Definition: Verb concord, also known as subject-verb agreement, refers to the grammatical rule that a verb must agree in number and person with its subject in a sentence. This means that the form of the verb changes depending on whether the subject is singular or plural, as well as whether it is first, second, or third person.
Characteristics:
- Number Agreement: The verb form changes to match the number of the subject. Singular subjects take singular verb forms, and plural subjects take plural verb forms.
- Person Agreement: The verb form changes to match the person of the subject. First-person subjects take first-person verb forms, second-person subjects take second-person verb forms, and third-person subjects take third-person verb forms.
Examples:
Singular Subject-Verb Agreement:
- The cat purrs softly. (Third-person singular)
- He runs every morning. (Third-person singular)
- The sun shines brightly. (Third-person singular)
- She dances gracefully. (Third-person singular)
- The flower blooms beautifully. (Third-person singular)
- It rains heavily in the summer. (Third-person singular)
- The bird sings melodiously. (Third-person singular)
- He swims like a champion. (Third-person singular)
- The clock ticks loudly. (Third-person singular)
- She studies diligently for her exams. (Third-person singular)
Plural Subject-Verb Agreement:
- The birds chirp cheerfully. (Third-person plural)
- They work hard every day. (Third-person plural)
- The students study together in groups. (Third-person plural)
- We play soccer on weekends. (First-person plural)
- The cars honk loudly in traffic. (Third-person plural)
- They laugh at the jokes. (Third-person plural)
- The flowers bloom in the spring. (Third-person plural)
- We swim in the pool during summer. (First-person plural)
- The children play in the park. (Third-person plural)
- They argue about politics often. (Third-person plural)
First Person Agreement:
- I like to read books. (First-person singular)
- I run every morning for exercise. (First-person singular)
- I study hard to get good grades. (First-person singular)
- I enjoy spending time with my family. (First-person singular)
- I cook dinner for my friends. (First-person singular)
- We are going on a vacation. (First-person plural)
- We work together as a team. (First-person plural)
- We eat lunch together every day. (First-person plural)
- We celebrate birthdays with cake. (First-person plural)
- We watch movies on weekends. (First-person plural)
Second Person Agreement:
- You read books every night. (Second-person singular)
- You play the guitar beautifully. (Second-person singular)
- You study for your exams diligently. (Second-person singular)
- You enjoy listening to music. (Second-person singular)
- You are my favorite person. (Second-person singular)
- You are all invited to the party. (Second-person plural)
- You work hard for your family. (Second-person plural)
- You are talented individuals. (Second-person plural)
- You help each other in times of need. (Second-person plural)
- You are all part of the team. (Second-person plural)
Aspect | Description | Example(s) |
---|---|---|
Singular Subjects with Singular Verbs | When a singular subject is paired with a singular verb. | The cat is sleeping. |
Plural Subjects with Plural Verbs | When a plural subject is paired with a plural verb. | The dogs are barking. |
Collective Nouns and Agreement | Treatment of collective nouns as singular or plural depending on context. | The team is practicing. <br> The team are arguing among themselves. |
Indefinite Pronouns and Agreement | Agreement between indefinite pronouns and the verb based on whether they are singular or plural. | Everybody was present. <br> Some were happy with the decision. |
Subject-Verb Agreement with Compound Subjects | Agreement between verbs and compound subjects connected by “and”. | Bread and butter are his favorite breakfast. <br> The cat and the dog are playing in the yard. |
Agreement in Inverted Sentences | Agreement when the subject comes after the verb in inverted sentences. | Rarely does he complain about his workload. <br> Only then did they realize the severity of the situation. |
Agreement with Indefinite Articles | Use of singular verbs with indefinite articles, regardless of the following noun. | A book is on the table. |
Usage Tips:
- Ensure that the verb agrees with the subject in number and person.
- Be careful with collective nouns, which can be singular or plural depending on context.
- In compound subjects connected by “and”, if they refer to the same thing or person, use a singular verb. If they refer to different things or persons, use a plural verb.
Additional Notes:
- Subject-verb agreement errors can lead to confusion or ambiguity in sentences, so it’s important to pay attention to concord when writing or speaking.
- While some irregular verbs have unique forms in the past tense, they still follow the subject-verb agreement rule in the present tense.
- In informal speech or writing, there may be instances of disagreement between subject and verb, but for formal communication, adherence to concord rules is essential for clarity and correctness.
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