Concord

Rules of Concord (Subject–Verb Agreement) with Examples

Concord means the agreement between the subject and the verb in number and person.
Below are the main rules of concord, explained simply with examples.

 

1. Singular subject → singular verb

Plural subject → plural verb

• The boy runs fast.
• The boys run fast.

 

2. Two singular subjects joined by and → plural verb

• Ravi and Sita are classmates.

Exception: If they refer to one person or idea, use a singular verb.

• Bread and butter is my breakfast.

 

3. Subjects joined by or / nor → verb agrees with the nearest subject

• Either Ram or his friends are coming.
• Neither the teachers nor the principal is present.

 

4. Words like each, every, everyone, someone, anybody, nobody take a singular verb

• Everyone is happy.
• Each of the players was rewarded.

 

5. Collective nouns take:

• Singular verb when the group acts as one
• Plural verb when members act separately
• The team is winning.
• The team are arguing among themselves.

 

6. A singular subject with with, together with, along with, as well as → singular verb

• The teacher, along with the students, is present.

 

7. Plural nouns that are names of subjects or games take a singular verb

• Mathematics is my favourite subject.
• Cricket is popular in India.

 

8. Some nouns look plural but are singular

(e.g., news, furniture, advice, information)

• The news is shocking.
• Furniture is expensive.

 

9. Some nouns look singular but are plural

(e.g., police, cattle, people)

• The police are investigating the case.
• The cattle are grazing.

 

10. When the subject is a number + plural noun

• A number of students are absent. (Many)
• The number of students is increasing. (Count)
• Many a student is absent today. (more than one)

 

11. Titles of books, films, or names of countries → singular verb

• Wings of Fire is an inspiring book.
• The United States is powerful.

 

12. Distance, time, money, and weight (as a whole) → singular verb

• Ten kilometers is a long walk.
• Five hundred rupees is enough.

 

13. Either / Neither always take a singular verb

• Either of the answers is correct.
• Neither of the boys was punished.

 

14. None can take singular or plural depending on meaning

• None of the work is finished.
• None of the students are absent.

 

15. A relative pronoun agrees with its antecedent

• She is one of the students who work hard.
• He is the only one who works hard.