English (CAPS)

Grade 10

Concord
Concord or subject - verb agreement
The word ‘concord’ means ‘agreement’. The agreement between the SUBJECT and
the VERB.

Special rules of agreement

1. When the subject is made up of two or more nouns connected by ‘AND’ use a plural
verb. Example: Susy and her friends are…

2. When the subject is made up of two or more singular nouns connect by ‘or’ use
singular verb. Example: The television or the radio is…

3. When the subject is made up of singular and plural nouns connected by ‘or’, the
verb should agree with the noun closest to it. Example: The president or his assistants
run… / The assistants or the president runs…

4. Don’t be misled by phrases that come between the subject and the verb
a. one of the boxes is
b. the people who read that report are
c. the team leader, as well as his developers, is
5. Collective nouns are usually considered a single unit
a. group
b. team
c. committee
6. Always plural: Nouns like the following are always plural (because they are made
of two parts):
a. scissors
b. tweezers
c. trousers
d. pants

English (CAPS): Concord (Subject-Verb Agreement) Page | 2

Practice activity 1
Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.

1. Either answer (is, are) acceptable.

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

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

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

5. Mathematics (is, are) John's favourite subject, while Civics (is, are) Andrea's
favourite subject.

6. Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.

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

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

9. There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there (is, are) only one left!
10. The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully.
11. The dog (bark/barks) loudly every night.

12. The students (study/studies) diligently for their exams.

13. The team (win/wins) most of their matches.
14. My brother and I (is/are) going to the mall.
15. The flowers in the garden (smell/smells) wonderful.
16. She (play/plays) the piano beautifully.
17. The book on the table (is/are) mine.
18. The children (enjoys/enjoy) playing in the park.
19. A cup of coffee (give/gives) me energy in the morning.

20. The birds in the trees (sing/sings) cheerfully every morning.

Answers for practice activity 1

1. Either answer is acceptable.
2. Every one of those books is fiction.

3. Nobody knows the trouble I've seen.

4. Is the news on at five or six?

5. Mathematics is John's favorite subject, while Civics is Andrea's favorite subject.

6. Eight dollars is the price of a movie these days.

7. Are the tweezers in this drawer?
8. Your pants are at the cleaner's.

9. There were fifteen candies in that bag. Now there is only one left!

English (CAPS): Concord (Subject-Verb Agreement) Page | 3

10. The committee debates these questions carefully.

11. The dog barks loudly every night.

12. The students study diligently for their exams.

13. The team wins most of their matches.

14. My brother and I are going to the mall.

15. The flowers in the garden smell wonderful.

16. She plays the piano beautifully.

17. The book on the table is mine.

18. The children enjoy playing in the park.

19. A cup of coffee gives me energy in the morning.

20. The birds in the trees sing cheerfully every morning.

English (CAPS): Concord (Subject-Verb Agreement) Page | 4