This document discusses subject-verb agreement, specifically when there are intervening expressions between the subject and verb. It provides examples of sentences with phrases or clauses that come between the subject and verb, which could lead to choosing the wrong verb form if one focuses only on the noun closest to the verb. The document then gives exercises for identifying the subject and choosing the correct verb in various sentences, including when the subject is compound or contains prepositional phrases.

1. Pre-activity: Choose the correct verb in
the parenthesis.
A collection of proverbs (seem,
seems) to be perfect gift for
Kyle on his birthday.

2. Answer:
•A of proverbs
to be perfect gift for Kyle on his
birthday.
collection seems

3. Nicole's T-shirt stall, as well as
other stores, (sell, sells) shirts
with quirky quotes on them.

4. Answer:
•Nicole's T-shirt , as well
as other stores, shirts
with quirky quotes on them.
stall
sells

5. Subject-Verb Agreement:
Intervening Expressions

6. A common mistake in subject-
verb agreement is mistaking the noun
nearest to the verb as its subject. This error
is caused by intervening expressions, or
phrases and clauses that come between the
subject and the verb. Because they
intervene, these phrases could lead one to
choosing the wrong verb.

7. Identify the subject the correct verb in the
parenthesis.
1. The writers who were invited
to the seminar (was, were)
oriented by the organizers on
what to emphasize during their
respective talks.

8. 1. The who were invited
to the seminar oriented
by the organizers on what to
emphasize during their
respective talks.
writers
were

9. 2. The facilitators of the
workshop (come, comes) up
with their spiels on the spot.

10. 2. The of the
workshop up with
their spiels on the spot.
facilitators
come

11. 3. The students, including their
teacher, (is, are) allowed to
clarify with the writers.

12. 3. The , including
their teacher, allowed
to clarify with the writers.
students
are

13. 4. The writer Julian Serrano, as
well as his colleagues,
(encourage, encourages)
everyone to read Philippine
literature.

14. 4. The Julian Serrano, as
well as his colleagues,
everyone to read Philippine
literature.
writer
encourages

15. 5. One of my favorite sayings
(is, are) "Carpe diem" -seize the
day.

16. 5. of my favorite sayings
"Carpe diem" -seize
the day.
One
is

17. Box the subject and underline the correct
verb.
1. Mary, in writing her essays and speeches,
(like,likes) to start with a quote.
2. The people of Burundi, which is a country
in southeast Africa, (has, have) a saying:
"Where there is love, there is no darkness."
3. The Russians, on the otherhand, (has, have)
a saying: "Love is evil; you will even fall in
love with a goat."

18. 4. The proverb "Even if a baboon wears a
gold ring, he's still an ugly thing," which is
similar to the Bible's "A leopard cannot
change spots," (come, comes) from the
Afrikaans.
5. There's a beautiful Japanese saying which
goes, "He who treads the path of love
(walk, walks) a thousand meters as if it
were only one.

19. 1. , in writing her essays
and speeches, to start
with a quote.
Answers:
Mary
likes

20. 2. The of Burundi,
which is a country in southeast
Africa, a saying: "Where
there is love, there is no
darkness."
people
have

21. 3. The , on the
otherhand, a saying:
"Love is evil; you will even fall
in love with a goat."
Russians
have

22. 4. The "Even if a
baboon wears a gold ring, he's still
an ugly thing," which is similar to
the Bible's "A leopard cannot
change spots," from the
Afrikaans.
proverb
comes

23. 5. There's a beautiful Japanese
which goes, "He who treads the path
of love a thousand meters
as if it were only one.
saying
walks

24. Use the following phrases as sentences in
the present tense. Make sure that the
verb agrees with its subject.
1. the people, as well as their barangay
captain
2. My mother, with her friends
3. The Language of the Pampanga people
4. The norms of our society
5. Metaphor, which is one of the literary
devices