• There is a recent government study that shows only seven (7)

percent of high school graduates can properly read, speak or

understand English (Jimenez, 2018).
• Hopkins International Partners said Filipinos are ranked only third or
fourth among the ASEAN countries in terms of English Proficiency.
• In February 2018, an article published by GMA News mentioned that
the level of English proficiency of College graduates from Philippines
is lower than the target English proficiency of High Scholl graduates
in Thailand.
• “Last year, there was a nursing program cancelled where 90 percent who were
already hired, they couldn't go to the UK (United Kingdom) because of English,"
(Hopkins International Partners' General Manager Rex Wallen).
 Objectives

• Discuss the rules of subject and verb agreement;

• Apply the rules of subject and verb agreement in
discourse activities; and
• Demonstrate appreciation of agreement in daily life.
1. Everyone (has, have) done his or her homework.
2. The mayor as well as his brothers (is, are) going to prison.
3. Neither of the two traffic lights (is, are) working.
4. Neither my brothers nor my father (is, are) going to sell the
house.
5. There (is, are) no reason for this.
6. My assets (was, were) wiped out in the depression.
7. Measles (is, are) a dangerous disease for pregnant women.
8. Forty percent of the students (is, are) in favor of changing
the policy.
9. English and Mathematics (is, are) considered very difficult
subjects.
10. Ten miles (is, are) the farthest distance I ever walked.
11. Several students (has, have) submitted their requirements.
12. The brave (has, have) done good impression to everyone.
13. X-men (is, are) televised every Sunday.
14. The committee (works, work) for the program.
15. I (misses, miss) your presence.
16. The number of animals (attacks, attack) the residents.
Rules on Subject and Verb Agreement
1. Everyone (has, have) done his or her homework.

• Singular indefinite pronouns anyone, everyone, someone, no one,

nobody, nothing, someone, something, somebody, everything, any
anything, anybody, each are always singular and, therefore, require
singular verbs.

• Examples:
Somebody has left her purse.
Some of the beads are missing.
Some of the water is gone.
2. The mayor as well as his brothers (is, are) going to
prison.

• Intervening words/phrases such as together with, as well as, and

along with do not affect the number of the subject.

• Example:
The mayor as well as his brothers is going to prison.
3. Neither of the two traffic lights (is, are) working.

• The pronouns neither and either are singular and require singular
verbs even though they seem to be referring, in a sense, to two
things.

• Example:
Ana: Which shirt do you want for Christmas?
George: Either is fine with me.
4. Neither my brothers nor my father (is, are) going to sell the
house.

• The coordinating conjunctions neither –nor, either- or, the verb agrees
with the nearer subject.

• Examples:
Either my father or my brothers are going to sell the house.
Are either my brothers or my father responsible?
Is either my father or my brothers responsible?
5. There (is, are) no reason for this.

• After the expletive there, and the word here, the verb agrees with the
subject after the verb. The words there and here are never subjects.

• Examples:
There are two reasons for this.
Here are two apples.
6. My assets (was, were) wiped out in the depression.

• Nouns in plural forms always take the plural verb.

• Examples:
My pants were torn.
My assets were wiped out in the depression.
The average worker's earnings have gone up dramatically.
Our thanks go to the workers who supported the union.
7. Measles (is, are) a dangerous disease for pregnant
women.

• Some words which are plural in form but singular in meaning always
take the singular verb.

• Example:
The news from the front is bad.
8. Forty percent of the students (is, are) in favor of changing the
policy.

• Fractional expressions such as half of, a part of, a percentage of, a

majority of, the verb agrees with the subject of the “of”

• Examples:
Two-fifths of the troops were lost in the battle.
Two-fifths of the vineyard was destroyed by fire.
Forty percent of the student body is in favor of changing the
policy.
9. English and Mathematics (is, are) considered very difficult
subjects.

• Compound subjects joined by and always take the plural verb.

• Example:
The director and the casts have done an excellent movie.

• Some subjects joined by and may also take a singular verb if both are
taken as one.

• Example:
My English instructor and coach is Ms. Cruz.
10. Ten miles (is, are) the farthest distance I ever walked.

• Amount of money or units of measurements always take the singular

verb.

• Examples:
Two and two is four.
Four times four divided by two is eight.
Ten miles is the farthest distance I ever walked.
11. Several students (has, have) submitted their
requirements.

• Plural indefinite pronouns such as both, few, many, several, all always
take the plural verb.

• Examples:
Both answers are correct.
All members prepare for the meeting.
Many are absent today.
12. The brave (has, have) done good impression to
everyone.

• Adjectives used as subjects will take a plural verb.

• Example:

The beautiful are not to be envied.

13. X-men (is, are) televised every Sunday.

• Titles of books or stories always take a singular verb.

• Example:
Snow white and the Seven Dwarfs has created an
everlasting impression to children.
14. The committee (works, work) for the program.

• Collective nouns always take a singular verb.

• Example:

The battalion has invaded the MILF colony.

15. I (misses, miss) your presence.

• The pronouns you and I always take the plural verb.

• Examples:
You have to observe discipline.
You take the final exam on Tuesday.
I love you so much.
16. The number of animals (attacks, attack) the residents.

• The phrase “The number” takes a singular verb; “A number” takes

the plural verb.

• Examples:
The number of delegates has represented the country.
A number of students have requested for a general practice.
A number of employees ask for a salary increase.
Directions: Supply the correct form of verbs in parentheses that
agree with their subjects. (10 points)

Spiders (1. have) remarkable skill in building. The web of a

spider (2. serve) as a snare for bugs and flies. This structure (3. be)
made of delicate silken threads the tensile strength of which (4.
exceed) that of steel. A thread often (5. stretch) a fifth of its length
before breaking. A cable of several strands (6. look) like a single
thread. The spinnerets of the spider (7. be) three pairs that (8.
secrete) the substance of the threads. The orb web and the
common cobweb (9. differ) in structure, however, both (10. catch)
insects flying near.
Speech Drill