CONCORD LECTURE

ENGLISH LECTURE: CONCORD (AGREEMENT)

Introduction

Concord (or Agreement) refers to the correct relationship between words in a sentence, especially between the subject and the verb. The verb must agree with its subject in number and sometimes in person.

Basic Rule

Singular subject → singular verb | Plural subject → plural verb

The boy is here.

The boys are here.

Rules of Concord with Examples

1. Compound Subjects (Joined by "and")

→ Take plural verb unless treated as one unit

John and Peter are friends.

Bread and butter is my breakfast.

2. Subjects Joined by "or / nor / either…or / neither…nor"

→ Verb agrees with the nearest subject

Either the teacher or the students are coming.

Neither the boys nor the teacher is present.

3. Indefinite Pronouns

Always singular: everyone, someone, nobody, each, anybody

Everyone is happy.

Each of the players has a jersey.

4. Collective Nouns

Singular when acting as a unit, plural when acting individually

The team is winning.

The team are arguing among themselves.

5. Uncountable Nouns

Always singular

Information is important.

Equipment is ready.

6. Expressions of Quantity

A number of → plural verb | The number of → singular verb

A number of students are absent.

The number of students is increasing.

7. Fractions and Percentages

Verb depends on the noun

Half of the cake is gone.

Half of the students are present.

8. Titles, Names, and Subjects

Always singular

Mathematics is difficult.

"Things Fall Apart" is a novel.

9. Distance, Time, Money

Singular

Ten years is a long time.

Five thousand naira is enough.

10. "There is / There are"

Verb agrees with noun that follows

There is a book on the table.

There are many books on the table.

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