Grammatical Aspects

Dr. I. Ajit
Asst. Professor (English)
School of Social Sciences & Languages
VIT - Chennai
Module 2 – Session 3

Concord (SV Agreement)

Concord
Agreement of the Verb with its Subject in
Number and Person
◦ He is a good boy.
(singular subject, singular verb)
◦ They are good players
(plural subject, plural verb)
◦ She sings nicely.
(Third person subject,
MV-s in present tense)
Rule 1

When two or more

singular nouns or pronouns
are connected by and,
the sentence requires a plural verb.
◦ Ram, Lakshman and Bharathan are brothers.
◦ Are reading and writing taught in
the pre-primary class?
◦ She and I were at a dinner last night.
Rule 2

If two or more singular nouns

suggest only one idea,
the singular verb will be used.
◦ Bread and butter is my usual breakfast.
◦ Time and tide waits for none.
◦ Slow and steady wins the race.
Rule 3

If two or more singular nouns

refer to the same person or thing,
the singular verb will be used.
◦ My teacher and guide has instructed
me correctly.
◦ The hero and director of the film is
her husband.
Rule 4

If two singular nouns preceded by each

or every are connected by and, the
singular verb will be used.
◦ Each boy and girl was given a prize
on our school day.
◦ Every man and woman has to donate
a minimum of ten rupees.
Rule 5
The words joined to a singular subject by
with, as well as, as much as, like,
alongside, together with, no less than, in
association with, and including
take a singular verb.
◦ The Chief Minister, with his colleagues,
has seen the Governor.
◦ French, as well as German, is taught
in my school.
Rule 6
If two or more singular nouns
are connected by or, either.....or, nor, or
neither.....nor,
the singular verb will be used.
◦ Their happiness or sorrow knows
no bounds.
◦ Either Kala or Leela has agreed to host the
dinner.
◦ Neither salary nor bonus was disbursed.
Rule 7

If one of the subjects in either....or /

neither.....nor construction is plural,
it should be placed last followed
by a plural verb.
◦ Either the accused or his lawyers are required
to argue the case.
◦ Neither the manager nor the employees have
failed to note the defects.
Rule 8

If the two subjects in either.....or /

neither.... nor differ in person,
the verb shall agree with
the subject nearest to it.
◦ Either she or I have interest in this problem.
◦ Neither you nor he is ready to sell it.
Rule 9
Such words as either, neither, each, everyone
and many a are followed by a singular verb.
◦ Either of his parents is literate.
◦ The girl’s father asked if neither
of the suitors is employed.
◦ Each of the volunteers is going to teach
five children.
◦ Everyone of the girls likes to act
in the drama.
◦ Many a woman has asked for this design.
Rule 10

Such nouns as news, wages, statistics and

ethics are plural in form
but they take singular verbs.
◦ The news was interesting.
◦ The wages of sin is death.
◦ Statistics is an optional subject
in my degree course.
Rule 11

Such nouns as cattle, clergy, people,

police, youth and poultry
are in singular in form
but they take plural verbs.
◦ Cattle are grazing in my field.
◦ Youth are the pillars of the nation.
◦ The police were patrolling the area last night
when the accident happened.
Rule 12
Such nouns as headquarters, means and
series take singular or plural verb
according to the context.
◦ This means of transport is very cheap.
◦ Both means of transport are expensive.

◦ The headquarters of KVB is in Karur.

◦ The headquarters of most of the banks are in
Mumbai.
Rule 13
Collective nouns such as audience,
committee, government and team take
singular or plural verb.
When used with a singular verb,
the collective noun is considered
to be a single unit.
◦ The committee has published its report.
◦ The committee are divided on
a major finding.
Rule 14

A plural noun always follows one of and

the phrase is followed by
a singular verb.
◦ One of my dreams has come true.
◦ One of my professors is leaving for
the States next week.
Rule 15

Plural nouns indicating

a specific quantity or amount
take a singular verb.
◦ Twenty thousand rupees is what
I owe to you.
◦ Ten minutes is allowed to each speaker.
Rule 16

Titles and names in plural form

indicating a single unit
take a singular verb.
◦ Gulliver’s Travels is an interesting book.
◦ The United Nations has been formed for
peace and development.
Rule 17
When a prayer, suggestion, wish,
demand, recommendation or resolution is
expressed,
the verb that follows is plural.
◦ It has been suggested that he go away.
◦ The board has recommended that
the manager resign.
◦ I pray that God help me
in my upcoming interview.
Rule 18

When a pair of is used,

the verb must be singular.
◦ A pair of trousers lies on the bed.
◦ A pair of scissors is the required tool.
Rule 19

When all means everything,

the verb is singular
but when all means all the people,
the verb is plural.
◦ All are already seated in the hall.
◦ All is well with me.
Rule 20

In sentences that express a wish, request

or contrary to fact,
the verb were is used instead of was.
◦ I wish my sister were here.
◦ Would you invite me over if
I were more polite at the dinner table?
Exercise ⅕

1. Twenty per cent of my earnings _____ (go /

goes) to my first son.

Twenty per cent of my earnings goes

to my first son.
.
2. The poor _____ (need / needs) help from the
government.

The poor need help from

the government.
Exercise ⅖

3. Each of the candidates ______ (stand /

stands) a good chance
to win the scholarship.

Each of the candidates stands

a good chance to win the scholarship.
.
4. Either Ravi or his friends _____
(know / knows) me.
Either Ravi or his friends know me.
Exercise ⅗

5. Snakes and ladders _____ (is / are) a

fascinating game.

Snakes and ladders is a fascinating game.

.
6. Aircraft ______ (make / makes)
travelling faster.
Aircraft make travelling faster.
Exercise ⅘
7. A lot of the cakes ______ (is / are) gone.

A lot of the cakes are gone.

.
8. The bouquet of red roses ________
(smell / smells) so sweet.

The bouquet of red roses smells

so sweet.
Exercise
9. Leena, along with her cat, ______ (is
/ are) expected here shortly.

Leena, along with her cat, is expected here

shortly.
.
10. 10 kilometers ______ (is / are) too
far to walk.
10 kilometers is too far to walk.
Assignment
Choose the right verb that agrees with its subject in each of
the following sentences:
1. Giving subtitles to paragraphs _____________ very important in essay-writing.
A. are B. were
C. is D. has
2. Each boy and each girl ­______________ passed the examination.
A. has B. have
C. is D. are
3. Either my brother or my sister ___________ agreed to this proposal.
A. is B. are
C. have D. has
4. Either my brother or my sisters ­_____________ agreed to this proposal.
A. is B. are
C. have D. has
5. The United Nations ___________ a meeting on human rights in Geneva
next month.
A. is holding B. are holding
C. hold D. has held
Assignment
6. The manager and the peon ____________ absconded but the accountant and
cashier __________ arrested.
A. have; have been B. has; have been
C. have; has been D. has; has been
7. ‘The Gulliver’s Travels’ _____________ written by Jonathan Swift.
A. is B. are
C. have D. has
8. Two-thirds of the members ______________ agreed to amend the clause.
A. have B. has
C. is D. are
9. Smoking and drinking ___________ injurious to health.
A. is B. are
C. have D. has
10. One of my cousins ___________ the car at 120 kmph.
A. drive B. have driven
C. drives D. are driving
Assignment
11. Knowledge and wisdom ___________ a man great.
A. make B. makes
C. have made D. has made
12. The ship, with its crew,, _________ lost in the storm.
A. have B. has
C. was D. were
13. The editor and publisher of the newspaper _________ arrested on
charges of sedition.
A. were B. was
C. have been D. are
14. Many a flower __________ blossomed this time.
A. has B. have
C. are D. is
15. Two dozen _____________ twenty rupees.
A. cost B. costs
C. is D. are
Key to Assignment

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

C A D C A C A B B C B B B A A