The Role of Concord in Effective
Writing and communication
In English grammar, "concord" refers to the agreement between different parts of a sentence. The most common types of concord are subject-verb agreement and noun-pronoun agreement.
Subject-Verb Agreement
This type of concord ensures that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number (singular or plural).
Examples:
Singular: The cat runs fast.
Plural: The cats run fast.
Noun-Pronoun Agreement
This type of concord ensures that a pronoun agrees with its antecedent (the noun it replaces) in number and gender.
Examples:
Singular: The girl lost her book.
Plural: The girls lost their books.
Additional Examples
Singular Subject with Singular Verb:
She is going to the market.
Plural Subject with Plural Verb:
They are going to the market.
Singular Noun with Singular Pronoun:
John loves his dog.
Plural Noun with Plural Pronoun:
The students finished their homework.
Concord is essential for clarity and correctness in writing and speaking.
Concord in English grammar, often referred to as subject-verb agreement, is the principle that the form of a verb must correspond with its subject in terms of number (singular or plural) and sometimes gender. This ensures clarity and correctness in sentences. Below are the key rules and examples illustrating how concord operates in English.
Key Rules of Concord
1. Singular and Plural Agreement
The basic rule of concord states that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Example:
He plays football. (singular subject, singular verb)
They play football. (plural subject, plural verb) .
2. Intervening Words
Words or phrases between the subject and the verb do not affect the agreement.
Example:
One of the glasses is empty. (The subject "one" is singular, so the verb is "is.")
The bouquet of red roses smells sweet. (The subject "bouquet" is singular, so the verb is "smells.") .
3. Compound Subjects
When subjects are joined by "and," they take a plural verb. Conversely, subjects joined by "either/or" or "neither/nor" take a singular verb if the subjects are singular.
Example:
Radha and Meera are coming home. (plural)
Neither Akshay nor Rohit is coming home. (singular) .
4. Proximity Rule
In constructions with "or," "either/or," or "neither/nor," the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it.
Example:
Neither the shoes nor the bag matches the dress. (closest noun "bag" is singular)
Neither the bag nor the shoes match the dress. (closest noun "shoes" is plural)
5. Phrases Following Subjects
Phrases such as "as well as," "along with," or "besides" do not influence the number of the subject; thus, if the subject is singular, use a singular verb.
Example:
Matt, as well as his dog, is expected shortly.
6. Existential Sentences
In sentences that begin with "there" or "here," the true subject follows the verb.
Example:
There is a big puddle on the road. (singular)
Here are your books. (plural) .
7. Collective Nouns
Collective nouns can be singular or plural depending on whether they refer to a single unit or individual members.
Example:
The team wins its game. (singular)
The team are arguing among themselves. (plural when emphasizing individuals) 2.
8. Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns are treated as singular subjects.
Example:
Information is crucial for decision-making.
9. Abstract Nouns
Abstract nouns also take singular verbs.
Example:
Happiness makes life beautiful.
Understanding concord is essential for constructing grammatically correct sentences in English. By following these rules, writers can ensure that their subjects and verbs agree in number and clarity, enhancing communication effectiveness.
Common mistakes in subject-verb concord often stem from misunderstanding the rules of agreement between subjects and verbs. Here are some prevalent errors along with explanations and corrections:
1. Ignoring Singular Subjects
A common mistake is using a plural verb with a singular subject, especially when the subject is separated from the verb by phrases.
Incorrect: The bouquet of flowers are beautiful.
Correct: The bouquet of flowers is beautiful. (The subject "bouquet" is singular).
2. Collective Nouns
Collective nouns can be tricky as they can be treated as either singular or plural depending on context.
Incorrect: The team are winning the match.
Correct: The team is winning the match. (Here, the team acts as a single unit).
3. Compound Subjects with "Every" and "Each"
When using "every" or "each" before a compound subject, the verb should be singular.
Incorrect: Every boy and girl have arrived.
Correct: Every boy and girl has arrived.
4. Inverted Word Order
In sentences that start with "there" or "here," the subject often follows the verb, leading to mistakes if not identified correctly.
Incorrect: There is many reasons for this.
Correct: There are many reasons for this. (The true subject "reasons" is plural) .
5. Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns such as "everyone," "each," and "nobody" are singular and require singular verbs.
Incorrect: Everyone at the meeting are responsible for a presentation.
Correct: Everyone at the meeting is responsible for a presentation.
6. Subjects that Appear Plural but are Singular
Certain nouns like "news," "mathematics," and "physics" are singular despite appearing plural.
Incorrect: The news are shocking.
Correct: The news is shocking.
7. Misidentifying Compound Subjects
When subjects are connected by "and," they typically take a plural verb, but confusion arises with phrases like "as well as."
Incorrect: My friend, as well as his parents, are coming.
Correct: My friend, as well as his parents, is coming. (The main subject is "friend," which is singular) .
8. Errors in Questions
In questions, it’s easy to misalign subjects and verbs due to their structure.
Incorrect: Where is the students?
Correct: Where are the students? (The subject "students" is plural).
Tips to Avoid Mistakes
Identify the true subject in complex sentences.
Be aware of collective nouns and their context.
Practice recognizing indefinite pronouns to ensure proper agreement.
Read sentences aloud to catch errors that may not be obvious in writing.
By being mindful of these common mistakes, one can improve their command of subject-verb concord in English grammar.
Key words
concord,englishgrammar,subject-verbagreement,agreement rules, syntactic agreement
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