This document provides a grammar refresher course covering various grammar topics in both English and Filipino. It discusses subjects like subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, identifying and correcting errors, dangling modifiers, parallelism, and order of adjectives. Examples are provided to illustrate different grammar concepts and rules. The document is intended as a helpful guide for those studying grammar, such as in preparation for the UPCAT college entrance exam in the Philippines.

1. Grammar
A Refresher Course…
UP Educators’
Circle
and lessons on (UP) life, love, and leisure.
Prepared by: Edwin Del Rosario Train. Teach. Touch lives.

2. Y does we need too studied grammar?!...
• The very fact that you were able to notice corrections from
the question above imply something about how geared (or
“un-geared”) you are in terms of grammar.
• Bukod sa ang balarila ay maituturing na pinakabasal na
yunit ng isang wika, isang mahalagang papel na
ginagampanan nito ang pagiging isang sistema na
pinagbabatayan ng wikang tumatangkilik rito.

3. Why do we need to study grammar?
• The very fact that you were able to notice corrections from
the question above implies something about how geared (or
“un-geared”) you are in terms of grammar.
• Bukod sa ang balarila ay maituturing na pinakabasal na
yunit ng isang wika, isang mahalagang papel na
ginagampanan nito ang pagiging isang sistema na
pinagbabatayan ng wikang tumatangkilik dito.

4. Grammar and UPCAT
• Language Proficiency (together
with Reading Comprehension,
Mathematics, and Science)
• English and Filipino
• Multiple Choice
• 90 items to be answered in 90
minutes.
• Your ticket to an “Isko-lastic”
college life! 

5. Grammar and UPCAT
• Identifying and Correcting Errors/
Pagtukoy at Pagtama sa Kamalian
• Subject-Verb Agreement
• Verb Tenses
• Spelling Errors
• Dangling Modifiers
• Faulty Parallelisms
• Run-on Sentences
• Vocabulary
• Semantic Relations
• Figures of Speech

6. Subject-Verb Agreement Gender
(lalaki, babae, lalaki at babae,
Number hindi nakasaad, walang kasarian)
(isa, dalawa, marami)
Person
(sarili, ibang tao)
GENERAL RULE
Singular subjects take singular verbs (except for “you” and “I”) while plural subjects (plus
“you” and “I”) take plural verbs.

7. GENERAL RULE
Singular subjects take singular verbs (except for “you” and “I”) while plural subjects (plus
“you” and “I”) take plural verbs.
These white mice are pets.
Bong Revilla (is, are) a senator who is convicted
with counts of plunder.
You (give, gives) me a reason to dream again.
A good student (allot, allots) a lot of time for his academic
life.

8. Modified Subject and Verb; Subject with Accompaniment, Appositve and a Verb; Intervening Words
Use a verb that agrees with the subject instead of the modifier of the subject.
The clown with the sad eyes looks pathetic.
(verb should refer to clown, not eyes)
Since his love for his gadgets (is, are) greater than his love for his girlfriend, he broke up
with her.
(verb should refer to love, not gadgets)
Her knowledge of languages (aids, aid) her to write a very good essay.
(verb should refer to knowledge, not languages)
Books written by J.K. Rowling (is, are) better than all the books in the Twilight series.
(verb should refer to books, not J.K. Rowling)
A student from UP, as well as students from other state colleges and universities, (is,
are) called an “Isko” or “Iska” (short for Iskolar ng Bayan)
(verb should refer to student from UP, not students from other state colleges and
universities)

9. Here and There; Verbs and Subject Order
Here and there introduce the verb-subject order. The verb agrees with the subject following it.
Beyond those buildings is a skating rink.
(verb should refer to skating rink, not buildings)
Here (is, are) the questions I asked myself after you left.
(verb should refer to questions)
There (is, are) the books we need to study in order to pass UPCAT.
(verb should refer to books)
Up in the sky (lies, lie) my hopes and dreams.
(verb should refer to hopes and dreams, not sky)

10. Indefinite Subject and Verb
Each of the answers is correct.
Some of the fruits are ripe.
(verb should be plural because of fruits)
PLURAL
All government funds (is, are) taken by the corrupt
officials.
(verb should refer to funds)
None of the love (was, were) true.
each
one
everybody
no one
nobody
anyone
anybody
someone
somebody
every
another
little
much
SINGULAR
few
many
several
both
others
none
some
all SINGULAR
or
PLURAL
none with mass noun = singular
none with count noun = singular or plural
all/some with mass noun = singular
all/ some with count noun = plural
Everybody is eager to join the club.
Both of the children were exhausted.
(verb should refer to love)
Some things (is, are) better left unsaid.
(verb should refer to things)

11. Compound Subjects
Regular Compounds Closely Related
Compounds
Each/ Every Either-or/ Neither-nor
plural singular singular depends on the
nearer subject
The teacher and the
students prepare for the
upcoming entrance
examination.
Macaroni and cheese is
an easy dish to make.
Each boy and girl has
the responsibility to be a
good citizen of the
world.
Neither the tape nor the
pins were holding the
pieces together.
UP, ADMU, DLSU, and
UST (is, are) considered
the “Big Four”
universities in the
Philippines.
Coffee and cream (is,
are) the usual beverage
for busy college students.
Every course and field of
study in college (is, are)
essential to nation
building.
Neither cramming nor
relying on luck alone
(helps, help) in acing
entrance examinations.
My girlfriend and my
best friend (loves, love)
me.
My girlfriend and best
friend (loves, love) me.
I hope that every girl
and friend (loves, love)
me.
Either my girlfriend or
my best friends (loves,
love) me.

12. Other Things You Need to Know
Singular Plural Singular or Plural
Time
Weight
Measurement
Amounts of Money
“The number”
Titles
Arithmetical Operations
“A number”
Adjectives
Fractions (depends on the of-phrase)
Collective Nouns
(one unit = singular, individual members =
plural)
Nineteen is the age where one understands
everything. (Ramon Bautista)
The number of UPCAT passers is quite low.
She’s Dating a Gangster is now adapted in
the big screen.
My ego divided by a heartbreak is shattered
identity.
A number of UPCAT passers with high UPG
are reconsidered by other UP units.
The happiest are often the people who
suffered the most.
One-seventh of the students pass the
dreaded UPCAT. (verb refers to students)
Only three-tenths of the Philippine
population has the capacity to seek regular
medical consultation. (verb refers to
population)
The committee is unable to decide on a
vacation spot.
The team have disappointment because of
their opposing views. (notice the use of their)

13. Identifying Errors/ Pagtama sa mga Mali
English Filipino
Double Negatives
Verb Tenses
Subjunctive Mood (If… then)
Redundancy
Improper use of Verb,
Preposition, Pronouns, etc.
Dangling Modifiers
Parallelism
Run-on Sentences
/r/ and /d/
ng at nang
maling gamit ng salita

14. David could not hardly believe his luck when he won the lottery.
(either “David could not believe his luck…” or “David hardly believes his luck…”)
Double Negatives
A double negative occurs when two forms of negation are used in the same sentence.
Ex. verb (can not, did not, will not); pronoun (nothing, nobody); adverb (never, hardly)
Sentences with double negatives are not ALWAYS an error. They should only be corrected only if the
speaker intends to elicit negative sense.
I didn’t do nothing.
(either “I didn’t do anything” or “I did do nothing.”)
No one wouldn’t pass the examination if you take it for granted.
(either “Anyone would not pass the…” or “No one would pass the…”)

15. If I were given the chance, I will choose to visit my relatives in Bohol.
(If I were given the chance, I would choose to visit my relatives in Bohol.)
What would you insist should you be elected as the next President of the Philippines?
(You can answer with “If I were elected as…., then I would insist that…” or As the next
President, I insist that…)
If you were given the opportunity to date a fictional character, who would it be and why?
Subjunctive Mood
The subjunctive mood is the verb form used to express a wish, a suggestion, a command, or a condition
that is contrary to fact; sometimes, things in subjunctive mood is not likely going to happen in reality.
Verbs that (often) attract subjunctive mood: ask, command, demand, insist, order, recommend, suggest,
and wish.
Read more at http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/subjunctive_mood.htm#uAGpgLjKb7VwAfWs.99

16. I would rather buy my own books rather than borrow from the library.
(I would rather buy my own books than borrow from the library.)
(I would buy my own books rather than borrow from the library.)
If all us cooperate together, we will succeed.
The ATM machine was broken by the time I went there.
A variety of different things can be learned from experiencing a heartbreak.
The end result of someone being a torpe is not being able to admit to the person he/she
loves.
The tuition fee in UP is relatively lower than those of private schools but is a bit costly for a
state-funded university.
Redundancy
Redundancy means superfluity or using words unnecessarily or using words for a second time.
Read more at: http://www.english-for-students.com/Redundancy.html

17. A. The antecedent of the pronoun should be clear to avoid confusion.
Anne Curtis wants to talk with Jasmine about her drinking problems. (Does “her” refer to Anne or Jasmine?)
B. Take note of the differences among these words!
it’s vs. its
Improper Pronoun Use
Remember that a pronoun should always agree with its antecedent in terms of person, number gender,
and case.
they’re vs. their
vs. there
he’s vs. his
theirs vs.
there’s
this vs. these who’s vs. whose
C. Personal pronouns as object of the preposition should be on its objective case.
Among us students, those that strive for his or her own improvement are often rewarded with self-confidence.
You and I wouldn’t want to be like them vs. Just between you and me, I would want to be like them.
D. A pronoun situated before a gerund should be in the possessive case.
My talking here would not be effective if you were not listening.
Her fighting for the welfare of the masses was my reason why I fell for her.

18. Improper Preposition Use
Read more: http://www.grammar.net/prepositions

19. in on at
city, town, state, country streets, avenue, boulevards exact address
inexact period of time holiday period of day or night
days of the week exact time
date (month, day, year) or
(month, day)
between vs.
among
since vs. for
two entities
vs. more than
two entities
beginning vs.
duration
Improper Preposition Use
(daytime, night)
beside vs.
besides
by vs. with
‘by the side of’
vs. ‘aside
from’
doer vs.
instrument
Read more: http://www.grammar.net/prepositions and http://www.perfectyourenglish.com/grammar/preposition-errors.htm

20. article/ the + number – intensifier – quality – size – age – color – proper noun used as
adjective - noun
a very fierce, tall, young, kayumanggi, Filipino college student
the eight, great, heroic, large provinces that ignited a series of revolution against Spaniards
an extremely hard, massive, unforgettable heartbreak
a very difficult, mind-boggling, nerve-wracking, big examination
Order of Adjectives

21. Verbs and the Action of Love
loved loves will/ shall love
was/were loved is/are loving will/shall be
loving
had loved has/have loved
will/ shall have
loved
had been loving
has/have been
loving
will/shall have
been loving
PAST PRESENT FUTURE
Simple
Progressive/
Continuous
Perfect
Perfect
Progressive
completed in the
past
habitual or
repeated action
happening in
future time
past action
simultaneous with
another event in
the past
ongoing action continuing action
in the future
took place in the
past before
another past
action
action began in
the past and
completed or
continued at
present
action that should
be completed
before another
future action

22. A. Remember that the past form of some irregular verbs is not the same as the past participle (pp).
ex. (begin – pp is begun, not began), (speak – pp is spoken, not spoke), (do – pp is done, not did)
B. A modal, as well as do-verbs (do, does, did), should be accompanied with a verb in its base form.
ex. (could come, not can came), (does sing, not does sings), (did enjoy, not did enjoyed), (must take)
C. When using a verb that is past progressive, the other verb that interrupts the action must
be in its simple past.
I was studying for finals when my friend came over my room to play.
When the bell rang, the students were going out of the classroom.
Other Guidelines on Verbs

23. Wailing unceasingly, her dead father was found yesterday.
(It’s as if the “dead father” was the one who was wailing unceasingly.)
Hoping to pass the test, an intensive review was prepared.
(It’s as if the “intensive review” was the one who was hoping to past the test.)
Having read your letter, my cat will stay indoors.
(Having read your letter, I will let my cat stay indoors.)
Vicious smelly creatures with huge tusks, the ship's crew found it difficult to drive the male walruses
from the beach.
(It’s as if the crew members were “vicious, smelly creatures with huge tusks”)
(The ship's crew found it difficult to drive the male walruses, vicious smelly creatures with huge tusks, from the beach.)
(Vicious smelly creatures with huge tusks, the male walruses were driven difficultly from the beach by the ship’s crew.)
Dangling/ Misplaced Modifiers
A dangling modifier is a modifier that has nothing to modify. Remember, modifiers describe a word or
make its meaning more specific. A dangling modifier is an error caused by failing to use the word that
the modifier is meant to be describing.
Read more at http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/dangling_modifier.htm#rJ5QDQqEftoP1U2g.99

24. We have things to do, people to see, and places that should be visited.
Strength, agility, and carefully concentrating make a successful basketball player.
Parallelism
(It can be “places to visit”)
Going home is better than to stay here.
(“staying here”)
(“concentration”)
Parallelism is a balance within one or more sentences of similar phrases or clauses that have the same
grammatical structure.
Read more at: http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-lesson-parallelism.php#.U7cNhrEjaT0

25. Kadalasang Mali sa Filipino
Bisitahin ang “Tamang Balarila” Album ni Jpaul Marasigan sa Facebook para sa iba pang kadalasang
mali sa Filipino
(https://www.facebook.com/jpaul13/media_set?set=a.10151050306946147.488121.745041146&type=1)