Prepared by:

Mark Jay V. Peña Next

Wrong
Answer
Try again
Game
was

were
 Right
Answer
Next
has

have
Next
Try again
is

are
Wrong !

Try again
Correct !

Next
 News _____ travelling
faster than ever before.

is

are
Next
Try again
want

wants
Next
Try again
6. All of the CDs, including your
recording, ____ in this case.

is

are
Next
Try again
7. My scissors ____ missing.

is

are
Try again
Discussion
What is SUBJECT?

What is VERB?
 BASIC RULE:
•Singular subjects must
have singular verbs.
Plural subjects take
plural verbs.
1. If a sentence begins with HERE
or THERE, the verb agrees with
the subject which follows it.

Examples:

 Here are the ways on how to be a

successful someday.
 There is a story behind it.
 EXERCISE 1

1.Here (is ,isare) the report

you wanted.
2.There (was, were) five
were
shirts on the cabinet.
 2. If two subjects, one singular and one
plural or one plural and one singular, are
connected by EITHER/OR or
NEITHER/NOR, the verb agrees with the
nearer subject.

Examples:

 Neither the players nor the coach is

joining.
 Either the conductor or the singers are
attending the concert.
 EXERCISE 2

1.Neither the general nor his

are) at the fort.
men (is,are
2. Either the apples or the
large orange (is,isare) for
Jack.
3. Singular subjects joined by AND
require a plural verb, except when
they mean one thing.

Examples:
 Patience and hard work are two keys
to success.
 She and I run every day.
 Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite
sandwich.
 EXERCISE 3

are) leaving.
1. Jake and Zyrus (is,are
2. Pete and Malou (walk, walks)
walk
to the store.
4. When any of the following indefinite pronouns is the
subject, the verb is singular: EVERYBODY, EACH, NO
ONE, ANOTHER, ANYBODY, NOBODY, EVERY,
NOTHING, EVERYTHING, ANYONE, EITHER,
NEITHER, EVERYONE, SOMEBODY, SOMEONE.

Examples:

 Everybody wants to be loved.

 Someone in the game was hurt.
 EXERCISE 4

1. Somebody (has left,

has have
left left)
her purse.
2. Neither of the men (is, are)
is
working.
3. Everyone (hate, hates)
hates
Monday morning.
 5. Words like WITH, AS WELL AS, IN ADDITION
TO, INCLUDING, ACCOMPANIED BY, TOGETHER
WITH and NO LESS THAN, do not affect the
number of the verb. If the main subject is singular,
the verb has to be singular; if the subject is plural,
the verb has to be plural.

Examples:
 All of the CDs, including your recording,
are in this case.
 Jake, accompanied by his sisters, is
enrolling in DCT.
 EXERCISE 5

1. The television, along with the

are) sold.
speakers, (is, is
2.The decoration of the room,
including all the paintings on the
are) most pleasing.
walls, (is, is
6. The following words are always plural:
PANTS, TROUSERS, PLIERS, SCISSORS,
SHEARS, TONGS. However, if the word
PAIR is used, the verb is singular.

Examples:
 My scissors are missing.
 The pair of scissors was placed on
the table.
 EXERCISE 6

1. My pants (was, were) on the

were
bed.
are)
2.A pair of plaid trousers (is, is
in the closet.
 7. Nouns that are plural in form but
singular in meaning such as NEWS,
MEASLES, MUMPS, PHYSICS,
ELECTRONICS, TACTICS, ECONOMICS
and so on usually take singular verbs.
Examples:

 News is travelling faster than ever

before.
 Measles is a dangerous disease for
pregnant women.
 EXERCISE 7

1. Physics (has,has
have) fascinated
my mate for months.
2. Economics (is, isare) an
important subject for every
field of study.
Instructions: Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.
Encircle your answer.
1. The speakers, together with the President, (greet, greets) the
press cordially.
2. Neither Mark nor my siblings (is, are) available.
3. One of my friends (is, are) going on a trip to America.
4. My brother and my sister-in-law (live, lives) in Japan.
5. There (was, were) seven chocolates in my bag. Now there (is,
are) only one left!
6. The captain, as well as the players, (want, wants) to win.
7. Either his friends or the man (know, knows) the answer.
8. She (think, thinks) that we (is, are) innocent.
9. Each student and teacher (was, were) aware of the difficulty.
10. These scissors (need, needs) sharpening.