TOPIC: CONCORD

RULE 6

MANDATIVE SUBJUNCTIVE CONCORD

When a sentence contains PWDRS + singular subject, the verb must be plural

P – prayers, W – wishes, D – decisions, R – resolutions, S – suggestions.

Examples

📌 I suggest Abdullah go with him.

📌 I pray he come early.

📌 I wish I were in his shoes.

DRILL

The disciplinary committee recommended that Mfon ____ the school.

(A) leaves

(B) leave

© will leave

(D) left

Ans: B

RULE 7

QUASI COORDINATE/ACCOMPANIMENT CONCORD

Anytime we connect a singular subject and a plural subject by using ‘along with’, ‘together with’, ‘in
conjunction with’, ‘as well as’ etc., The verb to follow must remain SINGULAR

Example

📌 Tolu as well as his friends was punished yesterday.

📌 The president with members of his cabinet is visiting our establishment.

DRILL

Shade unlike her mates ____ very focused.

(A) would be

(B) are

© is
(D) were

Ans: C

DRILL

The commissioner for Education with his secretary______ expected yesterday.

(A) are

(B) was

© were

(D) is

Ans: B

DRILL

The director no less than his workers ____ to blame.

(A) is

(B) are

© were

(D) ought

Ans: B

DRILL

The teacher with his wife ____ here

(A) were

(B) were to be

© are

(D) was

Ans: D

DRILL

The employer, not the sales man and his representative ___ responsible for the loss

(A) are

(B) are being

© are never
(D) is

Ans: D

RULE 8

Anytime a sentence contains it’s time, it’s high time, it’s about time + a noun or pronoun, the verb to
follow must be past tense.

Examples

📌 Grace it’s high time you told me the truth.

📌 I think it’s time Wale went back to school.

DRILL

It’s high time you _____ seeing her.

(A) stop

(B) will stop © stops

(D) stopped

Ans: D

RULE 9

’MANY A’ CONCORD

When a sentence opens with many a/an + a singular subject , the verb to follow must be singular

Examples

📌 Many a leader is greedy

📌Many an organisation has not recovered from the lockdown.

DRILL

Many a student ________ going on holidays.

(A) like

(B) likes

© have liked

(D) had liked

Ans: B

RULE 10
PLURALIA TANTUMS

Nouns which are singular in meaning but plural in form should carry singular verb. E.g physics, measles,
snakes and ladders (a game), mumps, billiards (a game)etc.

Examples

📌 Physics is my best subject

📌 Billiards is usually played on a tabletop.

DRILL

A Tale of Two cities ___ the ____ we are studying for the examination.

(A) is/novel

(B) are/novels

© were/novels

(D) was/novel

Ans: A
DRIILL

Either the teacher or the students ___ to blame.

(A) is

(B) are

© has been

(D) are being

Ans: B DRILL

The president and members of his cabinet ____ on a familiarization tour of the corporations.

(A) are

(B) are being

© have being

(D) was

Ans: A

DRILL

If Remi performs poorly in her forthcoming examination, then either her mother or I ___ to blame
(A) must

(B) Has

(C) Are

(D) Am

Ans: D