COMMON LAPSES IN GRAMMAR
AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE
ALCOSEBA AND GUADALQUIVER
Subject Verb Agreement
• The basic rule to remember is that the VERB
must agree with its SUBJECT in number
(singular or plural) and in person (first,
second or third)
Basic Rules in Subject-Verb Agreement
• There are two types of action verbs;
regular verbs and irregular verbs
• The past and participle forms of regular
action verbs are formed with an-ed.
Basic Rules in Subject-Verb Agreement
• Irregular verbs in past time do not need
helping verbs
• Irregular verbs in the past principle form
need helping verbs
Basic Rules
1. A sentence in present tense with a
singular subject is paired with a verb in the
–s form.
Example:
The lady throws her bouquet in the air.
Basic Rules
2. A sentence in present tense with a plural
subject is paired with a verb in a regular
present form (i.e., no-s).
Example:
The ladies throw their bouquet in the air.
Basic Rules
3. Do not get confused with the words that may
come between the subject and the verb.
Incorrect:
Belen, who gave me cupcakes, are my aunt.
Correct:
Belen, who gave me cupcakes, is my aunt.
Basic Rules
4. Do not shift verb tenses unnecessarily in the
sentences all throughout the paragraph and in
the whole text.
Incorrect:
She likes cupcakes; thus, she baked them.
Correct:
She likes cupcakes; thus, she bakes them.
Basic Rules
5. Place the subject after the verb when a
sentence begins with the word “here” or
“there”. This will help you determine what
number your verb should agree with.
Example:
Here are your clothes.
There is a rainbow.
Irregular Verbs
Pattern Base Form Past Form Past Principle
-d ending changes to Bend Bent Bent
-t Lend Lent Lent
Send Sent Sent
Minus one vowel but a Sleep Slept Slept
plus in consonant Feed Fed Fed
ending Kneel Knelt Knelt
-d or –t ending with ea Dream Dreamt Dreamt
vowels pronounced as Mean Meant Meant
short e Hear Heard Heard
Vowel is changed to Teach Taught Taught
–ought or -aught Bring Brought Brought
Fight Fought Fought
Common Mistakes
Singular Plural
Present Tense Past Tense Present Tense Past Tense
is was are were
has had have had
does did do did
①
The rule on the auxiliary verbs “is/are” and “are/were”
Examples:
• The representative from the Philippines to the
Southeast Asian Games is from Laguna.
• The representatives from the Philippines, together
with my uncle who happens to be their coach are
leaving tomorrow.
The rule on the auxiliary verbs “is/are” and “are/were”
Examples:
• The graduating class of Mrs. Lim, the teacher who is
beloved by the students, is planning a birthday surprise
for her.
• The cupcakes which Kitty decorated with cappuccino
icing and nuts were gone in an instant.
②
The auxiliary verb “has” is the singular form, while
“have” is the plural form for the present tense. The past
form for both is “had.”
Incorrect: She have chickenpox. (present tense)
Correct: She has chickenpox. (present tense)
If she has recovered from the disease,
Correct: She had chickenpox. (past tense)
③
Present tense rule applies only to the third person. The
first person and the second person pronouns such as “I”
and “you” take the plural form “have.”
Incorrect: I has chickenpox.
Correct: I have chickenpox. (present tense)
I had chickenpox. (past tense)
Present tense rule applies only to the third person. The
first person and the second person pronouns such as “I”
and “you” take the plural form “have.”
Incorrect: You has chickenpox
Correct: You have chickenpox. (present tense)
You had chickenpox. (past tense)
④ Collective nouns such as class take the singular form.
• The House of Representatives has taken a step to help
solve the problem.
• The association of organic farmers has been busy
educating and encouraging other farmers to shift to
organic farming.
• The committee has decided to change the date and
venue of the meeting.
⑤ “Has,” “have,” and “had” should go with the past
participle form of an action verb.
• I have frozen the cake before putting icing on it. (Not
freeze nor froze)
• The announcement of the actress regarding her recent
depression bouts has shaken many fans. (not shake nor
shook)
• I have hidden my valuables beneath the pile of paper
under my table.
“Has,” “have,” and “had” should go with the past
participle form of an action verb.
• I deeply regret that I had thrown all the old letters I
received from my friends. (not throw nor threw)
• The nurse had drawn the blinds to darken the room so
that the patient can relax and sleep. (not draw nor
drew)
⑥
The auxiliary verb “did” always goes along with the
base form of a verb and never with the past form.
Incorrect:
Did she went to South Korea for a vacation?
Did she gone to South Korea for a vacation?
Correct:
Did she go to South Korea for a vacation?
The auxiliary verb “did” always goes along with the
base form of a verb and never with the past form.
Incorrect:
I did took the teachers’ licensure exam.
I did taken the teachers’ licensure exam.
Correct:
I did take the teachers’ licensure exam.
⑦ “Does” is the singular form, and “do” is the plural form
in the third person point of view. The first and second
person points of view take the plural form as well.
First person: I do like the food at the wedding reception.
Second person: You do like them too, don’t you?
Incorrect: She do a lot of baking during the weekends.
Correct: She does a lot of baking during the weekends.
⑧ The word “to” in the infinitive form should go along with
the base form and not the past form.
Incorrect:
The backpackers would like to bought the souvenir shirt.
Correct:
The backpackers would like to buy the souvenir shirt.
Incorrect:
Tourists can use the train to went around the city.
Correct:
Tourists can use the train to go around the city.
Excellent writers are also conscious in making sure that the
verb forms they use are consistent all throughout.
Incorrect:
Richard says that his contract ended yesterday.
Correct:
Richard said that his contract ended yesterday.
Incorrect:
His report was late because he includes too much information.
Correct:
His report was late because he included too much information.
OTHER COMMON LAPSES IN GRAMMAR AND
SENTENCE STRUCTURE
1. Sentence Fragments
2. Missing Comma After Introductory Element
3. Misusing the Apostrophe with “It’s”
4. No Comma in a Compound Sentence
5. Misplaced or Dangling Modifier
6. Vague Pronoun Reference
