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. 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. 5. Example:b. Health and hope are whatwe wish upon a star.c. The student and therepresentative attendthe meeting regularly. 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 a singular verb. 15. A.1. Everyone trains hard.2. Each has a special diet.3. No one complains much4. Nobody wants to lose the game. 16. 7. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS such as a few, many, both, an d several take a plural verb. 17. B.1. Few of the varsitycomplain2. 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, mat hematics, 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. 10. Nouns that are always plural in form and meaning take a plural verb.Example:a. Leas new pants fit her. 24. b. Scissors are indispensable in everyHousehold.c. The contents of the letter hurt me. 25. 11. Adjectives used asa subject areplural in meaningand thereforethey take a pluralverb. 26. 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. 27. 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. 28. 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) 29. D. NUMBERS , INTERVENING WORDS AND TITLES 30. 13. The expression a number takes a plural verb while the expression the number takes a singular verb.Example: a. A number of students come to school late. b. The number of the late comers increases everyquarter.14. Words expressing periods of time, weights, ,measurements,and amounts of money usually take singular verb.Example: a. Seven years is quite a long time to wait for his return. 31. b. Ten kilos of chicken is not enough for 60 persons. c. Two billion pesos is quite big for a simple roadproject.15. Fractions may take singular of plural verbs dependingon the of-phrase.Example: a. Two-thirds of the students prepare the assignment. b. Two-thirds of the project is ready for evaluation. c. Three-fourths of the population does not havea decent job d. Three-fourths of the pies have been already sold. 32. 16. Intervening words like together with, in addition to,as well as, including, and similar constructionsfollowing the subject do not affect the numberof the subject.Example: a. The teacher, together with the students, submitsa petition against the result of the contest. b. The judges, as well as the committee, convenecome up with a resolution. 33. 17. The title of a book, poem, story or movie,when use as a subject of a sentence, they takea singular verb.Example: 1. Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs whenmade as a movie was a sure hit.2. Passionate Shepherd To His Loveand the The Nymps Reply are popular poems in English literature.