SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT (CONCORD)

 SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT (CONCORD)

Defination: 

In lingustic verb agreement or concord means that the subject of the sentence agrees the verb describing its action. Finite and non-finite verbs are the two main categories of verbs that typically use in sentences. The main verbs in the sentence are also referred to as finite verbs. Concerning tense and number, these are directly related to the sentence's subject. The sentence's other verbs are all non-finite verbs. As a result, the non-finite verbs frequently do not agree with the verb's subject. This helps reader understand who or what is doing something and makes writing easier.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. Singular subject takes singular verb.

• Meeta is a good girl.

• Meena plays hockey nicely.

2. Singular subject joined by certain connectors takes singular verb. Connectors as well as, along with, together with, in addition to, accompanied by etc.

• Meeta, together with her mother, was invited.

• The machine, as well as its spare parts, is made very carefully.

3. Singular subjects joined by either…or, neither… nor take a singular verb. Plural subjects joined by these connectors take plural verb.

• Either the machine or the technician was at fault.

• Neither the materials nor the machines are defective.

4. When singular and plural subjects are joined by ‘either…or’‘ neither..nor’, or ‘not only but also’, the verb agrees with the nearest subject. If the nearest subject is plural, the verb will be plural. If the nearer subject is singular, the verb will be singular.

• Either Manjit or his brothers have broken the window glass.

• Not only Ram but his brothers were also pious.

5. Subjects joined by ‘and’ take a plural verb.

• Ami and Santoshi are good friends.

• The tractors and trailer are out of order.

6. Singular subjects joined by ‘and’ and preceded by ‘every’, take a singular verb.

• Every peon, clerk and officer is at work.

• Every engineer, technician and labourer is in meeting.

7. Each, every, each one, each of everyone, everybody, either of, neither of, takes a singular verb.

• Neither of the boys plays well.

• Each of the workers is diligent in the work.

• Every man desires to be rich.

8. Introductory ‘there’ in the beginning of a sentence can have singular or plural verb form. It depends on the subject which follows the verb.

• There is a book on the table.

• There are books on the desk.

9. When the subject is a title of a book a journal, a quotation expressing a single idea, the verb is singular.

• The Wings of Fire is a nice book written by APJ Abdul Kalam.

• “All men are created equal” is a doubtful sentence.

10. When two or more nouns connected by ‘and’, represent a single item, they take a singular verb.

• Paper and pencil is the stationery I want.

• Bread and butter is his favourite snack.

11. “All” and “some” are plural when used with countable nouns but they are singular when used with uncountable nouns.

• All of the students are absent today.

• Some of the material is not of good quality.

12. ‘None’ is always singular when used with uncountable nouns. Sometimes it may be singular or plural when used with countable nouns.

• None of the diesel has been used.

• None of these books has/have been read yet.

13. When a plural number is used for distances, weights, heights or amounts of money, it takes singular verb.

• Ten thousand rupees is not a big amount these days.

• Sixteen feet is nothing for a good athlete.

14. Collective nouns are considered singular, so they take a singular verb. But collective nouns such as cattle, people, folk etc. always take a plural verb.

• My family is a happy family.

• Village folk are animated by nature.

15. A singular or plural verb is used as per the noun written before ‘of’. Many, few, a few are plural. Each, none, little, a little, much are singular.

• A few of the girl have done their tasks.

• Many boys are in the library right now.

• Little knowledge is always dangerous.