Subject Verb Concord (Agreement)

Subject - Verb Concord ( agreement) 

Concord means harmonious relationship between two grammatical units. 

general rule for concord

A singular subject takes a singular verb

ex: The teacher writes on the whiteboard. 

here teacher a singular subject takes a singular verb teaches

A plural subject takes a plural verb. 

Ex: The children play on the lawns. 

Here in the sentence, plural subject "Children" takes plural verb play

Understanding the number of subject

understanding subjects with reference to number

a. proper, abstract, and material nouns  ( singular) 

b. common and collective nouns( singular and plural as well) 

c. Pronoun (singular and plural as well

d. the + adjective (plural subject) 

e. infinitive- ( singular subject) 

f. Gerund- (singular subject) 

h. Noun phrase- (singular subject) 

I. Noun Clause- ( singular subject) 

Relative pronoun and verb agreement

A relative pronoun as subject takes a singular verb when the antecedent is singular but it takes plural verb when the antecedent is plural

ex. I have read the novel that is on the table. 

I have not read the novels that are on the table.

One of + plural noun/pronoun (antecedent) + relative pronoun, in this construction the antecedent is always plural so the relative pronoun takes a plural verb. 

He is one of the finest orators I have ever heard.

She is one of the women who have sacrificed everything for their children. 

It is + noun/pronoun (antecedent) + relative pronoun; in this construction the antecedent is placed after the verb be so the relative pronoun agrees with the number of its antecedent. 

It is I who have done this. 

It is he who has stolen my watch. 

antecedent + and/or + antecedent + relative pronoun; when antecedent (singular or plural) are joined by and, the relative pronoun takes plural verb because the antecedent is plural

But when the antecedents are separated by, or the relative pronoun agrees with the one nearest to it

literature or fine arts which are essential for the development of the mind, must be taught at school. 

literature and music which are essential for the development of the mind must be taught at school. 

literature or music which is essential for the development of the mind must be taught at school. 

Not only .....but also

when subjects are joined by not only... but also, the verb agrees with the last subject either singular or plural. the verb will according to the number of the subject nearest to it. 

Not only India but all the other countries are also in trouble. 

Not only her books but her watch was also stolen.

in this construction the plural subject are placed last, so usually when singular and plural subjects are joined by not only... but also  plural subject is placed later

Not only his luggage but also his certificates are missing

either ... or/neither ... nor and subject

the verb will agree with the number of the subject nearest to it. 

Neither the host nor his servants were present

Either he or I have to suffer. 

Neither You nor I am going to his party.

the rule is quite simple here as it follows the principles of proximity. The following example will make it very clear

He or his friends have stolen my watch. 

Has he or his friends stolen my watch?

Parcel subject: two singular nouns joined by and to form pair. 

The parcel subject takes singular verb

Fish and rice is the favourite food of the people of Japan. 

There are two exceptions of this rule

1.When the complement of the verb is plural, a parcel subject takes a, plural verb

Food and shelter are the bare necessities of life. 

When parcel subjects are actually two different subjects in a sentence, they will take a plural verb

Fish and rice are the two essential commodities for the people of Japan.

when singular nouns joined by and, but modified by no/each/every, the subject takes singular verb

Every Rahul and Modi makes speeches but does nothing. 

subject + noun/pronoun in apposition

What is an apposition? 

An apposition is a grammatical construction in which two elements, normally noun phrases, are placed side by side, with one element describes/defines the other and the two elements are said to be in apposition.

Ex. An apposition occurs when a part of subject gives more details about the subject itself

Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first president of India

The First president of India, Dr.

 Rajendra Praasd

in such construction the verb agrees with the subject which comes before comma

ex. I, Rohan of class X, want to present the thought for the day.

Rohan, the monitor of glass, is a very good student too.

collective noun + of + plural noun

in this structure the verb is singular determined by a + collective noun

ex. A team of speakers has been selected.

The jury has found him guilty. 

The jury are divided in their opinion. 

It depends on the point of view of a speaker or writer whether a collective noun is treated as singular or plural. 

Once you make a choice, stick to the same opinion. 

ex The government has changed its policy towards its neighbouring countries. 

or

The government have changed their policy towards their neighbouring countries. 

if one writes (The government has changed their policy towards its neighbouring countries.) This sentence is wrong, because at the place of subject the writer assumes the government singular but after the verb at the place of object the writer has assumed it as plural and wrote their policy  and again the writer has changed his assumption and wrote its neighbouring countries assuming it as singular.

weights/measures/amount/time/distance

A noun (s.or p.) denoting weights/measures/amount/quantity/distance etc. takes a singular verb. 

Five kilometers is a long way to walk. 

Ten thousand rupees has been paid to him.

inseparables and verb

what are inseparables?  

The nouns which always go in pairs are inseparables. ex, scissor, trousers, pliers etc. inseparables are considered plurals and take plural verbs. 

Examples

Trousers are very comfortable in cold countries. 

But When inseparables are preceded by 'a pair of', they take singular verb. 

Example

A pair of trousers is required for my cousin.

Distributive pronouns takes singular verb

What are distributive pronouns? 

each/every/either/neither

There are two girls there. Neither is tall.

With dummy subject there 

In the above mentioned pattern when a sentence begins with there, the verb agrees with the number of words (noun/pronoun) that comes after it( verb)

For example

There was a king

There were kings