CONCORD

I. Singular verb

1. When the SB is singular

The dog barks.

2. With expressions such as:

EACH OF
ONE OF
NEITHER OF (niciunul din 2)
EVERY ONE OF
NOT ONE OF
EACH
EVERY
NONE OF (niciunul din mai multi)
ANYBODY
NOBODY
EVERYBODY
SOMEBODY

Each of the boys has a dog.

3. A singular SB with attached phrases introduced by:

WITH
LIKE (ca și)
AS WELL AS (tot la fel ca si)

He, as well as his brother, gets up early every day.

4. Two singular subjects separated by:

EITHER… OR (ori… ori)

NEITHER… NOR (nici… nici)
NOT ONLY… BUT ALSO (nu numai… ci si)
Either he or she is right.

II. Plural verb

1. When the Sb is plural

They swim.
2. 2 singular Sb connected by AND:
Tom and his friend are late.

3. SBs separated by:

EITHER (PL)… OR (ori… ori)

NEITHER (PL)… NOR (nici… nici)
Neither the boys nor the girls are to blame.

4. With the expressions:

BOTH… AND (atat… cat si)

ALL… BUT (toti in afara de)
ALL OF (toti)
Both Hugh and Sam were standing.

III. Other situations

1. A single concept/ the same person – singular

A cart and ox was seen at a distance.(the same concept)
My teacher and friend is Mr Brown. (the same person)

2. Different concord
PAINS – plural
MEASLES (pojar) – singular
MUMPS (oreion) – singular
BILLARDS AND DRAUGHTS – singular

3. WHEREABOUTS – singular
What is his whereabouts? (pe unde umbla el?)

4. The Middle Ages – singular/plural

 Each year – plural
The Middle Ages comprise 1000
 The whole period – singular
The Middle Ages was a dark period.

5. NEWS/MONEY/INFORMATION – singular
Money is not everything.
What is the news?

6. Substantives ending in -ics vary in the number taken

 When they denote subjects/facts/principles – singular
What is Ethics?
Mathematics is my favourite subject at school.
  When they denote manifestation and activity – plural
Such ethics are wrong. (un asemenea comportament este gresit)
Einstein’s mathematics were a revelation. (calculele matematice ale lui
Einstein)

 TACTICS/GYMNASTICS/ATHLETICS/STATISTICS/ACCOUSTICS – plural

7. Terms of measurement – singular

Twenty dollars was paid for a dress. (the sum of money, as a whole)

Here is 5 euros. (sum of money)

Here are 5 euros (coins)

8. All collectives - plural

CATTLE (vite)
POULTRY (pasari de curte)
PEOPLE
THE RICH (cei bogati)
THE POOR
POLICE
GOVERNMENT
JURY
PARLIAMENT
The club plan to expel him.

9. Titles of books/newspapers/magazines – singular

‘Recollections from early childhood’ is written by Creanga.

10. A NUMBER OF/ A VARIETY OF/ THE MAJORITY OF/ A LOT OF/ PLENTY OF/ A
MASS OF – plural
A number of cars were parked on the lot.

Exception > THE NUMBER OF – singular

The number of books in the library is unknown.

11. Arithmetic calculations – singular

 Additions (to add + )
 Subtractions (to subtract -)
 Multiplications (to multiply x)
 Divisions (to divide : )
Two and two is four.

12. The conjunction OR – plural

A word or two are needed.

13. Geographical names ending in ‘-s’ – singular

Exceptions which take the plural:
THE NETHERLANDS
THE BAHAMAS
THE MIDLANDS
THE HIMALAYAS
THE HIGHLANDS
THE ALPS
THE PYRENEES
THE CANARIES
THE EAST/WEST INDIES