Subject - Verb Agreement (concord)

Topic - 3

SUBJECT – VERB AGREEMENT (CONCORD) 

INTRODUCTION

A verb must agree with its subject in number or person. Such agreement is called concord. There are certain rules to make the verb agree with its subject: 

1. Usually singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verb.

a. They run fast. 

b. He runs fast. etc. 

2. Two or more singular subjects joined by ‘and take a plural verb.

a. Fog, smoke and heavy rain cancel scheduled flight. 

b. Are your father and mother at home? 

But if the mind suggests one idea or refers to the same person or thing, the verb is singular. 

a. The novelist and poet is dead. 

b. Bread and butter is my favourite food. 

c. The horse and carriage is at the door. 

d. Honour and glory is his reward.

e. Slow and steady wins the race. 

f. Time and tide waits for none. 

3. Words connected to a singular subject by ‘with, 'together with along with, ‘in addition to: ‘as well as' etc. (are parenthetical) do not affect the number of the verb. 

a. The student, along with his guardian, is waiting outside the director's room. 

b. The manager, along with his team, has arrived. 

c. Justice, as well as mercy, allows it. 

d. He, as well as you, is mistaken. 

e. The ship, with its crew, was lost.

4. Singular subjects separated by ‘or', 'nor, ‘neither ... nor, or ‘either ... or take a plural verb. 

a. Neither the teachers nor the parents are to blame. 

When two noun phrases are joined by ‘or ‘nor', 'neither ...nor, or ‘either ... or' and one has a plural subject, the verb must be plural, and the plural subject should be placed nearest the verb.

a. Neither the chairman nor the directors are present. 

b. Neither the inspector nor the officers were able to help us. 

When the subjects joined by ‘or, 'nor, ‘neither .... nor', or “either... or' are of different persons, the verb agrees with the nearer. 

a. Either he or I am mistaken.

b. Either you or he is mistaken. 

c. Neither my friend nor I am mistaken.

5. Phrases separating the subject and verb do not influence the number of the subject. A subject following the verb still agrees in number with the verb. 

a. Here come mother and father now.

b. Here comes mother now. 

c. Do the watchman and son cycle to work together? 

6. Context determines the number of collective nouns, For example; team, audience, family, group. 

When the collective nouns act as individuals the verb is plural. 

a. The team are discussing next year's schedule. 

b. The audience were taking turns to give donations to the trust. 

c. The committee are divided on one minor point. 

d. The staff vote on every issue. 

When a collective noun acts as a single unit the verb is singular. 

a. The team wins every game it plays. 

b. The audience was cheering the band.

c. The committee has issued its report. 

d. The staff is adequate. 

7. Plural words and phrases count as singular if they are used as names, titles, and quotations etc. 

When a plural noun denoting distance, weight, height or amount of money is illustrated as a single unit, it takes a singular verb. 

a. Ten km. is a long walk. 

b. Fourteen minutes is allowed to each speaker. 

c. Hundred rupees is a lot of money for a poor fellow. 

d. The government is doing well. 

Phrases like ‘a lot of ‘many a 'great deal of 'some of ‘most of 'plenty of', are singular when they refer to quantity and are plural when they refer to number. 

a. A lot of money is needed. 

b. A lot of books have been purchased.

8. Two nouns qualified by ‘each, 'every, or ‘even though connected by ‘and require a singular verb.

a. Every boy and every girl was given a packet of sweets. 

9. 'Pains' and 'means' take either the singular or the plural verb, but the construction must be consistent. (Not varying / singular) 

a. Great pains have been taken. 

b. Much pains has been taken. 

In the sense of income the word 'means' always takes a plural verb.

a. My means are ample / sufficient. 

10. Words, plural in form and singular in meaning, take a singular verb. 

a. The news is true.

b. Linguistics is the study of language. 

c. The wages is meager in this factory. 

11. When 'number' is preceded by the, it takes a singular verb and when by ‘a’, plural verb. 

a. The number of crimes in Delhi is increasing. 

b. A number of meetings were held to discuss the issue. 

c. The number of people who reported for work this morning is small.

d. A number of books are missing from the library. 

12. 'It’ always takes a singular verb, irrespective of whether the subject is plural or singular. 

a. It is the people who matter in a democracy.

b. It is the fundamental principle that matters. 

13. In sentences beginning with 'there' the number of the verb is determined by the true subject, which generally follows the verb. 

a. There are various methods of collecting data.

b. There is no need for typing this report. 

14. A pair of' when applied to things where the two components are always thought together ('scissors, 'shears', 'shoes', ‘gloves', trousers') takes a singular verb. 

a. A pair of trousers is hanging on the peg. 

b. A pair of scissors is kept in the drawer. 

c. A pair of spectacles is lying on the table.

But if we omit the words ‘a pair of' and only use the plural words, then, it must take plural verb.

15. Certain nouns are used in singular so they take singular verb.

a. The scenery of Kashmir attracts the tourists. 

b. The furniture of my drawing room is old fashioned. 

c. No information has been received so far.

Practice Exercises

I. Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.

1. The causes of this horrible disease (are / is) poor diet and lack of exercise.

2. The noise of the fan's screams (is / are) a problem at some football stadiums.

3. The legacy of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson (influences / influence) the NBA today.

4. The theory of physics (state / states) that all things are made of energy.

5. The malware on all the office computers (is / are) a danger to our security.

6. There (is / are) five broken chairs in the office.

7. Neither my mom nor my sisters (know / knows) proper grammar.

8. The members of the committee (is / are) very esteemed in their respective fields.

9. The committee (meet / meets) in the fancy office building.

10. Scissors (is / are) too dangerous to give to small children.

11. The pair of scissors (is / are) in the drawer.

12. Every single one of your sweaters (is / are) too small for me to wear.

13. Your sweaters (is / are) too small for me to wear.

14. The family dog (is, are) named Clifford.

15. Clifford (is, are) a huge golden retriever.

16. The neighbours (laugh, laughs) at him.

17. He also (chase, chases) butterflies in the yard.

18. I am not sure what he (think, thinks) they are.

19. Jimmy (own, owns) a laptop computer.

20. Jimmy and his sister (study, studies) every night using a computer tutor.

21. Mom (type, types) her recipes on the computer.

22. The computer can (store, stores) a great deal of information.

23. I (want, wants) to learn how to program a computer.

24. It (is, are) important to get plenty of exercise.

25. Everybody in the room (prefers, prefer) to have the windows open.

26. I think few of my friends (enjoy, enjoys) going to the dentist.

27. Somebody from the crowd (keep, keeps) throwing ice.

28. Neither of my parents (approve, approves) of that song.

29. Susan thinks everything (looks, look) ready for the party.

30. They think nothing from the store (sell, sells) very well.

31. Several of the people attending the dinner (eat, eats) raw oysters

32. Nobody from San Francisco (plan, plans) to attend the rally.

33. Jimmy thinks someone from the team (use, uses) too much cologne.

34. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.

35. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.

36. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.

37. Benito (doesn't, don't) know the answer.

38. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.

39. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.

40. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.

41. The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.

42. Either answer (is, are) acceptable.

43. Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.

44. Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.

45. (Is, Are) the news on at five or six?

46. Eight dolors (is, are) the price of a movie these days

47. (Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?

48. Your pants (is, are) at the cleaner's.

49. There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there (is, are) only one left!

50. The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully.

II. Fill in each of the blanks in the following sentences with the suitable verb out of those given in brackets against each sentence:

1. His objection to the plan ____________ ruled out. (was, were)

2. The reasons which give rise to wave ______________ many. (is, are)

3. A variety of beautiful objects ____________ they eye. (charm, charms)

4. The quality of the apples ____________ not good. (was, were)

5. The problem of selecting good books _____________ very difficult. (are, is)

6. The students of this class ____________ very hard. (work, works)

7. The cost of many essential items ____________ gone up. (have, has)

8. There ____________ a large number of girls in this class. (is, are)

9. There ____________ many children in the crowd. (was, were)

10. There ____________ a bunch of keys on the table. (are, is)

11. There ____________ no certainty of his coming today. (is, are)

12. There _____________ people of many nationalities living in Delhi. (is, are)

13. Bread and butter ____________ my only food. (are, is)

14. The great novelist and poet ____________ dead. (are, is)

15. The accountant and the cashier ____________ been dismissed. (has, have)

16. Slow and steady ____________ the race. (win, wins)

17. A good man and nice neighbor ____________ passed away. (are, is)

18. There ____________ Anita and Sunita. (stand, stands)

19. Peace and Prosperity ____________the need of the day. (are, is)

20. Arun and his brother ____________ to the same school. (go, goes)

21. Each of the boys ____________ rewarded. (were, was)

22. Somebody ____________ stolen my pen. (have, has)

23. One of these boys _____________ stolen his book. (has, have)

24.Each of the suspected persons ____________ arrested. (were, was)

25. Neither of these two proposals _____________ acceptable. (are, is)

26. Either the lawyers or the magistrate ____________ dishonest. (are, is)

27. Neither praise nor blame ____________ to affect him. (seem, seems)

28. Neither food nor water ____________ to be found there. (were, was)

29. Either he or his father ____________ done it. (have, has)

30. Either he or you ____________ guilty. (are, is)

31. Either you or I ____________ mistaken. (are, am)

32. Not only the officer but also the clerks _______________ laughing. (was, were)

33. The dacoit, with all his accomplices, _____________killed. (were, was)

34. Umesh as well as his brother ____________ praise. (deserve, deserves)

35. The notorious dacoit with his followers ____________ escaped. (have, has)

36. The horse as well as the cow ____________ grass. (eat, eats)

37. Ten thousand rupees ____________ too much for this horse. (are, is)

38. Ten kilometers ____________ a long distance. (is, are)

39. The United States ____________ the richest country. (is, are)

40. Measles ____________ spreading fast in the town. (are, is)

41. The news _____________arrived yet. (have, has)

42. Tours and Travels ____________ written by me. (were, was)

43.Two-thirds of the work ____________ undone, (remain, remains)

44.Plenty of milk ____________ available here. (are, is)

45. The number of visitors _____________not large. (were, was)

46. A number of suggestions ____________ been made. (have, has)

47. The majority of the people _____________ against the proposal. (is, are)

48. Neither the Principal nor the teachers ____________ present. (is, are)

49. Many a student ____________ been punished. (have, has)

50. The great patriot and orator_____________ died. (have, has)

III. Rewrite the following sentences making the subjects agree with the verbs.

1. Radha and Shalu is singing a duet.

2. Car after car were seen passing the newly opened bridge.

3. A selection of quotations from the Gita are given here in this book.

4. A spate of questions were raised.

5. A salute of 21 guns were given.

6. The character of these men are questionable.

7. My friend and well wisher are dead.

8. The quality of these mangoes are not good.

9. Neither the printer nor the readers are to blame.

10. Bread and butter are his breakfast.

11. Either of these two roads lead to the station.

12. Either he or I is right.

13. Mohan or his friends was present.

14. Neither they nor she have turned up.

15. Every woman, man and child were seen in the Baisakhi fair.

16. The introduction of flyovers and metro in Delhi are liked by all.

17. Ten square kilometers of the village were flooded.

18. Three fourths of the report were cut.

19. Summons were served on him.

20. The wages of sin are death.

21. The briefcase with all its contents were stolen.

22. He no less than you are guilty.

23. The parliament are now in session.

24. The committee are unanimous in its decision.

25. Each pupil tried their best.

26. Many a flower are blooming.

27. None of them are right.

28. One of the mangoes are rotten.

29. Each of these children have interest in cricket.

30. Every boy and girl have donated blood.

31. It is I, not he, who is in trouble.

32. He as well as his parents are illiterate.

33. Are all the news good?

34. Measles are terrible disease.

35. The United Nations have become a fairly effective body.

36. His pants is torn.

37. His trousers is very dirty.

38. That pair of shoes are very costly.

39. My spectacles has broken.

40. New arms has been purchased.

41. The funds has been raised forcibly.

42. The goods has been loaded.

43. I owe him three hundreds rupees.

44. He earns five millions rupees a year.

45. Hundred of people have become homeless.

46. Two hundred rupees are a small amount these days.

47. Sixty miles an hour are a very good speed.

48. Two quintals of wheat are the minimum we need for our family.

49. The police is posted all over the area.

50. The government of India have backed out its earlier commitment.