THE BASIC RULES IN GRAMMAR

1. The Singular subject takes a singular verb while plural takes plural verb.
e.g. The child cries. The children cry.
The bacterium dies. The bacteria die.

2. Some nouns, usually mass or abstract, have no plural form so they require a singular verb, not unless they are
used as object of the preposition “of” and when they are preceded by a limiting or quantitative adjective.
e.g. The gasoline drips The cans of gasoline drip.
Your honesty is commendable. Your gestures of honesty is commendable. The
equipment falters. The sets of equipment falter.

3. Some nouns which are plural in form but singular in meaning take a singular verb. E.g. Politics, economics,
measles, mumps, news, dramatics.
e.g. Measles is a deadly disease. Cases of measles were reported. The
news surprises us. The bits of news surprise us.

4. Some nouns that are always plural take a plural verb not unless they are used as object of the preposition “of”
and when they are preceded by description like “a pair”. e.g. ashes, kin, poultry, remain, scissors, trousers,
pants, spectacles.
e.g. The spectacles fall. The pair of spectacles falls.

5. When either…or, neither…nor,or/nor connect two subjects of which one is singular and one is plural, the
verb agrees with the nearer subject.
e.g. Neither the principal nor the teachers join the strike.
Either the teacher or the principal joins the strike.

6. When a collective noun is taken as a whole or as one, use singular verb: when it is taken individually or with
reference to the members, use the plural verb.
e.g. The team loses the game. (taken as one)
The team wear different colors of shirt. (taken individually)

7. The connectives that introduce intervening expressions like with, together with, including, no less than, do
not necessarily affect the number of subject. You can enclose this is parenthesis and then look for the subject
so it would be easy for you to get the correct verb.
e.g The participants, including my sister, feel bad.
My sister, together with the other participants, feels bad.

8. The expression many a even if it implies a large number must have a singular verb.
e.g Many a man hopes to gain success.
Many a parent wants the best for his children.

9. When the pronoun all means everything or the only thing, a singular verb is used.
e.g When honor is lost, all is lost. (everything)
All I can do is to wait in patience. (the only thing)

10. When what means that which, a singular not with the predicate noun.
e.g What I want is freedom. What I wish is all for you.

11. The verb must agree with the subject not with the predicate noun.
e.g My suggestion outlines all the problems we are experiencing. His
speeches resolve in freedom.

12. Two or more subjects connected by and take a plural verb.

e.g Christopher and Christian differ in their views. These
ring and necklace cost five thousand pesos.
But if and is a part of a title of a book or an article, use the singular verb.
e.g Pride and Prejudice was written by a noted author. The
Fable The Monkey and the Turtle elicits laughter.
13. Even when in plural form, the titles of creative works (such as books, songs, movies, or paintings) and the
names of countries, cities, organization generally take singular verbs. The Outsiders is a popular book.
e.g The Beatles made me remember my childhood.

Avril Lavigne is my favorite artist.

14. When two or more subjects connected by and are closely related, a singular verb is used.
e.g Mayonnaise and chicken makes a tasty filling for sandwiches. Rice
and Fish constitutes my lunch.
15. Quantities and sums or multiples of numbers expressing a single idea require a singular verb.
e.g Three and two totals five Twelve pieces is one dozen.

16. The expression THE NUMBER takes a singular verb while the expression A NUMBER takes a plural verb.
e.g The number of passengers increases every month.
A number of passengers wait at the lobby of the terminal.

17. The “Of PHRASE” or other phrases introduced by a preposition like on, on, under, across, etc., do not
affect the number of the subject.
e.g The pages of the book are torn.
The notebooks on the table bear his name.

18. Fractions take a singular verb if the object of the “Of Phrase” that follows is singular. They take a plural
verb if the object of the “of phrase” that follows is plural.
e.g One-half of the tomato is rotten. One-
half of the tomatoes are rotten.

19. When a compound subject is composed of an affirmative and negative part (preceded by not), the verb
agrees with the affirmative part.
e.g Henry, not his classmates, reports to the teacher.
Not Henry, but his classmates, escape from their activity.

20. The indefinite pronouns- everybody, somebody, someone, everything, nobody, something – takes a singular
verb.
e.g Someone loves me. Somebody cares for you.

21. For expletives- there/here- check on the noun that precedes. If it is singular, use singular verb; if it is plural,
use plural verb.
e.g There is a candy in the jar. There are candles in the jar.
Here comes the bride. Here come the bride and the groom.

22. Many is plural, so use plural verb. Much is singular, so use singular verb.
e.g Many demand attention. Much demands attention.
Many walk out. Much flows down the bridge.

23. Many and few are used with countable plural nouns and so plural verbs are used. Much and little or less are
used with singular nouns, usually uncountable or mass nouns, so singular verbs are used.
e.g Many books are displayed. Much oil is needed.
Few errors were noticed. Less sugar was consumed.

24. In lots of, all of, some of, all and some have the same number as the object of “of”
e.g All of the tomatoes rot in the basket.
All of the water flows.

25. Never add s to adjectives used as nouns. If they represent several persons, they take a plural verb but if they
point out an abstract quality, they take a singular verb.
e.g The honest are rewarded. The honest boy receives a reward.

26. None and all take the plural verb when they indicate how many and a singular verb when they indicate
how much.
e.g None of the salt melts. (how much)
None of the birds fly. (how many)
27. Each, every, either, neither modifies singular words and so they require a singular verb.
e.g Each of the students is studying for the test.
*The subject is each, which is always singular, so the verb must be singular. The correct verb is is.

28. Compound singular subject preceded by each, every or no and connected by and or or require a singular
verb.
e.g Each guest and sponsor receives an invitation.
Every boy or girl loves to be free

29. Use the original form (O-form) of the verb after a modal auxiliary verb (helping verb).
e.g. may-might, can-could, will-would, do does did.
e.g Did she return early? I will go.
Do they return early? She might go. Does
the boy return early? They will go
30. After the verb TO HAVE (has,have, had) use the PAT PARTICIPLE.
e.g Gloria has spoken a lot. They had submitted their report.

31. Use the original form of the verb after TO to form an infinitive.
e.g To see is to believe. To lie is bad.

32. Use the past participle in expression TO BE and TO HAVE.

e.g The food to be served is delicious.
To have passed the exam, one should have reviewed well.

33. The original form of the verb is used after the verbs see, hear, watch, help, need, feel. The verbs following
them are actually infinitives with the preposition TO omitted.
e.g We watched them dance and sing.
She heard her cry.

34. Do not use two negatives- not, hardly, only, but- in the same clause.
e.g Wrong: Can’t you not see? Right: Can’t you see/Can you not see?
Wrong: We can’t play hardly hear. Right: We hardly hear/We can’t hear.

35. There should be no double comparative or superlative.

e.g Wrong: She’s more prettier now. Right: She’s prettier now.
Wrong: This is most worst. Right: This is words.

36. Do not compare the following adverbs: square, round, unique, final, correct.
e.g That is square. The ball is round.

37. A compound personal pronoun is never used as subject of the sentence,

e.g Wrong: Myself is tired. Right: I am tired.
Herself tells a lie. She tells a lie.

38. The verb lies with a relative pronoun use as subject. The relative pronoun lies with the number of the
person of its antecedent.
e.g He is one of the boys who escape.
This is the company that hires disabled persons.

39. In order to use correctly that I, he, she, we, they, than me, him, her, us them or than mine, his,
hers, ours, theirs…study closely the following sentences and get the meaning expressed.
e.g He runs faster than she. (He runs faster than she runs)
Lester loves Hazel more than me. (Lester loves Hazel more than he loves me.) Her
work is better than mine. (Her work is better than my work.)

40. When a noun is joined to a number to from an adjective, the noun must be singular.
e.g a three minute talk. A four-lane highway

41. Be consistent in using verbals.

e.g Dancing, singing, and acting are the things involved.
They like to dance, to sing and to act.

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