1.1 English Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics

Core Principles of Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is one of the most heavily weighted grammar domains on the Philippine Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LET). The fundamental rule dictates that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. However, test items frequently obscure the true subject using complex syntax, intervening phrases, and deceptive pronoun structures.

Intervening Phrases and Parenthetical Expressions

Words or phrases that come between the subject and the verb do not alter the grammatical number of the subject. Common intervening expressions include along with, as well as, together with, in addition to, accompanied by, and including, as well as standard prepositional phrases.

• Incorrect: The principal, along with fifty dedicated teachers, are attending the national educational summit.
• Correct: The principal, along with fifty dedicated teachers, is attending the national educational summit. (The subject is 'principal', which is singular; 'along with fifty dedicated teachers' is a parenthetical prepositional modifier).
• Example with Prepositional Phrase: The box of heavy reference books was delivered to the faculty room yesterday. (Subject: 'box' [singular], not 'books').

Indefinite Pronouns: Singular, Plural, and SANAM Rules

Indefinite pronouns serve as frequent traps on the LET General Education exam. Candidates must memorize the classification system governing these pronouns:

1. Always Singular: Each, every, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, no one, nobody, either, neither, one, another, much.
   • Example: Each of the board topnotchers receives a cash incentive from the university.
   • Example: Neither of the submitted lesson plans meets the revised DepEd curriculum standards.
2. Always Plural: Both, few, many, several, others.
   • Example: Several of the secondary school applicants have submitted their complete transcripts.
3. Variable Pronouns (SANAM Rule): Some, All, None, Any, Most. The agreement of these pronouns depends entirely on the noun inside the prepositional phrase following the pronoun.
   • If the object of the preposition is uncountable, use a singular verb.
   • If the object of the preposition is plural, use a plural verb.
   • Examples:
     • Some of the water was spilled on the examination table. (Uncountable = singular verb)
     • Some of the test papers were miscategorized during scanning. (Plural = plural verb)
     • None of the budget has been released. vs. None of the funds have been disbursed.

Compound Subjects and Correlative Conjunctions

When subjects are connected by conjunctions, specific structural rules apply:

• Subjects joined by 'and': Generally take a plural verb ('The teacher and the guidance counselor are conducting the interview'). Exception: If the two nouns refer to a single entity, title, or person, or form a unified concept, the verb is singular ('Bread and butter is my standard breakfast'; 'Our chairman and benefactor has arrived').
• Subjects joined by 'or', 'nor', 'either...or', 'neither...nor', 'not only...but also': The verb must agree in number and person with the closer subject (Rule of Proximity).
  • Example: Neither the school administrators nor the department head was aware of the policy revision. (Closer subject 'department head' is singular).
  • Example: Neither the department head nor the school administrators were aware of the policy revision. (Closer subject 'school administrators' is plural).

Nouns Plural in Form but Singular in Meaning

Certain nouns end in -s but represent a singular subject, discipline, or disease. These include mathematics, physics, civics, news, economics, ethics, measles, mumps, molasses, politics, statistics (when referring to the subject/branch of study).

• Correct: Mathematics is a core subject in the elementary education curriculum.
• Correct: The news regarding the LET pass rate was broadcast across the country.
• Exception Note: When words like statistics or politics refer to specific data sets or personal beliefs rather than the academic field, they take plural verbs ('The statistics indicate a positive trend in literacy rates').

Reference Tables & Rules Matrix

The following table summarizes high-frequency Subject-Verb Agreement rules and deceptive patterns frequently encountered in LET items.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement and Pronoun Case

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent (the noun it replaces) in number, gender, and person.

Gender Neutrality and Indefinite Antecedents

When a singular indefinite pronoun (e.g., everyone, student, candidate) serves as the antecedent, standard formal English requires singular pronoun references. In traditional LET exam construction, singular reference (his or her) is preferred over plural shifts.

• Informal/Shift: Every teacher must upload their lesson plans.
• Formal LET Standard: Every candidate must submit his or her application before the deadline.

Pronoun Case: Nominative, Objective, and Possessive

Understanding pronoun case is vital for identifying errors in compound structures and relative clauses:

1. Nominative (Subjective) Case (I, he, she, we, they, who): Used as sentence subjects or predicate nominatives following linking verbs.
   • Subject: He and she passed the board examination with high honors.
   • Predicate Nominative: It was she who organized the community literacy project. (Not 'It was her').
2. Objective Case (me, him, her, us, them, whom): Used as direct objects, indirect objects, or objects of prepositions.
   • Direct Object: The principal congratulated him and her.
   • Object of Preposition: The scholarship was awarded to her and me. (Not 'to she and I' or 'to her and I').
3. Who vs. Whom:
   • Use who when the pronoun performs the action (subject of the clause).
   • Use whom when the pronoun receives the action (object of verb or preposition).
   • Test Technique: Rephrase the clause substituting he/she (for who) or him/her (for whom).
   • Example: The teacher who scored highest was awarded. (He scored highest -> Who)
   • Example: The candidate whom the board selected accepted the position. (The board selected him -> Whom)

Modifiers: Misplaced, Dangling, and Squinting

Modifiers add detail to sentences but create confusion when improperly positioned.

• Dangling Modifiers: A modifier that lacks a clear, logical subject to modify in the main clause. It usually appears as an introductory participial phrase.
  • Faulty: Having studied diligently for six months, the LET exam was easily passed.
  • Analysis: 'The LET exam' did not study diligently.
  • Corrected: Having studied diligently for six months, the candidate easily passed the LET exam.
• Misplaced Modifiers: A modifier placed too far from the word it describes, creating unintended absurdity.
  • Faulty: The teacher served hot soup to the hungry children in paper bowls.
  • Analysis: Implies children were inside paper bowls.
  • Corrected: The teacher served hot soup in paper bowls to the hungry children.
• Squinting Modifiers: An adverb placed between two words so that it could modify either the preceding or following word.
  • Faulty: Students who study often achieve high test scores.
  • Corrected: Students who frequently study achieve high test scores.

Verbs, Mood, Punctuation, and Sentence Mechanics

Subjunctive Mood and Conditional Constructions

The subjunctive mood expresses wishes, hypothetical conditions, contrary-to-fact scenarios, or formal demands/recommendations.

1. Contrary-to-Fact / Hypothetical Clauses: Use were instead of was for all subjects in the 'if' clause.
   • Incorrect: If I was the DepEd Secretary, I would increase teacher compensation.
   • Correct: If I were the DepEd Secretary, I would increase teacher compensation.
2. Demand / Requirement Clauses (Mandative Subjunctive): Uses the base form of the verb without -s or -ed after verbs like insist, demand, request, propose, recommend, require, order.
   • Incorrect: The chairman insisted that the teacher attends the hearing.
   • Correct: The chairman insisted that the teacher attend the hearing.
   • Incorrect: The board required that she is present.
   • Correct: The board required that she be present.

Advanced Punctuation Rules

Checklist for Identifying Sentence Errors on the LET

When evaluating choices in error identification or sentence correction items, systematic verification prevents common missteps:

• Check Subject-Verb Agreement: Locate the structural subject by eliminating prepositional phrases and parenthetical expressions.
• Verify Pronoun Antecedents & Case: Ensure every pronoun clearly points to a singular or plural noun and matches its case (subject vs. object).
• Examine Introductory Modifiers: Guarantee that the subject performing the action of an introductory participial phrase immediately follows the comma.
• Inspect Parallel Structure: Confirm that items in a series, comparison, or list maintain matching grammatical forms (e.g., all gerunds or all infinitives).
• Identify Run-ons & Comma Splices: Check if two complete thoughts are incorrectly fused with only a comma without a FANBOYS coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).