Concord Concord ((Subject-Verb Subject-Verb Agreement)Agreement)

A Singular Subject takes a A Singular Subject takes a Singular Verb. A Plural subject Singular Verb. A Plural subject

takes a Plural Verb.takes a Plural Verb.E.g. He E.g. He WorksWorks Very hard. Very hard.

(Singular Verb) (Singular Verb) They They WorkWork Very hard. (Plural Very hard. (Plural

Verb)Verb)

• E.g. Tom and his brother work hard.• His Wife and children are in Madras.

When Two subjects are joined by ‘and’ The Verb is plural.When Two subjects are joined by ‘and’ The Verb is plural.

When two Singular Subjects are joined by ‘or’, ‘either…When two Singular Subjects are joined by ‘or’, ‘either…or’, ‘Neither…nor’ the subject is or’, ‘Neither…nor’ the subject is Singular.Singular.

When two plural subjects are joined by ‘or’ , ‘Neither…When two plural subjects are joined by ‘or’ , ‘Neither…nor',' either…or’ the subject is nor',' either…or’ the subject is plural.plural.

• Singular Subjects• E.g. John or his brother goes home every

week.• Either he or his wife has

to help me.• Neither the boy nor his

sister has passed.

• Plural Subjects• Cows or Oxen are grazing

in the field.• Either Oranges or apples

are required.• Neither the boys nor the

girls are reading now.

When a singular subject and a plural subject When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by ‘or’ , ‘Either…or’ , ‘neither…are joined by ‘or’ , ‘Either…or’ , ‘neither…

nor’ the verb agrees with the second subject nor’ the verb agrees with the second subject

or subject nearer to the verb.or subject nearer to the verb.

• E.g. John or his brothers go home every week.• Either the boys or their father has come.

When two subjects are joined by ‘as well as’, ‘rather When two subjects are joined by ‘as well as’, ‘rather than’ , ‘more than’, ‘as much as’ the verb agrees than’ , ‘more than’, ‘as much as’ the verb agrees

with the first subject.with the first subject.

• E.g. The boys as well as their teacher have left.• John rather than his brothers is involved in the

activity.

When two subjects are joined by ‘with’ , ‘along When two subjects are joined by ‘with’ , ‘along with’, ‘together with’, ‘in the company of’ , ‘in with’, ‘together with’, ‘in the company of’ , ‘in

addition to’, ‘accompanied by’, ‘besides’ etc the addition to’, ‘accompanied by’, ‘besides’ etc the

verb agrees with the first subjectverb agrees with the first subject.. • E.g. My friend with all his children has returned.

• The Student along with his guardian is waiting outside the

room.

A Sentence starts with One of, Each of, A Sentence starts with One of, Each of, Either of, Everyone of, followed by a plural Either of, Everyone of, followed by a plural

noun the Verb is singular.noun the Verb is singular. • One of the boys has lost his pen.• Neither of them has passed. • Each of them is known to me.

Each, Every, Either, Neither followed Each, Every, Either, Neither followed

by a noun take a singular verbby a noun take a singular verb. . • E.g. Each boy Works hard.• Each girl has passed the Exam.

Expressions like Five pounds, Ten rupees, Two Expressions like Five pounds, Ten rupees, Two weeks, Three miles etc are singular and take weeks, Three miles etc are singular and take

singular verb.singular verb.

• E.g. Two Rupees is not a big sum.• Two weeks is not a long time.

If a sentence begins with a word “There” it If a sentence begins with a word “There” it may take the singular or plural verb according may take the singular or plural verb according

to the number of the subject.to the number of the subject.

• E.g. There is some coffee in the pot.• There are some apples in the table.

Certain nouns like deer, sheep,counsel,and Certain nouns like deer, sheep,counsel,and nationality names like Indians ,Africans etc are both nationality names like Indians ,Africans etc are both

singular and plural.singular and plural.

• E.g. A deer is grazing in the field.• A few Deer are grazing in the field.• A Chinese boy is waiting near the tree.• A few Chinese boys are waiting for the bus.

Numerical expressions like dozen, thousand, lakh, Numerical expressions like dozen, thousand, lakh, million,etc have plural form when they are preceded million,etc have plural form when they are preceded

by number words.by number words.

• E.g. Two dozen oranges are packed in this basket.

• Five hundred books have been ordered.

Nouns like Furniture, Machinery, equipment, Nouns like Furniture, Machinery, equipment, luggage etc are called Class collectives. luggage etc are called Class collectives.

They are followed by a singular verbs.They are followed by a singular verbs. • E.g. The furniture was old and it has to be

repaired.• The luggage was carried by a boy.

Some nouns have plural endings but they are Some nouns have plural endings but they are

singular and take singular verbsingular and take singular verb..

• E.g. The News is too good to be.• Measles is not a dangerous disease.

Subject names ending in ‘-ics’ take singular Subject names ending in ‘-ics’ take singular verb.verb.

• E.g. Physics is easy to understand.• Mathematics is hard to learn.

Things made of two equal parts are always Things made of two equal parts are always plural.plural.

• E.g. My Scissors are old.• His Trousers are torn.• My Spectacles are broken.

Name of a book or is plural it takes singular Name of a book or is plural it takes singular verb.verb.

• E.g. The Arabian Nights is an interesting book.• Gulliver’s Travels was written by Swift.

Thank YouThank YouSatheesan PunyamSatheesan Punyam