SVA Rules 11-15

​I. Interactive Teaching

II. Grade 7

III. SVA Rule ​16-20

​

Azuelo, Norma Jude A.​

Subject-Verb Agreement

RULES 16-20

Rule 16

Fractions take after the noun after them.

Examples:

a.     One-fourth of the apple is eaten.

​

b.     One-half of his answers are correct.​

Multiple Choice

One-third of the tomatoes_____ rotten.

• is

• are

• am

• was

Multiple Choice

Three-fourth of pizza ____ eaten.

• were

• are

• is

• am

Rule 17

Titles of books, movies, etc. always require a singular verb

Examples:

a.     “The Little Prince” is on sale at the bookstore.

​

b.     “The heirs” is good and exciting K-drama.​

Multiple Choice

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ____ my most read book.

• am

• are

• is

• where

Multiple Choice

____ 3 Idiots your favorite movie?

• am

• were

• is

• are

Rule 18

Amount, distances, and measurements always require a singular verb.

Examples:

a.     Twenty miles is what Vincent drives every day.

​

b.     Four kilometers is a long way to walk.

Multiple Choice

Twenty kilograms ____ the weight of Carla's dog.

• were

• is

• are

• am

Multiple Choice

____ two hundred pesos enough for you?

• were

• are

• is

• am

Rule 19

“A number of” requires a plural verb

“The number of” requires a singular verb

Examples:

a.     A number of celebrities were at the Academy’s Awards night.

​

b.     The number of people to join the game is limited.

​

Multiple Choice

The number of employees present ___ small.

• were

• where

• am

• was

Multiple Choice

   A number of employees ____ present.

• were

• where

• am

• was

Rule 20

  Identifying head nouns in long subjects

Examples:

a.     The main reason (that we divided to take a trip to the Sierra Mountain) is to learn geographical history.

​

b.     That novel (about alien invasions in several South American countries) has been made into a TV film.

Multiple Choice

Another poll of Americans’ reading habits and attitudes ____taken in 1990. 

• were

• where

• am

• was

Multiple Choice

A child who likes to read books and whose parents encourage reading ____ better in school.

• does

• do

• don't

• down