KNOWLEDGE ON SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT OF GRADE 7 STUDENTS: BASIS FOR REMEDIAL TEACHING

Abstract:
This study used a descriptive-survey design that sought to determine the knowledge of Grade 7 students on subject-verb agreement that became the basis for remedial teaching. This survey was conducted at the Grade 7 Laboratory High School of President Ramon Magsaysay State University S.Y. 2017-2018. In this study, an identification skill test was used as the main instrument in gathering data wherein the class of Grade 7 Junior High School English students served as the respondents and were chosen through comprehensive sampling technique. Frequency and percent distribution, weighted mean, item analysis, t-test and Pearson r Correlation analysis were used to analyze and to interpret the gathered data. The study showed the most familiar subject-verb agreement rule is plural personal pronouns in present, present progressive, past progressive and perfect tenses require plural verbs and the least familiar subject-verb agreement rules to the students are 1) percentage of count nouns requires plural verb; 2) singular subjects connected by „and" but refer to only one thing or person; 3) the expression “the number” takes on a singular verb while “a number” takes on plural verb; and 4) when nouns derived from foreign language like „agendum-agenda" and „datum-data" are used as subjects. The study also showed that there is no significant difference in the level of students" knowledge on subject-verb agreement when grouped according to sex variables and there is a significant relationship between the students" skills on subject-verb agreement and their previous grades. The researcher prepared a remedial teaching action plan to make learning more meaningful that included presentation of actual identification of subject and verb. Through the knowledge and commitment of other teachers who are using English as their medium of teaching, it will also be a massive help to further improve the grammar of students by correcting their written works or when they are speaking.