Verb Concord - Subject Verb Agreement

Verb concord, also known as subject-verb agreement, is the grammatical rule that states that the verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject. 

1. Singular subjects: Use singular verbs.

    Example: The cat is sleeping on the couch.

2. Plural subjects: Use plural verbs.

    Example: The dogs are barking loudly.

3. Compound subjects joined by "and": Use a plural verb.

     Example: Tom and Jerry are best friends.

4. Singular subjects joined by "or" or "nor": The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

     Example: Either the lion or the tiger is the king of the jungle.

5. Subjects joined by "either...or" or "neither...nor": The verb agrees with the closer subject.

     Example: Neither the teacher nor the students are happy about the test.

6. Indefinite pronouns: 

Some indefinite pronouns are singular (e.g., everybody, each, everyone, each , either, neither, one, no one, someone, anyone, nobody, somebody, anybody, everybody) and require singular verbs. Others are plural (e.g., both, few, many, several) and require plural verbs.

    Example: Everyone is invited to the party.

     Example: Many of the students are attending the seminar.

7. Collective nouns: Use a singular verb when referring to a group as a single entity. Use a plural verb when referring to the individuals within the group.

     Example: The team is celebrating its victory. (singular)

     Example: The team are arguing among themselves. (plural)

8. Quantities and amounts: Use a singular verb when the quantity or amount is considered as a unit. Use a plural verb when the quantity or amount is considered as separate individual items.

     Example: Ten dollars is a lot of money. (singular)

     Example: Ten dollars are scattered on the floor. (plural)

9. The sentences begin with ‘Here’ or ‘there’: True subject follows the verb. 

    Example: Here is the book you are searching for.

    Example: There are some books so that we can visit the shop.

10. Subjects plural in form but singular in meaning : take a singular verb

      (Economics, Measles, Physics, Mumps, Statistics, Phonetics, Thesis, Mathematics)

      Example:Phonetics is his interesting topic.