RULES OF CONCORD

                                            Rules of Concord

Concord refers to the agreement of the subject with the verb in a sentence.

Rules 

1. When the subject is in the third person, singular, the verb in the present takes ‘s’ or ‘-es’ e.g. Monica listens attentively. 

2. When the subject is in the first person, second person and third person plural number, the base form (i.e. plural verb is used.)

 e.g. We go to church every Sunday,

You brush your teeth every morning.

They/the children make a lot of noise in school. 

3. In a noun phrase, the verb must agree with the head word i.e. main word 

e.g. One of my students has travelled abroad.

Everyone of the pupils was rewarded. 

4. Two or more singular nouns, connected by ‘and’ expressing the same person/idea/thing must take a singular verb. E.g. 

Rice and beans is my best food.

The long and short of the matter is that we must work

My friend and teacher has made my dream come true.

5. Two or more nouns connected by ‘and’ but referring to different things must go with a plural verb. 

My friend and my brother have arrived.

6. A group of words starting with ‘each’ or ‘every’, ‘either’ or ‘neither’ should take a singular verb. 

Every man and woman has his own destiny. 

Each student was asked to pay some fee. 

Neither Tolu nor Teni pays attention to instructions. 

Either Tiler or Tony has done the needful. 

7. If one of the two nouns connected by ‘nor’, ‘or’ is plural, or differ in person, the verb agrees with the closest noun to the verb in a sentence. 

Either Temi or her sisters are interested in novels. 

Neither the Principal nor the teachers have come to school.

Either my brother or I am travelling next week. 

Neither you nor Victoria has paid the required due. 

8. Indefinite pronouns and nouns ending with ‘s’ but singular in meaning must take singular verbs. 

Everybody is here.         Everything is all right.

Everyone has spoken. Nothing has happened.

Politics is a dirty game in Nigeria.

The news is broadcast at 6pm.

EVALUATION

Choose the appropriate word from the option provided:

1. Everyone of the men (has/have) been paid.

2. Joseph like all other students (come/comes) early.

3. The students (attend/attends) classes regularly.

4. The man (don't/doesn't) like insults.

5. The books (is/are) on the shelf.

6. The commissioner accomplished by the tutor general (go/goes) round the schools.