PART – II ENGLISH SECOND SEMESTER – 2322E Unit IV: Concord (Subject-Verb Agreement)
PART – II ENGLISH SECOND SEMESTER – 2322E
Unit IV: Concord (Subject-Verb Agreement)
Overview of Concord (Subject-Verb Agreement)
Concord, also known as subject-verb agreement, is the rule that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number and person. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular; if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. Proper use of concord ensures clarity and grammatical accuracy in sentences.
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Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement with Examples
1. Singular Subject with Singular Verb
o When the subject is singular, use a singular verb.
Examples:
o "The cat runs across the field."
o "She plays the piano every morning."
2. Plural Subject with Plural Verb
o When the subject is plural, use a plural verb.
Examples:
o "The students work on their assignments."
o "They enjoy playing football."
3. Subjects Joined by ‘And’
o When two subjects are joined by "and," use a plural verb.
Examples:
o "The dog and the cat are friends."
o "My brother and sister play together."
4. Subjects Joined by ‘Or’ or ‘Nor’
o When subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
Examples:
o "Either the teacher or the students have the key."
o "Neither the books nor the pen is on the table."
5. Collective Nouns
o Collective nouns (e.g., team, jury, family) may take either a singular or plural verb, depending on whether the group acts as a single unit or as individuals.
Examples:
o "The team wins its games." (acting as a single unit)
o "The team are arguing among themselves." (acting individually)
6. Indefinite Pronouns
o Indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, someone, nobody) are usually singular and take singular verbs.
Examples:
o "Everyone likes chocolate."
o "Somebody is at the door."
7. Subjects Separated by Phrases or Clauses
o If a phrase or clause separates the subject and the verb, the verb should still agree with the main subject.
Examples:
o "The teacher, along with her students, is attending the conference."
o "The book, which includes many pictures, is interesting."
8. Titles of Books, Movies, and Other Works
o Titles of books, movies, and other creative works are singular and take a singular verb, regardless of the plural form of the title.
Examples:
o "The Chronicles of Narnia is a popular book series."
o "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was released in 2005."
9. Quantities and Amounts
o Quantities, measurements, and amounts are often singular when referring to a single unit.
Examples:
o "Five dollars is a small amount."
o "Ten kilometers is a long distance to walk."
10. Plural Form but Singular Meaning
• Some nouns appear plural in form but are singular in meaning, such as "news," "mathematics," and "economics."
Examples:
• "Mathematics is her favorite subject."
• "The news was shocking."
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Two-Mark Questions with Answers
1. What is concord in grammar?
o Concord is the rule that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number and person to ensure grammatical accuracy.
2. When do we use a singular verb with a subject?
o A singular verb is used with a singular subject, as in "The dog barks."
3. Provide an example of a plural subject with a plural verb.
o "The children play in the park."
4. How does concord work with subjects joined by "and"?
o When subjects are joined by "and," they take a plural verb, as in "Tom and Jerry are friends."
5. What verb form do collective nouns usually take?
o Collective nouns can take either singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group acts as a single unit or as individuals.
6. Provide an example of concord with an indefinite pronoun.
o "Everybody enjoys the party."
7. How do phrases between the subject and verb affect concord?
o Phrases between the subject and verb do not affect concord; the verb still agrees with the main subject, as in "The girl, along with her friends, is here."
8. How does concord apply to titles of books and movies?
o Titles of books and movies are treated as singular and take a singular verb, e.g., "Harry Potter is popular."
9. What is the verb form for nouns like "news" or "mathematics"?
o Nouns like "news" or "mathematics" are singular, so they take a singular verb, as in "Mathematics is challenging."
10. Give an example of a sentence with a quantity taking a singular verb.
o "Ten dollars is enough for lunch."
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Five-Mark Questions with Answers
1. Explain how concord works with subjects joined by "or" or "nor" with examples.
o When two subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. For instance, "Neither the teacher nor the students are ready" uses a plural verb because the nearest subject (students) is plural. Conversely, "Either the students or the teacher is ready" uses a singular verb because the nearest subject (teacher) is singular. This rule ensures that the verb correctly reflects the subject immediately preceding it.
2. Discuss how collective nouns follow concord with examples.
o Collective nouns refer to groups but can take either singular or plural verbs depending on the context. When the group acts as one unit, the singular form is used, as in "The team wins every match." However, if the members act individually, the plural form is appropriate, e.g., "The team are discussing their strategies." Understanding whether the group is unified or acting separately helps determine verb agreement.
3. How do indefinite pronouns impact subject-verb agreement? Provide examples.
o Indefinite pronouns such as "everyone," "somebody," and "nobody" are generally singular and require singular verbs. For instance, "Everyone enjoys the class" and "Somebody is at the door." These pronouns treat the group as a single entity, making the singular form necessary. Although they may imply plurality, indefinite pronouns maintain singular agreement in standard usage.
4. Explain concord with phrases or clauses between the subject and the verb with examples.
o When a phrase or clause separates the subject and verb, the verb should still agree with the main subject. For example, "The teacher, along with the students, is attending the conference" agrees with the main subject "teacher." Similarly, in "The car, including all its accessories, was sold," the verb "was" aligns with the main subject "car." These phrases are additional information and do not influence the verb form.
5. Discuss the importance of subject-verb agreement with nouns that appear plural but have singular meaning, with examples.
o Certain nouns, such as "news," "mathematics," and "economics," appear plural but are singular in meaning. For instance, "The news is surprising" treats "news" as a single concept. Similarly, "Mathematics is difficult for many students" uses a singular verb, as "mathematics" represents a single field of study. Recognizing these nouns as singular helps maintain correct subject-verb agreement.
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Essay Question with Detailed Answer
Essay Question: Discuss the rules of subject-verb agreement (concord) and their significance in constructing grammatically correct sentences. Provide examples to illustrate each rule.
• Introduction:
o Concord, or subject-verb agreement, is a fundamental rule in English grammar that ensures the subject and verb in a sentence align in number and person. Following the rules of concord makes sentences clear, grammatically correct, and easier to understand. Proper concord avoids confusion and ambiguity, ensuring that readers easily grasp the intended meaning.
• Subtitles and Explanations:
1. Singular and Plural Agreement:
A singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject requires a plural verb. For instance, "The cat runs quickly" (singular) versus "The cats run quickly" (plural). Ensuring agreement helps clarify whether the subject is one or many.
2. Subjects Joined by "And":
Subjects joined by "and" take a plural verb, as in "Tom and Jerry are playing." This rule treats the subjects as a single group performing the action, ensuring consistency in verb agreement.
3. Subjects Joined by "Or" or "Nor":
When subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. For example, "Neither the teachers nor the student is ready" follows this rule by using the singular "is" for the singular subject "student."
4. Collective Nouns and Their Contexts:
Collective nouns such as "team" or "family" may take singular or plural verbs, depending on whether the group acts as a unit or individually. "The team is winning" (unit) versus "The team are arguing among themselves" (individuals) highlights the flexibility in agreement.
5. Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns:
Indefinite pronouns like "everyone" and "somebody" are singular and take singular verbs, as in "Everybody wants to succeed." This rule treats these pronouns as referring to a collective group, making singular agreement appropriate.
6. Titles and Singular Agreement:
Titles of books, movies, and works of art are singular, regardless of their form. "The Chronicles of Narnia is popular" treats the title as a single entity, using a singular verb.
7. Conclusion:
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement ensures grammatical accuracy and clarity in sentences. Each rule plays a vital role in distinguishing between singular and plural subjects, handling complex subjects, and managing unique cases like collective nouns and indefinite pronouns. Mastering concord strengthens language skills, enabling precise and correct expression in English.
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