Common Lapses in

Grammar and sentence

Structure.
1. Grammar and writing

•Grammar rules guide one to correct Sentence

structure.
•Writing is the overall application of language
and skills.

•A good grammar leads to clear and effective

writing.
 2. Subject Verb Agreement

•The subject of the sentence tells who the doer

is, and the verb tells what is being done.

•A singular subject should have a singular verb

and vice versa.
 Basic rules in Subject-verb agreement
•There are two types of action verbs: regular and
irregular.
•Irregular verbs in past time do not need helping
verbs.
•The past and past participle forms of regular
action verbs are formed wit an –ed.
•Irregular verbs in the past participle form need
helping verbs
 A subject and verb should always agree in
number. (Basic rules)
1. A sentence is present tense with a singular
subject is paired with a verb in the –s form.
The lady throws her bouquet in the air.
2. A sentence in present tense with a plural subject
is paired with a verb in a regular present form
(i.e., no –s)
The ladies throw their bouquet in the air.
3. Do not get confused with the words that may
come between the subject and the verb.
Incorrect: Raymond, who gave me cupcakes, are
my aunt.
Correct: Raymond, who gave me cup cakes is my
aunt.
4. Do not shift verb tenses unnecessarily in the
sentences all throughout the paragraph and in the
whole text.
Incorrect: He likes cakes; thus he baked them.
Correct: He likes cakes; thus he bakes them
5. Place the subject after the verb when a
sentence begins with the word “here” or “there”.
Here are your clothes.
There is a rainbow.
 Irregular Verbs
Pattern Base form Past form Past participle

-d ending changes Bend Bent Bent

to –t Lend Lent Lent
send sent sent
Minus one vowel Sleep Slept Slept
but a plus in Feed Fed Fed
consonant ending. kneel knelt knelt

-d or –t wit ea Dream Dreamt Dreamt

vowels pronounced Mean Meant Meant
as 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 Past Present Past tense

tense tense tense
Is was are were
has had Have had
does did do did

Remember to use auxiliary verbs –

has ,have, or had with the past
participle form of verbs.
 The rule on auxiliary verb “is/was” and “are/
were” is easy to understand but it can be
confusing when the subject and the verb is
separated by a phrase or a clause.
•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.
 Remember, always identify the subject first and
the verb in your sentences to check if they agree,
most especially in the confusing cases of clauses.
•The graduating class of Mrs. Anne, the teacher
who is beloved by the students is planning a
birthday surprise for her.
•The cupcakes which Hannah decorated with
cappuccino icing and nuts were gone in an
instant.
 The auxiliary verb “has” is the singular form,
while “have” is the Plural form for the present
tense. The past form both is “had.”
Incorrect: She have Chickenpox.(present tense)
Correct: She has Chickenpox.(present tense)
She has chickenpox. (past tense)

Note!!!!!!
 This present tense rule applies only to the third
person. The first person and second persons 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)
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