CONCORD
When we talk about CONCORD in
English GRAMMAR, we mean that the
VERB must agree with its SUBJECT in
number and PERSON (NOUNS).
POINTS TO REMEMBER
1. Two subjects joined by AND take a plural
verb.
a) Mary and Jane are sisters.
b) The hen and the chickens are in the garden.
2. When two subjects are joined by
EITHER...OR.../ ...NEITHER...NOR the verb agrees
with the noun or pronouns closest to the verb.
a) Neither you nor I am responsible.
b) Either the hen or the chickens are in the
shed.
3. When two nouns or pronouns are joined with
LIKE, WITH, TOGETHER WITH, AS WELL AS or
INCLUDING the verb agrees with the first noun.
a) The hen as well as the chickens is in the
garden.
b) I am very lazy, like my brothers.
4. When two subjects are joined by OR the verb
agrees with the nearer one to the verb.
a) The three cocks or the lamb is to be
slaughtered.
b) The lamb or the three cocks are to be
slaughtered.
5. The nouns NEWS, SERIES, INNINGS,
GALLOWS, PHYSICS, MATHEMATICS and
POLITICS take a singular verb.
a) The news is bad.
b) A series of engagements is keeping him in
town.
6. The nouns SPORTS, RICHES, TROUSERS,
PANTS, SHORTS, SHEARS, SCISSORS, PLIERS,
TONGS, TWEEZERS, CLIPPERS, COMPASSES,
PINCERS, BELLOWS AND THANKS take plural
verbs.
a) The scissors are blunt.
b) The clippers are broken.
NOTE: With a PAIR the singular form of the verb
is used. MY PAIR OF COMPASSES IS
LOST.
7. Nouns of multitude such as COMMITTEE,
COUNCIL, GOVERNMENT, COMPANY, ARMY,
FLEET, FRUIT, GAME, MONEY, CROWD, PACK,
PARTY usually take a singular verb.
a) The team has been chosen.
b) The government is responsible for the drama.
NOTE: When a group does not act as one it
takes a plural verb.
a) The team are cleaning their boots.
b) The crowd were scattered after the bomb
threat.
NOTE: PEOPLE, POULTRY, CATTLE always take a
plural verb.
a) The poultry are doing well.
b) The people were dancing at the ball.
8. EACH (of), ONE (of), EITHER (of), NEITHER
(of), NOT ONE (of), EVERYONE (of),
SOMEBODY, SOMEONE, ANYBODY,
EVERYBODY, EVERYONE, ANYTHING,
EVERYTHING, SOMETHING, NOTHING, EVERY
takes a singular verb.
a) Neither of you is to blame.
b) Neither of the girls is responsible.
9. TAKE CARE when the verb stands before the
subject, the verb must be in agreement with
the subject. (singular verb = singular noun and
plural verb = plural noun.
a) There is a cow and two calves in the camp.
b) There are students who work hard.
10. For “PART OF” a singular use a singular verb
AND for “PART OF” a plural use a plural verb.
a) Half of the cake is mine.
b) Half of the students are ill.
11. MORE THAN ONE, MANY A, NOTHING BUT,
ONE IN (SIX) takes a singular verb.
a) Nothing but a few baboons was seen.
b) One in two students fails every year.
12. Two singular nouns which combine to
FORM ONE IDEA take a singular verb.
a) Bacon and eggs is his favourite breakfast
dish.
b) A bed and breakfast guest house is fine.
13. NOTE: The number of the verb in:
a) The (wages of sin) is death.
b) His wages are R300 a week.
c) What we want most is more books.
d) His present whereabouts is unknown.
e) He is one of those students who are always
late.
14. Take NOTE of the following singulars and
plurals.
a) this, that, much, little - SINGULAR
b) these, those, many, few - PLURAL
c) The number of - SINGULAR
d) A number of - PLURAL
15. There must also be an agreement between
nouns and pronouns / pronouns and
pronouns.
a) Everybody must do his own work.
b) One must respect ones’ parents.
c) You must respect your parents.
