ENGLISH

Subject-Verb
Concord By
M. Tarunima Rao
A. Shaffrin Fathima
K. Sangamitra
M. Janani
 Subject - noun or pronoun being
talked about in the sentence

WHAT IS SUBJECT Verb- Represents the action in the

sentence.
VERB CONCORD?
Concord -Agreement

Subject + Verb (concord)--->gives

grammatically correct sentence.
 Subject:
Rule:1 singular,
plural and
collective
noun
 Singular subject+singular verb

(a)Singular EXAMPLES

subjects
takes ●
●
Peter likes vegetable.
The ship has a pink mart.
●
singular ●
The dog barks.
My cat does not like milk.

verb
(B) plural Plural subject + plural verb

subject Examples:
takes
● The dogs bark.
plural ● The babies look
verbs cute.
● They have have
gone to the
market.
C) subject
Collective noun + singular verb
that are Examples:
collective ● The herd is grazing quietly in the

nouns take meadow.

● Now that they have seen the wolf,
the herd are bolting off in all
singular verb directions.
● Everyone is entitled to an opinion.
Rule:2 Nouns and
Pronouns
Joined By
‘AND’
 Subject1 + AND + subject2
Subjects +EXAMPLES
plural verb
that are
joined by Shyam and Ram have done a great job.
Animals and plants are both important for
‘AND’ our ecosystem.
Man and woman have different likes and
take plural dislikes.
Preeti and Seeta walk to school daily.
verb.
Sometimes
NOUN+ AND+ NOUN+ SINGULAR VERB

two nouns EXAMPLES

are connected Milk and cereal is a popular american

by ‘AND’ breakfast.

but still Salt and pepper is essential for any

recipe.
represent a Bread and butter is my favorite dish.
single entity
EXCEPTION: ONE SUBJECT+
Compound SINGULAR VERB
noun is EXAMPLES
The bread and breakfast was
treated as one charming.
subject and The singer and actor Tom Gregory
uses a is very popular.
singular verb
Rule 3 When two nouns are joined by

Together with

As well as

Along with

In addition to

Besides etc …

Verb agrees with 1st noun

Examples 1) Ram as well as
his dog is expected
shortly.
2) Sai along with
his brother, is
going to school.
Rule :4
Fractions
money
quantitative
items
Fractions
The verb agrees with the whole subject

Examples :
Two-thirds of the lemonade has been finished off.

Twenty-five percent of the lemonade has been finished off.

Two-thirds of the students are on the field trip today.

Twenty-five percent of the students are on the field trip today.

Distances,periods of time,sums of money
etc—-> singular verb.

Examples :

Hundred cents is equal to one dollar

Ten miles is a long distance to cover it in one hour

Five years is the maximum sentence for the offence

Three million gallons of oil is a lot of oil

 Singular takes singular verb
Rule 5
Any + No + Some +
singular singular sin.
noun noun
noun
A)Indefinite
pronouns
Anybody Nobody Somebody

Someone
Anyone No one
Examples ● Everybody wants to live
happily.
● Something is bothering him.
● No human being lives in that
house.
● Neither of you is
responsible enough to
handle it.
● Each student has to submit
a separate assignment.
 Both,few,many,several…….+plural verb
B)exception
Some infinite Examples
pronouns are ● Have u met rahul brother?both
are so tall.
plural and ● Many people or of the opinion
that the new president viis

always takes based.

● I think my paper has more

plural verb errors I knew. Several are

caught by my peers
Rule: 6 The Either of/ Neither of
&
Either . . .or / Neither . . .
nor
rule
Either of/ NEITHER OF/ EITHER
OF+ SINGULAR VERB
Neither of EXAMPLES
Neither of the flowers is a
take pretty as the ones last
singular year.
Either of us is capable of
verb winning the race.
Either… or EXAMPLES
/ Either the principal or the teachers
are talking to the students.
Neither … Neither the eggs nor the chicken was
saved in the storm.
nor Either he or his brothers cook dinner.

The verb is Neither my friends nor the book

store has the book.
according
Questions
1. “Sai along with his brother is going to school.” Here which one is known as the 1st noun ?

a) sai b) brother c)school d)none

Rule 7 ● Many a
● More than a
● One of
THESE TAKE A
SINGULAR VERB
Many a / More than + singular subject + singular verb

Examples More than one room is available

in the hostel .
One of the student is selected
to visit NASA.
One of the lemons from the
batch is spoiled.
Rule 8
Not only …..

But also
When a sentence Examples :

uses NOT ONLY--- Not only dogs but also cats are available
BUT ALSO,the at the animal shelter

verb agrees with Not only my dresses but also her dress is
the closer subject missing from the cupboard

Not only i but also my friends want to join

the dance class
 Abstract Noun
Rule 9
A noun is a person, place, thing, concept, or
idea. There are many types of nouns,
including concrete and abstract nouns.
Concrete nouns are people, places, or things
that can be experienced by one of the five
senses. Abstract nouns are concepts or ideas
that a person cannot see, hear, touch, taste, or
smell. Instead, abstract nouns are intangible
concepts or ideas.
 ● love as a verb - I love my
Examples: mother.
● love as a noun -Send
them my love.
● taste as a verb-Sarah
could taste cilantro in the
salsa.
● taste as a noun -Sita has
great taste in clothes.
Rule: 10
THERE/ HERE+ VERB
ACCORDING TO THE
NEAREST NOUN.

EXAMPLES
There is a lion.
There are parrots.
Rule 11 In sentences that
express a wish,
request or contrary
to fact, the word
‘were’ is used instead
of ‘was.
 ● I wish my sister
Examples were here.
● Aditya
requested that
she raise her
glass.
Rule 12
A lot of
All
Some
In the case of Examples:
words such as ‘a lot
of’, all’, ‘some’ etc. 1. All of the cake is gone.
in a sentence, pay
2. All of the cakes are gone.
attention to the
noun after ‘of’. If 3. A lot of the cake is gone.
the noun after ‘of’ is 4. A lot of the cakes are gone.
singular then use a
5. Some of the cake is gone.
singular verb, if
plural, use a plural 6. Some of the cakes are gone.
verb.
 Questions
1. One of the glasses ____ empty .
(is,are,were,was)
5. The story performers ______
surrounded by children's and
adults.
(is,was,were,none)