ENGLISH PLUS NOTES
PHILIPPINE ENGLISH
HOW DID THE PHILLIPINE ENGLISH DEVELOPED
PHILIPPINE ENGLISH AS THE PART OF WORLD ENGLISHES
World Englishes would be the norm that includes all varieties of the English language
Sample Terminologies in Philippine English
BRITISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH
SUBJECT & VERB AGREEMENT
A subject is a part of a sentence that contains the person or thing performing the action (or verb) in a sentence.
A verb is a word or a combination of words that indicates action or a state of being or condition. A verb is the
part of a sentence that tells us what the subject performs.
RULE 1: Subjects and verbs must agree in number
This means that a singular subject is paired with a singular verb, and a plural subject is paired with a
plural verb.
Ex. The economic cost of climate change translates to about $44.9 billion each year.
Developing countries are greatly affected by climate change.
RULE 2: Subjects joined by conjunctions must be paired with singular/plural form of a verb
In general, subjects joined by the conjunction and are paired with the plural form of a verb. However,
the singular form of the verb is used when the subjects joined by and refer to a singular thing or unit.
For instance, book or movie titles and food joined by and but are taken as one are considered to be
singular in number.
Ex. The Philippines, Grenada, and Maldives are affected by the typhoon.
Cookies and cream is my favorite ice cream flavor.
How do you recognize a singular or plural verb?
A singular verb is one that has an s added to it in the present tense, such as writes, plays, runs, and uses forms
such as is, was, has, does. A plural verb does not have an s added to it, such as write, play, run, and uses forms
such as are, were, have and do.
RULE 3: Parenthetical Expressions
Parenthetical expressions do not affect the agreement between the subject and the verb.
Ex. Philippines, as well as Japan, is affected in by the typhoon.
The National Greening Program, including the campaign against illegal logging, aims to mitigate climate
change in the Philippines.
What is a parenthetical expression?
A parenthetical expression is a word or words added to a sentence without changing the meaning or grammar of
the original sentence. Parenthetical expressions give extra information but are not essential. You can add and
remove a parenthetical and the sentence works just the same.
RULE 4: Prepositional Phrases
Prepositional phrases do not usually affect the agreement between the subject and the verb.
Ex. The president in his statement during the event reiterates his call to rich countries share the burden of poor
countries.
For V20 countries, this translates to about $44.9 dollars each year as the economic cost climate change.
COMMON PRESPOSITIONS:
1. about 9. for
2. to 10. behind
3. at 11. in
4. before 12. from
5. of 13. over
6. by 14. for
7. after 15. with
8. during 16. under
RULE 5: Indefinite pronouns with singular verbs
Indefinite pronouns such as everyone, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone, and somebody are paired
with singular verbs.
Ex. Everyone is appealing for more financial support for climate change mitigation efforts.
Someone has to make the necessary steps to mitigate the effects of climate change.
RULE 6: Pronouns as subject
When used as a subject, the pronouns few, many, several, both, and some take the plural form of the
verb.
Ex. Some are affected by the flood brought about by incessant rains.
Many are appealing for more financial support climate change mitigation efforts.
RULE 7: Quantifiers verbs depends on the nouns
When quantifiers like all of, a lot of, lots of, and most of are used to, the agreement between the subject
and verb depends on the noun that comes after the quantifier.
Ex. Most of the budget goes to climate change mitigation projects.
Most developing countries are affected by climate change.
RULE 8: Quantifiers with singular verb
Use a singular verb when quantifiers such as each, every, and no appear before the subject.
Ex. Every rich country has to share the burden of poor countries, especially the so-called Vulnerable 20, in
addressing the concerns of climate change.
RULE 9: None as a subject
Use a singular verb when none is used as a subject
Ex. None of the lawmakers was able to attend the conference.
RULE 10: Either or Neither Pronoun
Use a singular verb when the pronoun either or neither is used as a subject.
Ex. Either is to be taken seriously.
Neither has shown interest on the issue.
RULE 11: Correlative Conjunctions
When the correlative conjunctions either or or neither nor are used, the form of the verb depends on
the form of the subject that is nearest to it.
Ex. Either the president or his cabinet members are attending the conference.
RULE 12: Money, time, distance and other measurements
Use the singular form of the verb for money, time, distance, and other measurements refer to a single
unit.
Ex. Thirty million tons of carbon per year is absorbed by the trees.
Ten years is not enough to implement the project.
RULE 13: Collective Nouns
In general, collective nouns like class, senate, family, crowd, etc. are paired with singular verbs.
Ex. The Senate is signing the bill into law next month.
Congress are having a show of hands for the voting on the proposed bill.
RULE 14: Nouns that ends in -s
Nouns that end in –s such as courses, diseases, places, and titles of books or films used as subjects are
paired with singular verbs.
Ex. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was written by J.K Rowling.
Prosthodontics deals with the design, manufacturing, and fitting of artificial replacements for the teetch.
RULE 15: Adjectives as subjects
Plural verbs are used when adjectives are used as subjects.
Ex. The resilient are able to survive the effects of climate change.
The rich should give more financial support for climate change mitigation efforts.
RULE 16: Mathematical Operations
Mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division take singular verbs
Ex. Fifteen and five equals twenty.
Fifteen divided by five is three.
RULE 17: Clause as a subject
Use a singular verb when a clause is used as a subject.
WHAT IS A CLAUSE?
A clause is a group of words that has both a subject and a predicate. Every complete sentence is made up of at
least one clause.
Ex. Michael bought a new computer
Michael bought a new computer, but he still has the old one.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
An independent clause (or main clause) makes sense by itself. It expresses a complete thought.
DEPENDENT CLAUSES
A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) does not make sense by itself. It does not express a complete
thought.
Ex.
What is needed is for rich countries to share the burden of poor countries in addressing concerns of climate
change.
How countries can help each other in solving climate change is the main goal of the conference.
RULE 18: Fractions & Percentages
Fractions and percentages used as subjects generally take singular verbs. However, when they are
followed by the preposition of, the agreement between the subject and the verb depends on the noun that
comes after the preposition.
Ex. Five percent goes to climate change mitigation efforts.
Five percent of the funds go to climate change mitigation efforts.
RULE 19: A number of/The number of
Use a plural verb when the expression a number of is used as a subject. Use a singular verb when the
expression the number of is used as a subject.
Ex. A number of government projects have been initiated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The number of government projects is not enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
RULE 20: There or Here
In sentences that begin with the words there or here, the number of the verb depends on the subject
placed after it.
Ex. Here is the list of countries which are vulnerable to the effects of climate change
Here are the countries which are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change
PRONOUN CASES
Using Correct Pronoun Cases
A pronoun is in the subjective (also called nominative) case when it acts as the subject or subject complement
of the sentence or clause.
It is in the objective case when it functions as a direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition. When a
pronoun shows ownership, it is in the possesive case.
It is the possessive case when it shows possession.
She brought me flowers when she visited my home last Christmas.
SUBJECTIVE CASE OBJECTIVE CASE POSSESSIVE CASE
FIRST PERSON I me my, mine
Singular we us our, ours
Plural
SECOND PERSON you your, yours your, yours
THIRD PERSON he him his
Singular: Masculine she her her, hers
Feminine they them their, theirs
Plural
NEUTER it it its