1. Basic Principle:Singular subject needssingular verb; plural subjectneeds plural verb. My brother is a nutritionist. My sisters are mathematicians.

2. A. Compound Subjects 3. 1. A compound subjectconnected by ANDgenerally takes a pluralverb.Example: Mouse and keypad areparts of a computer. 4. Example:b. Health and hope are whatwe wish upon a star.c. The student and therepresentative attendthe meeting regularly. 5. 2. Two subjects that are closely related to each other or that refer to the same person or thing take a singular verb.Example:a. Patience and determination is my weapon against problems. 6. 3. Compound subjects joined by either...or and neither...nor take singular or plural verbs depending upon the nearer subject to the verb. 7. Example:a. Either the project or theassignment is due today.b. Neither the document northe test papers aremissing.c. Either the notebook or theball pen is needed for theoutreach. 8. d. Neither the teacher nor the students join the rally .e. Either the mouse or the keyboard is new.f. Neither the table nor the chairs are in place. 9. 4. Subjects separated by a word not, the verb agrees with the affirmative. Example:a. The child not the mother shows more compassion to the beggar. 10. b. The books not the wallet are missing.c. The teachers not the principal attend the symposium.d. The guests not the teacher are in the hall. 11. When a singular5. subject is connected by or or nor to a plural subject, put the plural subject last and use a plural verb. 12. Example:1. The serving bowl or the plates are taken to the dining room.2. The student or the teachers write a letter to the mayor. 13. B. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS 14. 6. INDEFINITE PRONOUNSsuch as each,either,neither,one,everybody, no one,nobody, anybody take asingular verb. 15. A.1. Everyone is training hard.2. Each has a special diet.3. No one complains about the schedule.4. Nobody wants to lose in the game. 16. 7. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS such as a few, many, both, and several take a plural verb. 17. B.1. Few of the varsitycomplain about the rules.2. Both of the coachesencourage them.3. Several of us watchtheir games at theAstrodome.4. Many of us heresupport them. 18. 8. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS such as some, any, none, and all when followed by a phrase, the verb agrees with the object of the of phrase. 19. C.1. Most of the training was hard.2. Some of the cake is fondant.3. Most of the varsities are fourth year students.4. Some of the players are young. 20. C. SPECIAL ANDCOLLECTIVE NOUNS 21. 9. Special nouns that are plural in form but singular in meaning such as physics, economics, mathematics, measles, civics, and news take a singular verb. 22. Example:a. The news is about loving and living.b. Economics is applied in everyday life. 23. ABSTRACT NOUNS such as beauty, courage, loyalty, faith, love, and others when used as subject in the sentence, they take a singular verb. Examples: Beautyis useless, character is the best. Love is a many splendor thing. 24. 10. Nouns that are always plural in form and meaning take a plural verb.Example:a. Leas new pants fit her. 25. b. Scissors are indispensable in everyHousehold.c. The contents of the letter hurt me. 26. aboriginesamendsannalsassetsantipodesscissorsthanksspectacles 27. vespers matins nuptials oats premises bellows billiards dregs gallows tongs 28. 11. Adjectives used asa subject areplural in meaningand thereforethey take a pluralverb. 29. Example:1.The rich are not always happy.2.The meek are rewarded in heaven.3. Happy are the poor for the kingdom of God is theirs. 30. 12. Collective nouns usually take a singular verb when it denotes a unit. It may take a plural verb when the noun refers to the members of the group. 31. Example:1. The team works hard for the award.(The team works as a group)2. The team argue on who is their best contender for the MVP award.( the members of the group argue among themselves) 32. A flock of migratory bird was seen in the nearby swamp.Some flocks of birds were seen in the different swamps across the country. The flocks of birds come from the different countries in the south. 33. D. NUMBERS , INTERVENING WORDS AND TITLES 34. 13. The expression a number takes a pluralverb while the expression the number takesa singular verb.Example:a. A number of students come to school late.b. The number of the late comers increases every quarter. 35. 14. Words expressing periods of time, weights,,measurements,and amounts of money usually take singularverb.Example:a. Seven years is quite a long time to wait forhis return.b. Ten kilos of chicken is not enough for 60persons.c. Two billion pesos is quite big for a simpleroad project. 36. 15. Fractions may take singular of plural verbsdepending on the of-phrase.Example:a. Two-thirds of the students prepare theassignment.b. Two-thirds of the project is ready forevaluation.c. Three-fourths of the population does nothave a decent jobd. Three-fourths of the pies have been alreadysold. 37. 16. Intervening words like together with, in additionto, as well as, including, and similar constructionsfollowing the subject do not affect the number of thesubject.Example:a. The teacher, together with the students,submits a petition against the result of thecontest.b. The judges, as well as the committee,convene come up with a resolution. 38. 17. The title of a book, poem, story or movie,Take a singular verb.Example:1. Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs when made as a movie was a sure hit.2. Passionate Shepherd To His Love and the The Nymps Reply are popular poems in English literature.