GRAMMAR

LITERACY
GREZA MAE BANTILO ZASPA, MALL
UEP- FACULTY MEMBER
PLEASE READ THE
WORD/PHRASES THAT
FOLLOW…
WRONG GRAMMAR
WITH REGARDS TO
ADVICES
WRONG SEND/
WRONG SENT
WHICH AMONG
THE FOUR
IS/ARE
CORRECT?
HOW ABOUT
THE
ERRONEOUS
PHRASES?
NEITHER IS CORRECT…

ALL ARE ERRONEOUS…

INCORRECT:
WRONG GRAMMAR

CORRECT:
UNGRAMMATICAL
Grammar is defined as the SET OF
RULES that explain how the words are
used in a language.
Describing GRAMMAR as WRONG is
like saying…
WRONG GRAMMAR
WRONG SET OF RULES!
 UNGRAMMATICAL

UN- NOT
GRAMMATICAL- IN CONFORMITY WITH
THE SET OF
RULES

Therefore, UNGRAMMATICAL means

NOT IN CONFORMITY WITH THE SET OF

RULES
INCORRECT: WITH REGARDS TO
CORRECT : WITH REGARD TO

The noun REGARD means respect or relation

Therefore, WITH REGARD TO means

WITH RESPECT TO or WITH RELATION
TO
INCORRECT: ADVICES
CORRECT: PIECES OF
ADVICE

ADVICE is said to be an
uncountable noun
INCORRECT: WRONG SEND/ SENT
CORRECT: WRONGLY SENT

WRONG is an ADJECTIVE
SENT is a VERB

Adjective describes either a NOUN or a

PRONOUN, and NOT a VERB
An adverb describes a verb, adjective or another
adverb

WRONGLY is an ADVERB
SENT is a VERB

An adverb describes a verb, adjective or another

adverb
PART I: SV AGREEMENT
PART II: PARTS OF SPEECH
PART III: GRAMMAR GAFFES
PART I- AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SUBJECT AND
THE VERB

1.The verb agrees with the subject regardless of the

intervening words

The manager together with his two secretaries joins the

activity.
The managers together with the secretary join the activity.
2. A plural verb is used with COMPOUND SUBJECT
connected by AND; when the subject pertains to the SAME
person connected by AND , use singular verb.

The class adviser and the ICT Head attend the meeting on
curriculum revision of undergraduate programs.

The class adviser and ICT Head attends the meeting on

curriculum revision of undergraduate programs.
3. When the compound subject takes
positive and negative elements, the positive
element must be considered

You, not her, are to be blamed.

Grace, not her friends, is to be accepted.

4. Nouns PLURAL IN FORM but SINGULAR IN MEANING

Measles has been affecting children.

Mathematics is a mentally challenging subject.

5. Use singular verbs for subjects indicating amounts, measurement

and time

Two thousand pesos worth of grocery items has been my prize.

Five kilometers is too far, we should rather ride a bus.
Three hours takes me to write a good letter.
6. THE NUMBER takes singular verbs while A
NUMBER takes plural verbs

The number of applicants in our firm grows

every year.

A number of applicants in our firm are now

waiting for their call.
7. A collective noun used as a subject and is taken as a
UNIT takes a singular verb. If separate components, use
plural verb.

The committee approves the proposal.

The committee suggest different revisions to the

proposal.
8. Indefinite pronouns such as EACH, EVERY,
EVERYTHING, NO ONE, NOBODY, SOMEBODY,
ANYTHING take SINGULAR verbs

Everything is planned well by the inspectorate team.

Each applicant sends a letter to the supervisor.

9. Indefinite pronouns such as ALL, SEVERAL, MANY, and

FEW take PLURAL verbs.

Several applicants are interested for the position

10. Fractions and Percentages carry SINGULAR
VERBS; however if it is followed by the object OF
THE PHRASE, the verb agrees with the object of the
phrase

Three- fourths is enough for the business to prosper

Two-thirds of the applicants are deserving of their
positions.
One-half of the profit is given to Bantay Bata.
11.Sentences beginning with THERE IS and THERE
ARE consider the subject that follows it.

There are twenty applicants to this position.

There is a good investment to this project.

12. Titles of the book, movies, short stories, poems

are followed by a singular verb.

Invictus is my favorite poem.

13. A singular noun takes a singular verb, a plural
noun takes a plural verb

My colleague writes business letters as part of his job.

My colleagues write a request for the provision of

office supplies.
14. Majority takes SINGULAR verb. But if it is
followed by the OF THE PHRASE, it takes the
subject before the verb.

Majority dreams to get promoted.

Majority of the winners are from the Regional

Office.
15. Verbals take singular verbs.

To dream is to live life fully.

Encoding has been the nature of my job.
16. Two nouns separated by EITHER- OR ,
NEITHER- NOR should take the subject nearest to
the verb

EITHER my sister OR my brothers know about my

plans.
EITHER my sisters OR my brother knows about
my plans.
PART II- PARTS OF SPEECH
(COMMON ERRORS)
NOUNS
A. Certain nouns with plural forms and no singular
counterpart
He was wearing an eyeglass with a
green frame.
Additionally, the skinny and ripped jean
he was wearing was quite familiar.
He was wearing a green- framed
eyeglasses. (/)

Additionally, the skinny and ripped jeans (/)

he was wearing was quite familiar.
Other nouns with no
singular counterpart
Scissors Shorts
Pants
Species Clothes
Barracks
B. IRREGULAR NOUNS
(an excerpt from a medico-legal certificate)
Alleged Case: Rape through Sexual Assault
This is to CERTIFY that Ms. Joy De Luna,
21, single, and a resident of San Francisco del
Monte, Quezon City was examined and treated at
the Crime Laboratory Office at the National
Headquarters, Camp Crame, Quezon City with
the following diagnosis:
1. Multiple Lacerations and Hematoma in
the Anal Orifice

2.Vascular Lesion

3. Right Forearm Hematoma

This is to CERTIFY that Ms. Joy De Luna, 21, single, and a
resident of San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City was
examined and treated at the Crime Laboratory Office at the
National Headquarters, Camp Crame, Quezon City with the
following diagnoses (/):

1. Multiple Lacerations and Hematoma in the Anal

Orifice
2.Vascular Lesion
3. Right Forearm Hematoma
List of other Irregular Nouns
Datum/Data Madam/Mesdames
Crisis/crises Index/ indices
Analysis/analyses Formula/ formulae
Basis/ bases Medium/ Media
Focus/foci Bureau/ bureaux
Annex-annexes Criterion- criteria
Emphasis/emphases
C. Mass Nouns form list (you cannot add an -s)

SINGULAR PLURAL
Equipment Equipment
Feedback Feedback
Jewelry Jewelry
Grass Grass
Luggage Luggage
PRONOUNS
RELATIVE PRONOUN

RELATIVE PRONOUN REFERS TO

Who A person or people
Whom A person or people
Which A thing/ idea/situation/ (unspecific)
That Specific object/item/condition
VERBS
POINTS TO REMEMBER
HAS
a. use for singular noun like MARIA (Maria has…)
b. singular pronouns like SHE,HE,IT (She has…
He has… It has…)
c. describing events currently happening
HAVE
a. use for plural subjects/nouns
(Police officers have…)
b. Use for the following pronouns YOU, I,
WE, THEY
(You have…I have…We have…
They have…)
c. describing events currently happening
HAD
a. use for both singular or plural
nouns
b. describing completed action
PATTERN:
HAS/HAVE/HAD plus past participle
form of the verb
Has attend  Has
attended (/)
Have gather Have gathered
(/)
Had examine  Had examined
(/)
PHRASAL VERBS

Sign up- to register or create an account

Sign in- you already have an account, you only

need to enter the code/password to access it.
HOW ABOUT

FILL IN
FILL UP
FILL OUT?
FILL UP means to make full usually of liquid
I filled up my water bottle before I left the house.

FILL IN means to enter details usually very few

words/phrases
Fill in the blank with the correct term.

FILL OUT means to complete the form

Fill out the admission form.
How about?

Put off
Put up with
Put on
Put out
Put back
Put down
MODALS

Question: Do you think there is a need for you

to meet the family of the Mr. Juan S. Dela Cruz
before deciding whether to pursue the case or not?
Answer: Yes, I should talked  to them
because I believe on that way, my family could settle
the case before it gets worst.
Question: Do you think there is a need for
you to meet the family of the Mr. Juan S.
Dela Cruz before deciding whether to pursue
the case or not?

Answer: Yes, I should talk (/) with them

because I believe on that way, my family
could settle the case before it gets worst.
MODAL + Base form of the verb

Shall, should, will, would, can, could, might, may

Shall allowed  Shall allow (/)

Might received  Might receive (/)
Wooden small old box
Small old wooden box
INCORRECT: Wooden small old box

CORRECT: Small old wooden box

ADJECTIVES

ORDER OF ADJECTIVES
Observation/ opinion : lovely, boring
Size : Petite, High,
Large
Shape : square, circular
Age : old, young
Color : red, pink
Nationality/Origin : British, Japanese
Material : Silk, Linen
Tall dark handsome man
Handsome tall dark man
INCORRECT: Tall dark handsome man

CORRECT: Handsome tall dark man

Please read…

The 3-months old baby has developed his

senses rapidly.
The 3-month old baby has
developed his senses rapidly.
INCORRECT: The 8-weeks course is mentally
exhausting.

CORRECT: The 8-week course is mentally

exhausting.
IDENTIFY THE CORRECT PREPOSITIONS (IN, ON,
AT)

1._____ MIDNIGHT
2._____ SUMMER
3._____ 2023
4._____ CHRISTMAS DAY
5._____ CHRISTMAS
6._____ 9:50 AM
7._____ 5 WEEKS
8._____ THE WEEKEND
1.AT MIDNIGHT
2.IN SUMMER
3.IN 2023
4.ON CHRISTMAS DAY
5.AT CHRISTMAS
6.AT 9:50 AM
7.IN 5 WEEKS
8.AT THE WEEKEND
PREPOSITIONS
Prepositions)
Use “IN”
1.Centuries in 1990s
2.Decades in 90s
3.Years in 2023
4.Months in August
5.Weeks in 2 weeks
6.Country in Philippines
7.City in Tacloban
Use “ON”

1. Complete Date on August 30, 1993

2. Celebration on Christmas
Day
3. Days of the week on Friday
4. Weekend on weekend
Use “AT”
1.Hours at 7:00 AM
At 10 o’clock in the
morning
2.Time of the Day at noon, at dawn, at night
3. Holidays without the word day at Christmas
4. Complete at 734 Dona Anatolia St.
San Address Roque,
Northern Samar
PART III. GRAMMAR GAFFES
 1. Use of the phrase “one of the”
*taken from a spot report
One of the victim  sustained
multiple stab wounds in the different parts of
the body and was rushed to St. John Hospital
for medical treatment but was pronounced
dead on arrival by the attending physician
thereat.
One of the victims (/) sustained multiple stab
wounds in the different parts of the body and
was rushed to St. John Hospital for medical
treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival by
the attending physician thereat.
2. Use of the article “a”

1. Article “a” is used if the succeeding word

starts with a consonant
2. Article “a” should be used only if the
succeeding noun is singular
Other examples
A results  A
result (/)
A gun cartridges  A gun
cartridge (/)
A reports  A
report (/)
3. Infinitive
PATTERN
To + the base form of the verb
…Considering that respondent Cruz did not
perform what has been previously agreed upon,
Anabel Cortez Luna, daughter of the deceased
victim, acted as private complainant, decided to
pursued  the case.
…Considering that respondent Cruz did not perform what has been previously agreed
upon, Anabel Cortez Luna, daughter of the deceased victim, acted as private
complainant, decided to pursue (/) the case.
Other examples
To testified  To testify (/)
To wrote  To write (/)
To resolved  To resolve (/)
READ THE SENTENCES THAT
FOLLOW
Basketball, Volleyball, and playing
Baseball are my favorite sports.
I work for the progress of our town, province
and the country.
4 . Parallelism
use of similar construction for similar concepts.

1.Basketball, Volleyball, and Baseball are my

favorite sports.
2.I work for the progress of our town, province and
country.
3.Dancing, singing, and writing are my special
skills
4.Our government should be of the people, for the
people, and by the people.
5. 1Dangling Modifiers

INCORRECT: Hanging from a vine, the man saw a

bunch of grapes.
CORRECT: Hanging from a vine, the bunch of
grapes was seen by the man.
Take this example:

Walking toward the forest, the sun began to set.

CORRECT:

Walking toward the forest, I watched as the sun began to

set.
5.2 Misplaced Modifier

INCORRECT: She wore a bicycle helmet

on her head that was too large.
CORRECT:

She wore a bicycle helmet that was too

large on her head.
INCORRECT: The student walked her dog in blue
pants.

CORRECT: The student in blue pants walked her

dog.
6. Indefinite Article vs. Definite Article

Take me to A clinic now.

Take me to THE clinic near the AGV Restaurant
I took AN umbrella as it was beginning to rain.

I took THE brown umbrella near the window as it

was beginning to rain.
7. Use of every day and everyday

He visits his co-worker during leisure every day.

OR
He visits his co- worker during leisure everyday
CORRECT:
He visits his co-worker during leisure every day.
Note:

EVERY DAY – adverb which means (daily)

EVERYDAY- adjective which means observed, used or

seen daily. It is used to describe a noun
I like your everyday makeup.
The internet connectivity in the office is an everyday
struggle.
I’ll call you (sometime, some time, sometimes)
this week?
8 . Use of sometime, sometimes, and some time

Sometime- point of time, unspecified

I’ll call you sometime this week.

Some time- usually a long time

It took her some time to decide on the matter.

Sometimes- occasionally now and then

I sometimes drive to school.
9. AMONG and BETWEEN

Divide the tasks between the three of you.

Divide the tasks between the two of you.
CORRECT:
Divide the tasks between the two of you.
CORRECT:

The decision to quit business lies among the four

of you.
10. Use of in my opinion

INCORRECT: In my personal opinion

CORRECT: In my opinion
When do we use FOR or SINCE?
11. Use of FOR and SINCE

Use FOR + a period of time

Sally has been working here for six months.

Use SINCE + the start of the period

Sally has been working here since January.
WORKSHOP 2

WHAT’S THE RULE?

THAT’S THE RULE
INCORRECT: We pictured him walking around the grounds in
casual clothes.

INCORRECT: He denies misconduct while on duty and

obtaining the personal datum of the prisoners.

INCORRECT: She always have a heart to the orphans; that’s

why she keeps on donating goods for them.

INCORRECT: I have listen to every word you say so there’s no

point in arguing.
INCORRECT: The burglars walked off with all my jewelries.

INCORRECT: Fill up the worksheet form and submit it to the

Human Resource Management Office.
INCORRECT: We had our batch reunion at New Year’s Day and we
reminisced the good old times when we were still in high school.

INCORRECT: Having read the book, the film will be a hit.

INCORRECT: I shall used your thesis as my ROL since the panel of

examiners required me to do so.

INCORRECT: The second thing I love to do on summer is to visit the

beach .

INCORRECT: The 14-months old baby is assertive so you need to

monitor his behavior.
INCORRECT: One of the student in my class has
attended the convention in Cebu City.

INCORRECT: A lists of all the academic scholars

was submitted to the Scholarship Coordinator.

INCORRECT: Please look for my bag in the closet,

cabinet, or under the table.

INCORRECT: The witness should cooperate with

the police officers to resolved the case.
INCORRECT: Taking the test, the proctor calls the attention of
the student who is seen using a cellphone.

INCORRECT: Which between the three options is correct?

INCORRECT: I have been observing your behavior in class for

the last week.
INCORRECT: His every day uniform has faded and needs a
replacement before the qualifying examination.

INCORRECT: His dad is a white Mexican tall kind man.

1. The data (reveal/reveals) an increase of the
present enrollees in the college.
2. The jury (need/needs) to undergo a tough
decision.
3. Either students or the instructor (has/have)
been called at the dean’s office.
4. My teacher and cousin (is/are) attending the
in-house review.
5. You, not I (is/are/am) responsible for the transmittal of the
letter prior January 26, 2024.
6. The criteria for judging (was/were) mentioned before the
introduction of the board of judges.
7. Three/fourths (attend, attends) the class after the adoption
of blended learning modality.
8. Majority of the delegates for the Schools Press Conference
(is/are) very reluctant to participate due to the rising heat
index
9. Riders to the Sea (remind/reminds) me on the importance
of faith and an eye-opener for the pessimistic.
10. The majority (is/are) in favor of the decision to hire new
personnel.
11. Everybody in the class (has/have) submitted the
requirements.
12. My bestfriend and sister (argue/argues) with me over my
impulsive decisions.
13. There (has/have) been a number of phone calls from our
office.
14. (Does,Do) the students write letters of application
correctly?
15. Several (know, knows) about the job opening.
16. The dean, together with the faculty members, are now inside the
gymnatorium.
17. The merciful (is/are) loved by God.
18. Two meters of the wire (is/are) needed in the office.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
