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Subject - Verb Concord

The document discusses subject-verb concord and provides rules and examples for determining subject-verb agreement based on the subject of a sentence. It covers topics like singular and plural subjects, subjects joined by 'and' or 'or', collective nouns, and others. Practice questions with answers are provided at the end.

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Satyasmita Kar
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38 views11 pages

Subject - Verb Concord

The document discusses subject-verb concord and provides rules and examples for determining subject-verb agreement based on the subject of a sentence. It covers topics like singular and plural subjects, subjects joined by 'and' or 'or', collective nouns, and others. Practice questions with answers are provided at the end.

Uploaded by

Satyasmita Kar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as KEY, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Understanding

Subject-Verb Concord
Now what is the concept ?

‘Concord’ means ‘agreement’

As to rent any house we give an agreement to the tenants which says that they agree with all
conditions by renters.

In the same way subject-verb concord suggests that verb agrees with the number and person of
subject.

Now let’s see some examples-


I am reading a book.
She is reading a book.
They are reading books.
Now in the above examples you all have seen
that according to the subject verb agrees..
Now let’s see the rules -
1. The number of the subject (singular or plural) will not change
due to words/phrases in between the subject and the verb.
Examples:
One of the glasses is empty. (Here, since the subject is ‘one’, the verb
should be ‘is’).

2.Subjects that are joined by ‘and’ in a sentence, use a plural verb. Subjects
that are joined by ‘either/or’, neither/nor’ use a singular verb.
Examples:
Radha and Meera are coming home.
Neither Akshay nor Rohit is coming home.
Rules
Subjects that are joined by ‘and’ in a sentence, use a plural
verb. Subjects that are joined by ‘either/or’, neither/nor’ use a
singular verb.
Examples:
1. Radha and Meera are coming home.
2. Neither Akshay nor Rohit is coming home.
The verb in a sentence containing ‘or’, ‘either/or’, ‘neither/nor’
agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it.
Examples:
1. Neither the shoes nor the bag matches the dress. (Here, ‘bag’ is closest to the
verb, hence ‘matches’)
When the subject is followed by words such as ‘as well as’, ‘along
with’, ‘besides’, ‘not’ etc. ignore them and use a singular verb if the
subject is singular.
Example:
1. Matt, as well as his dog, is expected shortly.

In sentences that begin with ‘here’, ‘there’, the true subject usually
follows the verb.
Examples:
1. Here are the chocolates.
In sentences that include sums of money, periods of time or distances
etc. (as
Examples: a unit), use singular verbs.
1. 500 rupees is a high price to pay.

In the case of words such as ‘a lot of’, all’, ‘some’ etc. in a sentence,
pay attention to the noun after ‘of’. If the noun after ‘of’ is singular
then use
Examples: a singular verb, if plural, use a plural verb.
1. All of the cake is gone.
In the case of collective nouns such as ‘group, ‘population’,
‘family’, in a sentence, the verb can be singular or plural
depending
Examples: on their use in the sentence.
1. Most of my family is or are here.

Nouns such as ‘mathematics’, ‘civics’, ‘news’ etc. while plural in form,


are singular
Examples: in meaning and use singular verbs.
1. Mathematics is very difficult for some people.
In sentences that express a wish, request or contrary to fact, the
word ‘were’ is used instead of ‘was.
Examples:
I wish my sister were here.
Now some questions -
Question: Choose the correct subject verb
combinations in the sentences below.
a. The lady in the car (look/looks) like your mother.
b. Most of the milk (is/are) gone.
c. One of the flowers (has/have) wilted.
d. Either Ram or Shyam (is/are) coming today. e.
Here (is/are) the newspaper.
f. The group of dancers(is/are) here.
g. Civics (is/are) my favorite subject.
Solution:
a. The lady in the car looks like your mother.
b. Most of the milk is gone.
c. One of the flowers has wilted.
d. Either Ram or Shyam is coming today.
e. Here is the newspaper.
f. The group of dancers is OR are here.
g. Civics is my favorite subject.
Thank You
Hope it was
interesting…

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