UNDERSTANDING GRAMMAR

By:Casio, Mariel C.Pacas, Trina D.Vacunawa. Mark P.

Clever Language

TOPICSGrammatically correct sentencesSubject-Verb AgreementPronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Clever Language Topics cont…

Consistent Tense of VerbsSimple SentencesCompound Sentences

SENTENCESTOPIC 1

SENTENCE

A group of words with two main parts: a complete subject and a complete predicate.

* Together these parts express a complete thought.

SENTENCE

Subject:• The topic of the sentence;• It names the person, concept, or

thing the sentence is talking about;• About which something is stated,

asked, ordered, or exclaimed by the use of finite verb.

SENTENCE

Predicate:• What is said of the subject means

“to say or declare”;• It is the action, state or condition

which is stated, asked ordered, or exclaimed by the use of finite verb.

Subject and PredicateHe wandered around in search of his

wallet.Subject: HePredicate: Wandered around …

Subject and PredicateThe butterfly with the golden wings

landed.Subject: The butterfly…Predicate: landed

Subject and PredicateThe tall pine trees swayed in the

wind.Subject: The tall pine treesPredicate: swayed in the wind

Subject and PredicateThe Bermuda Triangle lies between

Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto RicoSubject: The Bermuda TrianglePredicate: lies between…

ACTIVITYRecognizing Complete Subject

and Predicates

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

TOPIC 2

Subject-Verb Agreement

To make a subject and a verb agree, make sure that both are singular or that both are plural.

There are certain rules to follow to make the subject and the verb agree with each other.

Rules # 1Nouns in plural form but singular in

meaning take a singular verb.Examples:a. Statistics is my favorite subject.b.Measles attacks the whole

town.

Rules # 2Plural titles of the books, periodicals,

films, and the like takes a singular verb.

Examples:a. Great expectations is our

favorite.b.The Seven Habits of Highly

Effective People is is my favorite book.

Rules # 3Use do for plural subjects and does

for singular subjects. But be sure that the main verb of the sentence is in its base form.

Rules # 3Examples:a. She doesn’t even want salt and

sugar to scatter all over the pantry.

b.Does your office have any frame or design?

c. We don’t have any hi-tech office equipment.

Rules # 4Fractions and percentage attached

to non-count nouns take a singular verb; fractions and percentage attached to count nouns take a plural verb.

Rules # 4Examples:a. Half of the land was given to

my brother.b.Only a fraction of those desks

are bought in the lowlands.c. Two-thirds of the sand is not

enough.

Rules # 4Examples:d. Two-thirds of the units have

exploded.e. Sixty percent of the

registered voters are expected to vote this coming elections.

f. Sixty percent of the land is forest.

Rules # 5Periods of time, measurement, rate,

amount, price, and weighs take a singular verb.

Rules # 5Examples:a. Its size is 12 square meters.b.Six days is too short for this

project.c. Three hundred pesos per hour

is my rate in the tutorial service.

Rules # 5Examples:d. Fifteen thousand pesos is very

inexpensive for this table.e. This is 10 kilos of sugar.f. I think 40 hours was spent to

complete third year’s sales report.

Rules # 6Collective noun regarded as one unit

or acting as one takes a singular verb. Collective noun regarded as separate units or acting separately takes a plural verb.

Rules # 6Examples:a. The board has decided to fire

the corporate secretary.b. The board have argued about

the issue of firing the secretary

Rules # 6Examples:c. The council has approved the

passing of the ordinance.d. The council are dividing

themselves on the divorce issue.

Rules # 6Note: if the verb in a statement

implies agreement (e.g. decided, agreed, approved), the collective noun is considered singular.

Rules # 6Note: if the verb in a statement

implies disagreement (e.g. divided, argued, debated), the collective noun is considered plural.

Rules # 7Compound subjects connected by

and generally take a plural verb. However, if the compounded subjects refer to the same person, thing, or idea, use a singular vern.

Rules # 7Examples:a. My classmate and my friend

are with me.b.My classmate and friend is with

me.

Rules # 7Examples:c. The secretary and the minute-

taker are present today.d. The secretary and minute-

taker is present today.

Rules # 8Compound subjects joined by not

only…but also and both…and take a plural verb

Rules # 8Examples:a. Not only boys but also girls

are entitled to scholarship.b.Both you and I have the chance

to be promoted.

Rules # 9Multiple Subjects – Words or phrases

(together with, as well as, in addition to, including, with, plus and accompanied by) added to a singular subject do not make it plural.

Rules # 9Examples:a. The table, together with its

chairs, costs PhP 150, 000.00.b.My friend, as well as my

enemies, has supported my ideas.

c. James, in addition to Jericho and Greg, was sent off.

Rules # 10Neither…nor and either … or

follow the proximity rule. Meaning, the verb must agree with the subject nearest to the verb.

Rules # 10Examples:a. Neither Mario nor Jolo plays

guitar.b. Neither Mario nor his friends

play guitar.c. During weekends, either the

janitors or guard does the cleaning.

Rules # 10Examples:d. Either Anton or Badong is going

to perform the task.** Further, when either and neither

are used without or and nor,respectively, a singular verb is needed

Rules # 10Examples:a. Neither of them plays guitar.b.Either of them is going to

perform the task.c. Not Carlos but my friends

perform every Sunday in the City.

Rules # 11Few and Less/A Little; Many and

Much – use few for count nouns and less/a little for noncount nouns. Hence, use singular verb for less and plural verb for few.

Rules # 11Use many for count nouns and

much for noncount nouns. Hence, use a singular verb for much and plural verb for many.

Rules # 11Examples:a. For the size of our office, few

computers are enough.b.A little effort is needed to clean

it.c. Less sugar was added to my

coffee.

Rules # 11Examples:d. Many are called but few are

chosen.e. Much has been said about the

issue of divorce.

Rules # 12Some and all take a singular verb if

followed by a noncount noun and plural if followed by a count noun.

Rules # 12Examples:a. Some people are desperate to

live.b.Some mayonnaise was spread

on the sandwich.c. I’m sure all your desks are

imported.

Rules # 12Examples:d. Almost all of them are from the

Philippines.e. My mother is very organized

that’s why all salt is tightly covered.

Rules # 13Indefinite pronouns like every,

each, everyone, everybody, everything, nobody, nothing, no one, anyone, anybody, anything, someone, somebody, and something takes a singular verb.

Rules # 13Examples:a. No one of my staff wants to

give advice.b.Each man and woman has the

right to vote.c. Nobody wants to be lonely.

Rules # 12Examples:d. Everyone is really busy during

weekends.e. If somebody calls, tell him I’m

not home.f. Everybody is allowed to enter the

room.

Rules # 14Adjectives used as a subject take a

plural verb.Example:a. The organized are always well

liked.b. The hardworking are rewarded.c. The poor get poorer, and the

rich get richer.

Rules # 15The use of none is probably the

most confusing part in the subject-verb agreement. However, survey says that when none refers to noncount nouns, use a singular verb. But when none refers to count nouns, use either a plural or singular verb.

Rules # 15Example:a. None of my

childrenwants/want to give advice.

b.None of the water was toxic.

Rules # 15The use of none is probably the

most confusing part in the subject-verb agreement. However, survey says that when none refers to noncount nouns, use a singular verb. But when none refers to count nouns, use either a plural or singular verb.

Rules # 15Example:a. None of my children

wants/want to give advice.b.None of the water was toxic.

Rules # 16Nouns occurring in sets of two take a

singular when the noun pair is used but take a plural when the noun pair is not used – regardless of whether one pair or more is being referred to.

Rules # 16Example:a. A pair of shoes is ruined by the

flood.b.A pair of pants was bought from

the mall.c. Theses shoes are not so clean.d.Danilo’s pants are from Hong

Kong.

Rules # 17Majority and Minority take a

singular verb when they mean abstract or generic. They take plural verb when used to refer to explicit set of specific persons.

Rules # 17Example:a. Majority of the frames were

bought in Cebu.b.The great majority is against

the legislative bill.c. The senate majority was

against the bill.

Rules # 18The Number vs. A Number. Use

singular verb for the Number and plural verb for a number.

Rules # 18Example:a. The number of people killed in

the landslide was 145.b.A number of people are waiting

for the arrival of the President.

Rules # 19When using the phrase one of the ,

the verb agrees with the antecedent of the relative pronoun.

Rules # 19Example:a. One of the students who were

arrested because of riot is Enrico.b. One of the policemen who were

in the scene was Enrico’s brother.

Activity 2

CONSISTENT TENSEOF VERBS

TOPIC 3

VerbIs a part of speech (or word class)

that describes an action or occurrence or indicates a state of being.

Example:sleep, conquer, stepjudge, watch, sing, etc…

Verb Tense

3 Main Tenses of Verb1. Simple Tense2. Perfect Tense3. Progressive Tense

Simple TenseIncludes the simple past, simple

present and simple future.

Simple Tense UsesTo express general ideas, relationships, and truths.To describe habitual actionsTo describe mental perceptions or emotions

Simple Tense UsesTo express possession or personal relationshipTo establish the time frame and the moment of focus.

Simple Tense ExamplesFamilies will always be important to most of us.

People once believed the earth was flat.

Mark has three brothers.

Perfect TensePerfect tense of verbs are formed by

have (has, have, had, will have) + past participle verb –ed or irregular form).

Perfect Tense UsesTo describe events that happen before the moment of focus.To describe events that started in the past and continue to be true in the present. This contrasts with the use of simple past.

Perfect Tense UsesTo describe events that the speaker believes are relevant to the moment of focus.

Perfect Tense ExamplesTo date, Mark has taken five days off from work for vacation.

By this time tomorrow, even more acres of the rain forest will have been destroyed.

Progressive TenseProgressive tense of verbs include a

form of be + a present participle (verb+-ing)

Progressive Tense UsesTo describe actions already in progress at the moment of focus.To describe actions at the moment of focus in contrast to habitual actions.To express repeated actions.

Progressive Tense UsesTo describe temporary situations in contrast to permanent states.To describe periods of time in contrast to points of time.To express uncompleted actions.

Progressive Tense Examples

When Mark gets home from work, Hannah is often studying.

Eric usually goes out to eat on Fridays. This Friday, however, he is cooking at home.

Activity 3

PRONOUN-ANTECEDENTAGREEMENT

TOPIC 4

PronounA pronoun is a word used to take the

place of a noun. Pronouns are important in daily interaction. They shorten and make the sentence reader-friendly.

Pronoun and their Antecedents

1. Avoid double antecedents.double antecedent means that there are two possible antecedents for a pronoun. This error could be corrected:a. by repeating the antecedent;b. using a synonym for the antecedent; orc. changing the sentence construction

Vague: If the doll does not fit the box, adjust it

Clear: Adjust the doll if it does not fit the box.

Vague: Carlo told his father that he had lost his tie.

Clear: Carlo told his father that he, Carlo, had lost his father’s tie.

Pronoun and their Antecedents cont…

2. Avoid missing antecedentsmissing antecedent means that no antecedent is being referred to by the pronoun. This could be corrected:a. by providing each noun a specific and clearly expressed antecedent; orb. replacing the pronoun with a noun.

Vague: In his school, they do not have any swimming pool.

Clear: His school does not have any swimming pool.

Pronoun and their Antecedents cont…

3. Place the pronouns who, which, and that immediately after the noun they are referring to.

Vague: I found a candy in my bag, which I ate.

Clear: I ate the candy, which I found in my bag.

Pronoun and their Antecedents cont…

4. Avoid broad referenceBroad reference means that pronouns like it, this, and that refer to the whole sentence.

Vague: The government has constructed housing units of low-salaried employees. This ism indeed, commendable.

Clear: The government has constructed housing units for low-salaried employees. This project, is indeed commendable

Pronoun and their Antecedents cont…

5. Make the number of the pronoun agree with its antecedent particularly in formal context,

Vague: Everybody wants to submit their proposal.

Clear: Everybody wants to submit his/her proposal.

SIMPLE SENTENCESTOPIC 5

Simple SentencesA simple sentence has the most

basic elements that make it a sentence: a subject, a verb, and a completed thought.

A simple sentence has one independent clause and expresses one idea.

Simple Sentences Examples A friend of mine plays chess with

me.

The forward with the knee brace made ten baskets.

Students going on the trip left early this morning.

Simple Sentences Examples cont…

The frightened witnesses wrote reports for the police.

The boxes under the sink is empty.

The weary commuters were angry about the delay.

COMPOUND SENTENCES

TOPIC 6

Compound SentencesA compound sentence refers to a

sentence made up of two independent clauses (or complete sentences) connected to one another with a coordinating conjunction.

Coordinating ConjunctionsF forA andN norB butO orY yetS so

Simple Sentences Examples Joe waited for the train, but the train

was late.

I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station, but they arrived at the station before noon and left on the bus before I arrived.

Simple Sentences Examples Mary and Samantha arrived at the

bus station before noon, and they left on the bus before I arrived.

Mary and Samantha left on the bus before I arrived, so I did not see them at the bus station.

References (book)Vallamin, A. et al.(2005). Skill Builders for

Efficient Readers. Phoenix Publishing House.Cruz, Isagani, A., Quiason, Camilo D.(2001).

Fundamentals of English Grammar. Manila: RexBook Store Inc.

Barrot, Jessie S.(2011). Grammar First: A Communicative Way in Learning Grammar. Manila: RexBook Store Inc.

Watkins, Floyd C., Dillingham, William B.(1996). Practical English handbook 10th ed. Illinois: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Forlini,G., Bauer, M.B., Biener, L., Capo, L., Kenyon, K.M., Shaw, D.H., Verner, Z.(2009). Prentice Hall: Grammar and Composition 1. Singapore: Pearson Education Sounth Asia Pte Ltd.

References (book) cont…San Miguel, J.G., Barraquio, D.C.T., Revilla, R.DV.

(2010). Smart English: More than a Worktext for Grammar and Syntax. Quezon City: C & E Publishing Inc.

Refernces (internet)Improve Your Writing. (2014). Retrieved January 7, 2014

from http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_31.htm

 Straus, M. Subject-Verb Agreement. Retrieved January 7,

2014 from http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectverbagree.asp

 Sentences. (2014). Retrieved January 7, 2014 from

https://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/content/4_WritingSkills/writing_tuts/sentences_LL/simple.html

Refernces (internet) cont…English Composition 1. (2014). Retrieved January 6, 2014,

from http://www2.ivcc.edu/rambo/eng1001/sentences.htm

 Pronoun- Antecedent Agreement. (2014). Retrieved

January 6, 2014 from http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/pronante.html

 Usage - Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement. (2014). Retrieved

January 6, 2014 fromhttp://www.towson.edu/ows/pro_antagree.htmVerb Tense Consistency. (2014). Retrieved January 7, 2014

from http://www.towson.edu/ows/tenseconsistency.htm Improve Your Writing. (2014). Retrieved January 7, 2014

from http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_31.htm Straus, M. Subject-Verb Agreement. Retrieved January 7, 2014 from http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectverbagree.asp Sentences. (2014). Retrieved January 7, 2014 from https://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/content/4_WritingSkills/writing_tuts/sentences_LL/simple.html

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