Never begin a
sentence with a participle that does not logically modify the subject f the
sentence.
Wrong: walking around the campis, the bell rang.
Right: Walking around the campus, I heard the bell rang.
11. Sentence
elements that are grammatically connected should be cloed together.
Wrong: I, after the class, went to the movies.
Right: I went to the movies after my class.
12. Modifiers
should be placed as near as possible to the words they modify.
Wrong: She rushed into the room just as we are singing
the last song breathless with excitement .
Right: Breathless with excitement, she rushed into the
room just as we are singing the last song.
13. Avoid dangling
modifiers
Wrong: Having taken the entrance examinations, the
President of the College accepted me.
14. Ordinarily,”this”
and “that” take the “s” form of the verb while “these” and “those” take the
base form of the verb.
Examples: That is good idea.
These are times that try man’s soul.
15. The following
indefinite pronouns are ordinarily use with the third person. They take the
base form of the verb: “all, both, few
, many, several, some.
Examples: All were satisfied.
Both are to be blamed.
16. The following
indefinite promouns, whether singular or plural in meaning are ordinarily used
with the third person “S” form of the verb:
“each,
everybody, everyone, everything ,any ,anything , other ,somebody ,someone
,something ,one
,nothing ,nobody ,either ,neither , another.
Examples: Each arrives on time
: Everything is in order
17. The “title” of a book is considered
singular.
Example: “The Dialogues” of Plato is a great classic.
18. The word
“people”, meaning many persons is plural.
Peoples refer to different races.
Examples: The people were excited about the news. The
people vote for Erap’s candidates.
19. The expression
“the number of” takes “S” for of the verb, while the
expression
“a number
of “ takes the base form of the verb.
Examples “A number of books are on reserve in the
library. The number of students in the class is limited.
20. Noun referring
to money, time, measurement or distance that is preceded by an
Expression of any amount or quantity is considered
singular and takes the singular form of the verb.
Examples: Five hundred pesos is a long time to wait for
you.
Three weeks is a long time to wait for you.
21. The number of
the noun that follows an expression “of fraction” or portion determines the
number of the verb to used.
Example: One third of the apples are yours.
Half the apple was eaten by rats.
22. Sentences introduced
by “it” take the “s” form of the verb.
Examples: It is time to say goodbye.
It hurts to say goodbye.
23. The number of
the subject of a sentence introduced by “there” determines the verb to be used.
Examples: There is a man in the room.
There are days when she is lonely.
There are five schooldays in a week.
24. The verb takes
an “S” when it is used in the third person singular of the present tense.
Example: Jerry plays chess vidorously.
25. The expressions
“one of the, the number of and a number of “are always followed by plural
nouns.
Examples: One of the boys in absent.
A number of books were stolen.
A number of apples were rotten.
26. Some nouns are
always plural in form
Examples: measles, mumps, pants, shorts, scissors,
trousers.
My scissors are missing.
27. Nouns such as
Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Politics, Physics are used with the
singular form of the verb when they refer to an area of study.
Examples: Physics is required for science majors.
Politics, is not dirty per se, but the politicians are
the ones making it dirty.
28. Possession is
usually shown by adding apostrophe (‘) or apostrophe and s (s’) to a noun
Examples: The boy’s club.
: The ladie’s club
29. The infinitive
of a verb is always in the simple form.
Examples: To love is an adventure.
Long ago, Bong’s dream was to live in a forest.
30. Nouns plural in
form but singular in meaning (Singular form of the verb) Examples: News,
measles. The news is exciting.
31. Nouns singular
in form but function collectively
Examples: information, food, equipment, jewelry;
furniture.