Understand Verb Concord – English Grammar

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:

  1. The cat purrs softly. (Third-person singular)
  2. He runs every morning. (Third-person singular)
  3. The sun shines brightly. (Third-person singular)
  4. She dances gracefully. (Third-person singular)
  5. The flower blooms beautifully. (Third-person singular)
  6. It rains heavily in the summer. (Third-person singular)
  7. The bird sings melodiously. (Third-person singular)
  8. He swims like a champion. (Third-person singular)
  9. The clock ticks loudly. (Third-person singular)
  10. She studies diligently for her exams. (Third-person singular)

Plural Subject-Verb Agreement:

  1. The birds chirp cheerfully. (Third-person plural)
  2. They work hard every day. (Third-person plural)
  3. The students study together in groups. (Third-person plural)
  4. We play soccer on weekends. (First-person plural)
  5. The cars honk loudly in traffic. (Third-person plural)
  6. They laugh at the jokes. (Third-person plural)
  7. The flowers bloom in the spring. (Third-person plural)
  8. We swim in the pool during summer. (First-person plural)
  9. The children play in the park. (Third-person plural)
  10. They argue about politics often. (Third-person plural)

First Person Agreement:

  1. I like to read books. (First-person singular)
  2. I run every morning for exercise. (First-person singular)
  3. I study hard to get good grades. (First-person singular)
  4. I enjoy spending time with my family. (First-person singular)
  5. I cook dinner for my friends. (First-person singular)
  6. We are going on a vacation. (First-person plural)
  7. We work together as a team. (First-person plural)
  8. We eat lunch together every day. (First-person plural)
  9. We celebrate birthdays with cake. (First-person plural)
  10. We watch movies on weekends. (First-person plural)

Second Person Agreement:

  1. You read books every night. (Second-person singular)
  2. You play the guitar beautifully. (Second-person singular)
  3. You study for your exams diligently. (Second-person singular)
  4. You enjoy listening to music. (Second-person singular)
  5. You are my favorite person. (Second-person singular)
  6. You are all invited to the party. (Second-person plural)
  7. You work hard for your family. (Second-person plural)
  8. You are talented individuals. (Second-person plural)
  9. You help each other in times of need. (Second-person plural)
  10. You are all part of the team. (Second-person plural)
AspectDescriptionExample(s)
Singular Subjects with Singular VerbsWhen a singular subject is paired with a singular verb.The cat is sleeping.
Plural Subjects with Plural VerbsWhen a plural subject is paired with a plural verb.The dogs are barking.
Collective Nouns and AgreementTreatment of collective nouns as singular or plural depending on context.The team is practicing. <br> The team are arguing among themselves.
Indefinite Pronouns and AgreementAgreement 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 SubjectsAgreement 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 SentencesAgreement 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 ArticlesUse 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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