Grammar Red Flags
If Nadya were to choose between her friends or studies, THEY would choose the latter.
If Nadya were to choose between her friends or studies, SHE would choose the latter.
20 years ARE a long time to be away from your loved ones.
20 years IS a long time to be away from your loved ones.
The singular form of the verb is used with the following:
Units of distance, time, space and money;
Book titles;
Mathematical expressions like 5+1 is…
Ligaya and Mencio were childhood playmates and ___ did not stop being friends until
Ligaya and Mencio were childhood playmates and THEY did not stop being friends until
Rudolf keeps on being authentic to himself, SINCE a lot of students want to be friends with him.
SO, THEREFORE
The Senate _________(be) united its stand on Palestine.
The Senate is united on its stand on Palestine
A collective noun takes a singular verb when referred to as a unit or as a group but it takes a plural verb when its members are referred to as individuals.
Either the teacher or the students IS first to arrive in the classroom
Either the teacher or the students ARE first to arrive in the classroom
The verb of compound subjects joined by or, nor, either-or, or neither nor, agrees in number with the subject nearer to it
To look ahead ARE Orpheus’ task.
To look ahead IS Orpheus’ task.
When an infinitive phrase, gerund phrase, or a noun clause is used as a subject, use a singular verb
When somebody knocks on your door at midnight, should you open the door for ___?
When somebody knocks on your door at midnight, should you open the door for THEM?
SO online classes are being held in some schools, many parents buy their children gadgets they can use.
Because or since
Who __________(become) the vice president should the incumbent be impeached?
Who becomes the vice president should the incumbent be impeached?
When a sentence or a clause begins with there, here, or words such as who, whose, what, or how, the verb must agree with the noun or pronoun that comes after it.
The use of AI in classrooms, which led to cheating allegations, REMAIN to be a controversial topic.
The use of AI in classrooms, which led to cheating allegations, REMAINS to be a controversial topic.
Phrases that may come in between a subject and its verb (also referred to as intervening phrases) do not affect the number of the subject.
A number of gods SEEMS invested in the journey of Orpheus and Eurydice.
A number of gods SEEM invested in the journey of Orpheus and Eurydice.
The number (meaning one particular number) always takes the singular form of the verb while a number (meaning some) always takes the plural
Neither the president nor the vice-president has fulfilled ___ promises for the Philippines.
Neither the president nor the vice-president has fulfilled HER promises for the Philippines.
FOR THIS REASON many teenagers lack self-compassion, mental health issues among the youth persist.
Since, Because
Use in a Cause and Effect Sentence:
Reducing the effects of climate change
Open Answer
The jury were divided on the verdict, and it was unclear whether IT would reach a unanimous decision or if further deliberations would be required.
The jury were divided on the verdict, and it was unclear whether THEY would reach a unanimous decision or if further deliberations would be required.
Half of Odysseus’ journey ARE filled with various tragedies.
Half of Odysseus’ journey IS filled with various tragedies.
In sentences with percentages and fractions, the number of the verb depends on the number of the object of the preposition that precedes it.
Many a student has struggled with ___ final exams.
Many a student has struggled with HIS OR HER final exams.
No one is believing the marine scientists that the coral reefs are experiencing serious dangers, BECAUSE, the threats on the world’s reefs have greatly increased.
As a result, consequently, therefore, so
Use in a Cause and Effect Sentence:
A higher heat index is being experienced
Open Answer
All of the furniture burned in the fire. THEY costs about three million pesos.
All of the furniture burned in the fire. IT costs about three million
Some of the gods _______(enjoy) fighting against other people but none ________(enjoy) it more than Ares, the god of war.
Some of the gods ENJOY fighting against other people but none ENJOYS it more than Ares, the god of war.
Indefinite pronouns such as all, some, such, any, none, may be singular or plural.
Some of the kids buy ___ lunch at the school canteen.
Some of the kids buy THEIR lunch at the school canteen.
The Philippine population continues to grow rapidly BECAUSE OF the competition in attaining resources becomes more prevalent.
As a result, So
The jury were divided on the verdict, and it was unclear whether IT would reach a unanimous decision or if further deliberations would be required.
The jury were divided on the verdict, and it was unclear whether THEY would reach a unanimous decision or if further deliberations would be required.