Grammar: Concord ( Subject-Verb Agreement)
Grammar: Concord (Subject-Verb Agreement)
Concord/ Subject-Verb agreement
— Subject-verb-agreement is
the correspondence of a verb with its subject in person (first, second, or
third) and number (singular or plural).
Rule No.1
— The following subjects
always take singular verbs-is, goes, was
etc
— No one, nobody, everybody, everything, something,
— one of, either of, neither of, each of +plural
noun….etc.
— A pair of , this pair of, the pair of, the number of
+Plural noun… etc.
— For instance:
— Nobody was interested in
study. (was/were)
— Each of us is intelligent.(is/are)
— Everything is okay. (is/are)
Rule No.-2
— The verb in two subjects
connected by or, either...or, neither…nor agrees with the closest
noun or pronoun to it.
— For example:
— Neither the plates nor the
serving bowl goes in that shelf .
— Neither the serving bowl not
the plates go in that shelf.
— Neither she, my friends, nor
I am going to the city.
— Neither she, I, nor my
friends are going to the city.
— She, my friend, and I are
going to the city.
Rule No. – 3
— Generally ‘plural verb’ is used with two or more
subjects connected by ‘and’.
— A car and a bike are my means
of transportation.
— Two and two make four.
— The teacher and the
principal are cooperative.
Note: but if both subjects give same
meaning, we have to use singular verb.
— For instance- Exceptions:
— The bed and breakfast was
charming.
— Breaking and entering is
against the law.
— The doctor and the producer
are coming.
— The doctor and producer is
coming.
Rule No. – 4
— Subject separated from the
verb by such words as- along with, as well as, besides, not, in addition
to, accompanied by etc take verb according to the subject as they are
not the part of the subject. Ignore such words and phrases.
— For instance:
— The politician, along with
the newsmen, is expected shortly.
— Excitement, as well as
nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.
Rule No. - 5
— If the noun after ‘of…’ is singular, use
singular verb if the noun after ‘of…’ is plural, use plural verb.- Rule
No.1
— Exceptions- regarding if indicate portions- a lot, a
majority, some, all- follow followings:
— A lot of the vulture has
disappeared.
— A lot of the vultures have
disappeared.
— A third of the city is
unemployed
— A third of the people are
unemployed.
— All the vulture is gone.
— All the vultures are gone
— Some of the vulture is missing.
— Some of the vultures are missing.
Rule No. – 6
— Sentences beginning with here
or there the true subject follow the verb.
— For example:
— There are four hurdles to
jump.
— Here is a high hurdle to
jump.
— Here are the keys.
v Use plural verbs in
following context:
— These, those, public, cattle, people, police, army,
trousers, spectacles, scissors, pants, deer, poultry, sheep, clergy, etc
v The+ adjective suggesting a class of person- use plural verb.
§ The old are weak.
§ The rich are proud.
Rule No. – 7
— Use singular verb with distances,
period of time, sums of money, amount and quantities.
— Ten miles is too far to
walk.
— Five years is the maximum
sentences for that offense.
— Ten dollars is a high price
to pay. But- Ten dollars are/were scattered on the floor.
— Ten liters of petrol is not
enough for us.
v These singular nouns ending
with ‘s’ take singular verb.
v Physics, series, news, measles, mathematics,
athletics, wages, the united states, Gulliver’s Travels, politics etc.
— For instance:
— Politics is a dirty game.
— That news was not good for
me.
Rule No. – 8
— Some collective nouns such as
family, couple, staff, audience, team, jury, government, committee etc
may take either a singular or a plural verb depending on their use in a
sentence.
— For instance:
— The staff is in a meeting
— The couple disagree about
disciplining their child.
— This couple is the best
couple in the area.
— Our school team has won the
game.
— Our school teams have won
all the games.
Rule No. – 9
v Express a wish…/ a regret
— I wish/ if only + sub +would+v1….
— I wish/ if only + sub +could
+ V1…..
— I wish/ if only + sub + V2……
— I wish/ if only+ sub +had +
v3….
v If sentence:
— If part main
part
— V1/V5 V1/V5 /
will/shall+V1
— V2 ‘d +V1
— Had+V3 ‘d have +V3
Rule No. – 10
— Some confusing cases…
§ The boy who is reading is my brother.
§ The things which are
unnecessary are kept there.
§ Every/each boy and girl is happy
today.
§ Many a good man has been destroyed by drink.
§ Many people accept the present legal provision.
§ There is a book on the
table.
§ There are books on
the table.
§ The number of homeless
people has
increased.
§ A large/huge number of
people have applied
for the post.
§ All the water dries.
§ A lot of sugar is harmful for health.
§ A lot of books were sold
§ Most of the people in Nepal are labourious.
Questions for Practice
1. Simran and her
brothers is/are at college.
2. Either my mother or my father is coming
to the meeting.
3. The dog or the cats is/ are
playing with children.
4. Either my shoes or your coat is /
are always in the sun.
5. Jimmy and
Tina don't /doesn’t want to see that movie.
6. One of my sisters is /are
going on a trip to France.
7. The man with all the birds live/ lives in the garden.
8. The players, as well as the
captain, desire/desire to win the match.
9. Every one of those books is /
are short story.
10. Nobody knows/know the
trouble I've seen.
11. Mathematics is /are
Jack's favorite subject, while Civics is / are Jene's favorite
subject.
12. Eight dollars is /
are the sufficient amount of money for common citizen.
13. Your pants is/are at
the laundry.
14. There was/were seventeen
candies in that box. Now there is only
one left!
15. The committee debate/ debates these
issues carefully.
16. The committee members lead /leads
very distinct life.
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