This is the English 5 Quarter 1 Module 4, Lesson 1 self-learning module, “Composing Inverted Sentences with Correct Subject and Verb Agreement.” It is part of DepEd’s Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) and was developed by DepEd Region VIII (First Edition, 2020). It is for Grade 5 learners studying at home or in class. By the end, learners can spot sentences where the verb comes before the subject and make the subject and verb agree.
What learners will learn
At the end of the module, learners are expected to:
- identify inverted sentences;
- distinguish inverted order sentences from natural order sentences;
- identify the subject and the verb of inverted sentences;
- write sentences in the inverted order that also observe correct subject and verb agreement; and
- apply subject and verb agreement rules correctly.
Key ideas: subject-verb agreement
The module starts with a review. A verb must agree with its subject in number and in person:
- A singular subject (only one, or considered as one) takes a singular verb: Alex likes watching cartoons on weekends.
- A plural subject (more than one) takes a plural verb: Alex and Marian study their lessons on weekdays.
In most sentences, the subject comes first and the verb comes next, as in The dog runs toward the bone or Many Filipinos love adobo. This is the natural or normal order.
Key ideas: what an inverted sentence is
In an inverted sentence, the verb comes before the subject. The subject is always found after the verb. Inverted sentences often begin with:
- the words here or there (Here are the flowers that you sent me. / There goes the ambulance again.)
- a prepositional phrase such as at the back, in a corner, or beside the store
Because this order is less common, it is easy to pick the wrong verb. The module’s examples show how the parts line up:
| Prepositional phrase | Verb | Subject | Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| At the back of the car | is | a dog | singular |
| In a corner | stand | three horses | plural |
| On top of the table | are | cats | plural |
The rephrasing technique
To find the correct verb, rewrite the sentence in normal order, check the agreement, and then turn it back. The module walks through Inside the aquarium is five fishes:
- Analyze the original sentence: Inside the aquarium is five fishes.
- Ask what is being talked about and write it first: Five fishes
- Add the existing verb: Five fishes is
- Write the rest of the words: Five fishes is inside the aquarium.
- Check the agreement: “is” does not agree with “five fishes.”
- Keep the verb if it agrees; change it if not: Five fishes are inside the aquarium.
- Convert it back to inverted order: Inside the aquarium are five fishes.
The same steps answer the module’s opening puzzle: in Inside the cave is / are prehistoric drawings, the subject is “prehistoric drawings,” not “the cave,” so the correct verb is are.
What the activities ask learners to do
- What I Know (pretest): mark sentences as inverted or not, then choose the correct verb, such as There (is, are) three stars in our Philippine National Flag.
- What’s In: tell whether an underlined word is the subject (S) or the verb (V).
- What’s New: underline the subject once and the verb twice.
- What’s More: choose the correct verb form (Activity 1) and underline the verb once and the subject twice (Activity 2).
- What I Can Do: pick the inverted sentence from four choices, then complete inverted sentences, for example At the center of the Philippine National Flag is a sun with eight rays.
- Assessment: correct the verb in inverted sentences such as There is five students in the library, then compose inverted sentences from phrases like Inside the chest and Above the hill.
- Additional Activities: write inverted sentences using verbs such as stand/stands, whisper/whispers, and sing/sings.
How to use this module
- Learners: Start with the pretest to see what you already know. Then work through the parts in order. Write all answers in your notebook or on a separate sheet, not on the module. Use the rephrasing steps whenever you are unsure which verb to use. Check your work with the answer key only after answering, and be honest.
- Parents and facilitators: Help your child read the directions carefully before each task. If your child struggles with the pretest, contact the teacher for extra help, as the module advises.
- Teachers: The answer key covers the pretest, the practice activities, and Assessment Activity 1. Items marked “Answers may vary” (the sentence-writing tasks) need your checking. Note that What’s New and What’s More Activity 2 use opposite underlining rules, so remind learners to follow each set of directions.
Frequently asked questions
What grade and quarter is this module for?
It is for Grade 5 English, Quarter 1, Module 4, Lesson 1.
What is an inverted sentence?
An inverted sentence is one where the verb comes before the subject, such as Inside the aquarium are five fishes. These sentences often begin with here, there, or a prepositional phrase.
How do I find the correct verb in an inverted sentence?
Rewrite the sentence in normal order with the subject first, check if the verb agrees with the subject, fix it if needed, then turn the sentence back into inverted order.
Does the module have an answer key?
Yes. It has answers for the pretest, the practice activities, What I Can Do Activity 1, and Assessment Activity 1. The sentence-writing tasks are marked answers may vary.
Where do learners write their answers?
The module asks learners to write their answers in their notebook or on a separate sheet of paper and not to mark the module.
Full text of the module
The text below is a transcription of the PDF above, as printed.
English Quarter 1 – Module 4 Lesson 1: Composing Inverted Sentences with Correct Subject and Verb Agreement
5
English
Quarter 1 – Module 4
Lesson 1: Composing Inverted Sentences with Correct Subject and Verb Agreement
[logo: DepEd, Department of Education]
[illustration: students reading and studying outdoors and indoors, with a teacher, a student with a globe, and a student with a lantern]
[logo: ADM, Alternative Delivery Mode]
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CO_Q1_English5_Module1
English – Grade 5 Alternative Delivery Mode Quarter 1 – Module 4, Lesson 1: Composing Inverted Sentences with Correct Subject and Verb Agreement First Edition, 2020
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Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names, trademarks, etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective copyright holders. Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from their respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership over them.
Published by the Department of Education Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio
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Department of Education – Region VIII Office Address: Government Center, Candahug, Palo, Leyte
Telefax: 053 – 832- 2997 E-mail Address: region8@deped.gov.ph
Development Team of the Module
Writer: Belinda C. Mediana Editors: Dean Ric M. Endriano, Rustum D. Geonzon, Gertrudes C. Mabutin, Maria Celeste L. Vincoy, Ramil R. Magdua, and Teodorico C. Peliño Jr. Reviewers: Reymarc Jonvil F. Dacallos and Mark C. Geraldo Illustrators: Mery Ezel C. Guande and Rosalinda C. Platino Layout Artists: Janssen Louel C. Dabuet and Gibson J. Gayda
Management Team: Ramir B. Uytico, Arnulfo M. Balane, Rosemarie M. Guino, Joy B. Bihag, Ryan R. Tiu, Dean Ric M. Endriano, Teodorico C. Peliño Jr., Carmela R. Tamayo, Moises D. Labian Jr., Antonio F. Caveiro, Josefina F. Dacallos, Faustino M. Tobes, Rustum D. Geonzon
5
English
Quarter 1 – Module 4
Lesson 1: Composing Inverted Sentences with Correct Subject and Verb Agreement
[logo: DepEd, Department of Education]
Introductory Message
This Self-Learning Module (SLM) has been created so that you can continue your studies and learn while at home. Activities, questions, directions, exercises, and discussions are carefully stated for you to understand each lesson.
Each SLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you step-by-step as you discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.
Pre-tests are provided to measure your prior knowledge on lessons in each SLM. These will tell you if you need to proceed on completing this module or if you need to ask your facilitator or your teacher’s assistance for better understanding of the lesson.
At the end of each module, you need to answer the post-test to self-check your learning. Answer keys are provided for each activity and test. We trust that you will be honest in using these.
In addition to the material in the main text, Notes to the Teacher are also provided to our facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on how they can best help you on your home-based learning.
Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on any part of this SLM. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises and tests. And read the instructions carefully before performing each task.
If you have any questions in using this SLM or any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.
Good luck and happy learning!
What I Need to Know
In this module, you will encounter what we call as inverted order sentences which, like what they sound, show the opposite structure of the common English sentences written in the natural order.
At the end of this module, you are expected to acquire the following skills:
- identify inverted sentences;
- distinguish inverted order sentences from the natural order sentences;
- identify the subject and the verb of inverted sentences;
- write sentences in the inverted order which also observe correct subject and verb agreement; and
- apply subject and verb agreement rules correctly.
What I Know
Directions: Let’s check how much you already know about inverted sentences. Read the sentences below, then on the space provided before the number, put a check mark ” √ ” if the sentence is written in an inverted order, while write an “X” if it is not. Write your answers in your notebook.
____1. Hidilyn Diaz is an Olympic champion. ____2. I saw five children inside the bus. ____3. Inside the bag are two Self-Learning Modules (SLMs). ____4. There is one way to solve this problem. ____5. Twenty plastic bottles were thrown away.
Let’s also check if you can still identify the correct form of the verb in inverted sentences. Choose the correct forms of the verbs inside the parentheses. Write your answers in your notebook.
- There (is, are) three stars in our Philippine National Flag.
- From there (stand, stands) the school principal.
- Going back home (is, are) five cute puppies.
- Adjacent to my house (is, are) a bakery.
- In that corner (sit, sits) two groups of dancers.
Lesson 1: Composing Inverted Sentences with Correct Subject and Verb Agreement
What’s In
You have learned in a previous lesson that correct agreement between a subject and a verb requires that the two must be of the same number. This means that if the subject is singular, (only one or considered as one) then the verb must also be singular. If the subject is plural, (more than one) then the verb must also be plural.
- Alex likes / like watching cartoons on weekends.
(Alex is a singular noun, and likes is a singular verb. The subject and the verb agree in number since they are both singular.)
- Alex and Marian studies / study their lessons on weekdays.
(Since Alex and Marian consist of more than one person, they are plural. Hence, they also need a plural verb which is study.)
These types of sentences are simple because you can easily identify the subject and the verb, including their number (whether singular or plural). However, if the sentence is written in another way, just like the one below, it might not be easy to identify the subject and the verb, and consequently, whether they are singular or plural. Consider this:
- Inside the cave is / are prehistoric drawings showing horses and other animals.
What is the subject of Sentence 3? Is it the cave or the prehistoric drawings? What about its verb? Can you tell if the subject is singular or plural? What is the correct verb that will match the subject?
Let’s get the hang of it by doing the next activity.
Directions: Read each sentence carefully. Write S if the underlined word is the subject of the inverted sentence and write V if it is a verb. Write your answers in your notebook.
- From the office, the manager holds a meeting with his staff.
- At the back of the valley live many farmers.
- Here are the flowers that you sent me.
- In the center of the stage are two chandeliers.
- In the classroom is a teacher who teaches clearly his lesson.
- Inside the house is a cute little dog named Aw-aw.
- There goes the ambulance again.
- After the show spoke the municipal mayor.
- From the roof jumps the vigilant cat.
- Here comes your delicious snack!
Were you able to identify the subject and the verb easily? Why? Why not?
What’s New
Directions: Copy the following sentences in your notebook. When this is done, underline the subject once and the verb twice.
- Down the street live the man and his wife.
- In a bottle is a beautiful flower.
- Here are the apples you wanted to eat.
- Under the tree stands a tall man.
- In the middle of the night is a troubled woman.
What Is It
A verb must agree with its subject, in number and in person, i.e. a subject in singular form must have a singular verb, and the subject in the plural form must have a plural verb.
In most sentences, the subject comes first while the verb comes next. For example:
The dog runs toward the bone. Many Filipinos love adobo.
However, in other sentences, the subject and verb are reversed or inverted, in which case the verb comes before the subject. The resulting inverted sentences can cause confusion in subject-verb agreement.
Take notice of the following sentences. Which of the two inverted sentences is correct?
Inside the aquarium is five fishes. Inside the aquarium are five fishes.
Notice that the above sentences both begin with the prepositional phrase Inside the aquarium. In both sentences, the phrase is immediately followed by the verb and the subject comes last. When a sentence has a verb that appears before its subject, it is called an inverted sentence. Because an inverted sentence is not the usual way that most people use in writing or speaking, locating the subject and the verb of the sentence can be difficult.
Fortunately, there is a way to solve this tricky issue. The technique to finding the correct subject and verb in an inverted sentence is by rephrasing it in the normal order. The normal order is to write a sentence where the subject is written before the verb. You can do this by asking what really is being talked about in the sentence which will lead you to the subject. Once the subject is spotted, it is now easier to find the verb and check if it agrees with the subject.
To illustrate what this means, observe the steps below:
- Analyze the original sentence. Inside the aquarium is five fishes
- Ask what is being talked about and write it down before anything else. Five fishes
- Next, add the existing verb. Five fishes is
- Then, write the rest of the words. Five fishes is inside the aquarium.
- Check if the subject and the verb agree. The verb “is” does not agree with “five fishes”
- If the verb agrees with the subject, use it. If not, change it. Five fishes are inside the aquarium.
- Finally, convert it back to the inverted sentence. Inside the aquarium are five fishes.
Using this technique, you will be able to figure out which of two sentences has the correct subject and verb agreement.
(The text below continues from earlier pages of this module.)
To make you more familiar with this discussion, here are more examples:
| PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE/S | VERB | SUBJECT | FORM (verb) | FORM (subject) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| At the back of the car | is | a dog. | singular | singular |
| In a corner | stand | three horses. | plural | plural |
| On top of the table | are | cats. | plural | plural |
In inverted sentences, the subject must always be found after the verb. These sentences may begin with the words here and there or with a prepositional phrase, such as, at the back, in a corner, beside the store, and many others. Even in this case, the subject and the verb must agree.
What’s More
Activity 1
Directions: Complete each of the inverted sentences by choosing the correct form of the verb inside the parentheses. Write your answers in your notebook.
- Up to the last minute of the show (watch, watches) the fanatic viewers.
- (Does, Do) they have the same plan with us?
- Beside the condominium building (stand, stands) a carinderia restaurant.
- In that wide arena (run, runs) the athletes in District Sports Meet.
- (Has, Have) anyone notice the red mark on your shirt?
Activity 2
Directions: Identify the subject and verb in each of the following inverted sentences. Copy the sentences into your notebook. Underline the verb ONCE and the subject TWICE.
- Here is your school report card from your teacher.
- Inside your pocket is a rosary.
- All day long prays a worried mother for her daughter’s successful operation.
- At the bookstore are informative and recreational books waiting to be bought.
- On the shiny floor spills the hot milk from the broken glass.
What I Have Learned
In an inverted order, the verb comes first before the subject. The nouns that serve as subjects may either be singular or plural in form. Remember to keep in mind that when the subject is singular it must take a singular verb and when the subject is plural it must take a plural verb.
Inverted sentences have subjects come after the verb.
Nouns used as subjects can be singular or plural in number.
A verb must agree with its subject, in number and in person even when the sentence is in inverted order.
A singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb in that manner.
What I Can Do
Directions: Identify the inverted sentences in the items below. Write the letter which corresponds to your choice and write it in your notebook.
A. Who is responsible for submitting a complete report?
B. The flowering plants in our garden blossom well.
C. The doctor studies cautiously her medical records.
D. Beyond the meadow flies a colorful butterfly.A. Over the horizon lies a beautiful scenery of mountains and rivers.
B. A dog is a man’s best friend.
C. People should follow and adhere to the IATF guidelines on COVID-19.
D. The whole team is happy for her victory.A. All the children are sweaty and thirsty.
B. Five little ducks are swimming in the river.
C. Two examinees are certain of their answers.
D. At the city plaza are energetic zumba dancers.A. The pupils are excited for the next lesson.
B. There are prizes and certificates in the program.
C. They like to go on a party.
D. Jojo wants to be on top of his class.A. The organizer makes the party successful.
B. She turns off the light and go to bed.
C. On the stage sings a girl with a powerful voice.
D. Palawan is one of the beautiful tourist spots in the country.
Directions: In your notebook, complete the sentences below by writing the missing part. The first one has been done for you.
At the center of the Philippine National Flag is _____.
At the center of the Philippine National Flag is a sun with eight rays._____ are my classmates who are trying to rub my back.
Inside a small house lives _____.
Assessment
Activity 1
Directions: Find out if the following inverted sentences employ correct subject and verb agreement. Copy the inverted sentence if the subject and verb already agree. Otherwise, write the inverted sentence with the correct verb. Do this in your notebook.
- There is five students in the library.
- Inside my pocket are my red pen.
- In front of the television sits my two cousins.
- Under the table are our cat.
- To the school walks three teachers.
Activity 2
Directions: Compose inverted sentences by adding a verb and a subject to the following phrases. Make sure that the subject and verb agree. Do this in your notebbok.
Out of the cave _____.
Out of the cave fly millions of fruit bats.
Verb Subject
- Inside the chest _____.
- Seated beside me _____.
- Scattered along the beach _____.
- There _____.
- Above the hill _____.
Additional Activities
Directions: Use the following verbs correctly in writing correct inverted sentences. You may use either the base form or –s form of the given verbs. Write your answers in your notebook.
- stand/stands
- whisper/whispers
- write/writes
- speak/speaks
- sing/sings
Answer Key
transcriber’s note: this page is printed rotated 180 degrees; its sections are transcribed below in reading order.
What’s In
- V
- V
- S
- V
- S
- S
- S
- V
- V
- S
What I Know
Activity 1
- x
- x
- /
- /
- x
Activity 2
- are
- stands
- are
- is
- sit
What’s New
- live
man, wife - is
flower - are
apples - stands
man - is
woman
What’s More
Activity 1
- watch
- Do
- stands
- run
- Has
Activity 2
- is
school report card - is
rosary. - Prays
mother - are
books - spills
milk
What I Can Do
Activity 1
- D
- A
- D
- B
- C
Activity 2
Answers may vary.
Assessment
Activity 1
- There are five students in the library.
- Inside my pocket is my red pen.
- In front of the television sit my two cousins.
- Under the table is our cat.
- To the school, walk three teachers.
Activity 2
Answers may vary.
References
“Subject-Verb Agreement,” Southeastern Writing Center, Accessed June 12, 2020, http://www.southeastern.edu/acad_research/programs/writing_center/handouts/pdf_ handouts/ subjectverbagreement.pdf. Page 2.
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