LEGACY COLLEGE OF COMPOSTELA

(Formerly: Philippine Institute of Medical Science and Technology)

Dagohoy St. Poblacion, Compostela, Davao De Oro
Telephone No: (084) 400-9392 / Email Address: [email protected]

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

MODULE FOR
INSTITUTIONAL 1

COMMUNICATION ENHANCEMENT

Prepared by:
FERNANDO JR. I. CORTEZ, LPT
STEPHEN MARK H. CORESIS, LPT
PHILIP E. REDUCTO

1
 Module 2
Basics of Sentence Structures

Welcome to Module 2!
This module reviews the basics of sentence structures. It is created to help the students to go back and appreciate the
fundamentals of sentence structures such as; parts of speech, proper use of pronouns, pronoun antecedents, tenses of verbs and the
like. It is our hope that reviewing and understanding the basic concepts will enhance more the skills in English speaking and writing.
Course Objectives
• Construct an essay writing;
• Perform an extemporaneous speech; and
• Reflect on the interview by the instructors.

The following are the lessons of this module:

• Lesson 1: Subject-Verb Agreement
• Lesson 2: Kind of Sentences
• Lesson 3: Parallelism
• Lesson 4: Punctuation

2
Name: _______________________________________________________________________Course/Section: _____________

Lesson 1 – Subject Verb Agreement (SVA)

Introduction
This lesson will help us to understand well the sentence structure as we learn the basic understanding of subject verb
agreement. Understanding the subject verb agreement will help us to muster the basic of grammar. Since, life is a complex situation
agreement of something is very important. So, as we continue on our journey of reviewing the basic of grammar, we may find an
interesting agreement of our mind and heart upon learning on this topic. Brace your self as we embark on this other lesson. God
speed!
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
• Identify the rules in subject verb agreement in the sentences
• Use the rules of SVA in making a sentence

ACTIVITY 15 points
EXERCISE 1: Subject – Verb Agreement

Part 1. Underline the correct form of the verb. (5 points)

1) There (is, are) a pine tree.
2) The teacher as well as the students (was, were) working on the problem.
3) The theme of the show (is, are) remarkable.
4) Here (is, are) your things.
5) The number of people (celebrate, celebrates) Fathers’ Day.

Part 2. Circle the correct form of the verb in the parentheses. (10 points)
1) The main highway (continue, continues) this way and then (narrow, narrows) into two lanes.
2) The President (arrive, arrives) at nine and (enter, enters) the convention hall a short time later.
3) Newspaper reporters (gather, gathers) information and (write, writes) articles.
4) Mom (boil, boils) the pasta and (cover, covers) it with sauce.
5) She (add, adds) cheese and (bake, bakes) the pasta.

ANALYSIS 10 points

1. What is the relationship between Subject and the Verb?

___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

2. How can you manage to understand the confusing subject-verb agreement?

___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

ABSTRACTION

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
1. Verb with -s is singular. Verb without -s is plural.
: He loves the musical. They love the musical.

1.1. Make the linking/verb agree with the real subject.

Rona’s choices are final.
3
1.2. “I” takes plural verb & “am”.
I believe in you I am yours.

2. In most cases, collective noun subjects take singular verbs, but if the group is viewed as individual members, use a plural verb.
The orchestra plays a hit song.
The orchestra discuss the matter.

3. Non- count noun subject take singular verb.

Sugar is sweet. Her feedback is good.
3.1. Mass nouns can only be pluralized by quantifiers. Nouns such as sugar, rice, and hair, information, and evidence.
Three sacks of sugar are heavy.

4. Some proper noun subjects that end in -s such as names of courses, diseases, places, as well as book and film titles and the word
news, take singular verbs (news, politics, physics, mathematics, mumps, measles).

Examples:
Digos is in Davao del Sur. The news was not fake.
Economics is my favorite subject.

5. Items that have two parts take a plural verb.

Slippers Eyeglasses Trousers Earrings

Scissors Sunglasses Pants Pliers

The scissors are cute.

5.1. Verb is singular when used with the world “pair”.

My pair of scissors is lost.

6. Plural subject nouns such as a unit of measurement (distance, weight, time, or amount of money) that signal one unit should
take a singular verb.

Four kilometers costs P200 for a taxi ride.

Five years was not issue when I waited for him.
Fifty thousand pesos has less value now.

7. Basic arithmetical operations (add, subtract, multiply, divide) take singular verbs.
Four times five equals twenty.

8. The indefinite pronoun in Table below are always singular:

Indefinite Pronouns

-one words -body words -thing words Other

Anyone Anybody Anything Each

Everyone Everybody Everything Every

Someone Somebody Something

No one Nobody Nothing

One

Examples:
Anything is possible.
4
Nothing satisfies him.

9. Indefinite pronouns such as: None, All, Most, Any, Some, A lot of (NAMASA) can be a singular or plural.

Some of the boys are my friends.

Some of the food tastes strange.
9.1. With none as subject, use a singular verb.
None tastes good.
9.2. “Some” may modify a singular or plural noun.
Some food looks delicious.

10. With fractions, percentages, and the quantifiers all (of), a lot of, verb agreement depends on the noun coming after these
phrases.
One-half of information is relevant.

11. In pairing subjects and verbs regardless of prepositional phrases or clauses that are sometimes placed in between the subject
and verb.

The color of his eyes is blue. (The subject is color and not eyes.)

12. The expression ‘The number’ used as subject takes a singular verb. The expression ‘a number’ used as a subject takes a
plural verb.
Examples: The number of students coming is decreasing.
A number of students are taking the test.

13. With correlative subjects either…or or neither…nor, the verb agrees with the closest subject.
Examples:

Either Jake or my friends are cute.

Neither my friends nor Jake is eating there.

13.1. With either or neither as subject, use a singular verb.

Example:

Either/Neither of the boys was okay.

14. With there/here subjects, the verb is singular or plural depending on whether the noun phrase following the verb is singular or
plural. There and here are never used as subjects. When a sentence begins with there and here, you must look thoroughly to find
the real subject.
Here come my friends.
There is one person in my heart.

15. When the subjects joined by and refer to a single unit or is considered as one, it takes as singular verb.
Examples: Bread and butter is a common breakfast for Americans.
The secretary and treasurer is here.
5.1. Compound subjects joined by ‘and’ referring to separate entities, should take a plural verb.
Examples: Minda and Linda are my best friends.
The secretary and the treasurer are here.

16. Subjects followed by intervening expressions such as: in addition to, in company with, together with, as well as, etc. Should
take verbs that agree with real subjects.
Examples: The student, together with his classmates, studies the lessons well.
Froilan, together with Jen, has gone to Palawan.

5
17. adjectives used as nouns are considered plural.
Examples: The rich are popular.
The needy are to be given shelter.

Application 45 points
Directions: Read each sentence carefully. Encircle the word that makes the sentence incorrect, explain based on the subject-verb
agreement, and provide the correct word on the space provided.

_______________1) The girl run so fast.

Explanation: ____________________________________________________________________________
_______________2) My brother sketch almost everyday.
Explanation: ____________________________________________________________________________
_______________3) Both magazines and newspapers uses many writers.
Explanation: ____________________________________________________________________________
_______________4) The colors of the painting is stunning.
Explanation: ____________________________________________________________________________
_______________5) Farmers grows crops in the summer.
Explanation: ____________________________________________________________________________
_______________6) Crabs and lobsters crawls along the ocean floor.
Explanation: ____________________________________________________________________________
_______________7) Scientists performs research.
Explanation: ____________________________________________________________________________
_______________8) Workers picks mangoes.
Explanation: ____________________________________________________________________________
_______________9) Some of the students goes for a buy.
Explanation: ____________________________________________________________________________
______________10) The number of attendees who attend the webinar today are enlightened.
Explanation: ____________________________________________________________________________
______________11) Neither the faculty nor the staff go to Boracay.
Explanation: ____________________________________________________________________________
______________12) Two-third of population are below the poverty line.
Explanation: ____________________________________________________________________________
______________13) Most of the handsome faculty members is Julius and Mark.
Explanation: ____________________________________________________________________________
______________14) Fearful is the man who hear the words of God and walk with it.
Explanation: ____________________________________________________________________________
______________15) Johnny, together with his students, buy a book.

“Alone is another word for Splendid”

- Ling (MLBB)

Prepared by:

Stephene Mark H. Coresis

Fernando Jr. I. Cortez
Philip E. Reducto
Approved by:

Engr. Eugene P. Iglesias, MIT

Academic Affairs Head