Concord is the agreement between a subject and a verb in a sentences. A sentence without a compatible verb and subject could be termed wrong sentences.
RULES OF CONCORD
These are sets of rules that guides the arrangements of words to make grammatically acceptable sentence. below are set of the rules
- A SENTENCE WITH SINGULAR SUBJECT TAKES A SINGULAR VERB, FOR INSTANCE
- The mad man sleeps under the bridge
- His pillow is a used Tyre
- He has no roof over his head.
THE FOLLOWING EXPERIENCES ARE ALL SINGULAR AND TAKES SINGULAR VERB,
FOR INSTANCE
- Each boy in this class is fro a good home
- Each of this girls has a school bag
- Either you or Glory was talking
- Either of these teachers teaches biology.
- Every parent prays for the children
- Anybody is allowed to enter.
- Neither of the boys comes early to school.
WHENEVER TWO SINGULAR SUBJECTS ARE SEPARATED BY OR or NOR, THE SENTENCE TAKES A SINGULAR VERB.
FOR INSTANCE
- The man or the wife is telling a lie
- Neither the boy nor the girl believes the other
TWO NOUNS THAT CREATE THE IMPRESSION OF A UNIT AND THUS CONSTANTLY GO TOGETHER TAKE SINGULAR VERBS,
EXAMPLES.
- Bread and tea is good for breakfast
- Teaching and learning is a serious business
- Beans and bread is a perfect balanced diet
- Ada and Nneka is a great team
A SENTENCE WITH A SINGULAR SUBJECT HAVING INTERVENING EXPRESSIONS INTRODUCED BY WITH, LIKE, AS WELL AS, TAKES A SINGULAR VERB,
EXAMPLES
- The president with his ministers was at Abuja
- Mrs Ugochi like Mr Sam comes early to school
- Mr Femi as well as Mrs Ireti teaches in the new school
A SENTENCE THAT HAS A PLURAL SUBJECT TAKES A PLURAL VERB.
EXAMPLES:
- Yoruba men are good husbands
- The thieves are notorious
- kuja people are hardworking
A SENTENCE THAT HAS TWO SINGULAR SUBJECTS JOINED BY AND TAKES A PLURAL VERB
EXAMPLES:
- The man and his wife are loving people
- the cat and the dog are great enemies
- Osuji and Okoye are excellent students
WHEN A SENTENCE HAS TWO PLURAL SUBJECTS JOINED BY AND, THE VERB IS PLURAL
EXAMPLES:
- The students and the teachers have agreed on the day of the defense
- Girls and boys live together.
WHENEVER TWO PLURAL SUBJECT ARE SEPARATED BY EITHER OR NEITHER, NOR, BOTH, AND, ALL-BUT, THE VERB IS PLURAL
EXAMPLES:
- Either the boys or girls have broken the rule
- neither the priest nor the worshipers understand their the bible
- Both chike and Aki are happy to go to a new class.
- All but Rose are correct.
- All of you but Obi are honest.
SOME NOUNS ARE PLURAL THOUGH WE REGARD THEM AS SINGLE OBJECTS. They usually take a plural verb e.g scissors, trousers, pliers, spectacles.
EXAMPLES:
- My spectacles are in my room
- My trousers are dirty.
- The pliers are not sharp.
COLLECTIVE NOUN USED AS SUBJECT TAKE SINGULAR OR PLURAL VERBS
EXAMPLES:
- The committee is sitting at noon
- The committee were asked to raised funds for the passing out ceremony of their member
