Rules of Concord or Subject - Verb Agreement

Rules of concord refer to the relationship between the subject and verb in a
sentence. The verb must agree with the subject in number. Number refers to
whether the subject is singular (one) or plural (more than one).
The following are examples of the rules of concord.
1) A singular subject takes a singular verb, or if the subject is singular, the verb
should be singular, for example, He runs. She is a lovely person. The man
was here. He run is incorrect because he is singular while run is plural.
2) A plural subject takes a plural verb, or if the subject is plural, the verb should
be plural, for example, The men are playing cards. The people use public
transportation. We study hard. The men is playing cards is incorrect because
men is plural while is is singular.
3) When a sentence has two or more singular subjects joined by and the verb
should be plural, for example, The boy and the girl are related. The book,
pen and pencil are on the table.
4) A singular subject that is followed by a phrase or a clause takes a singular
verb, for example, One of the cars has a wheel missing. The boy, who has the
cars, is here. The girl, with several others, was late. Jane, like Kim, is smart.
July, as well as August, is one of the months of the year.
5) When a sentence has one or more plural subjects joined by and, the verb
should be plural, for example, The men and the baby are waiting in the
hallway. The girls and the boys work together.
6) Two singular subjects joined by either ..... or, neither ... nor should be
followed by a singular verb, for example, Either he or she is right. Neither
Jonn nor June knows the answer.
7) Plural subjects joined by either ... or, neither ... nor should be followed by a
plural verb, for example, Either the men or the women are in the room.
Neither the girls nor the boys have cricket bats.
8) Expressions such as each of, one of, neither of, either of, every one of, not
one of, and words such as each, every, everything, anybody, everybody,
anything, nothing, and nobody should be followed by a singular verb, as in,
Everybody is here. One of the mangoes is ripe. Each of the students has a
bag.
9) The pronouns several, few, both, and many are plural so should be followed
by a plural verb, for example, Few of the boys have failed to graduate.
Several of the students are late. Both May and June are here. Many of you
have done well.
10) The pronouns some, all, most, any, and none are singular when they refer to
a singular word, so should be followed by a singular verb. If they refer to a
plural word they should be followed by a plural verb.
Some of the water is cold.
Some of the books are old.
All of the food is eaten.
All of the cars are new.
11) When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by neither ...
nor, either ... or, the verb should agree with the subject nearer to the verb,
for example, Neither Jonn nor his friends have the answer.
Neither the women nor the boy is here today.
Either Jane or the boys have the books.
Either the boys or Jane has the books.
Alternately, when two subjects differing in number are joined by either ... or,
neither ... nor and one of the subjects is plural, the plural subject should be
placed second and the verb agreeing with it, for example, Either Jane or the
boys have the books. Neither Jonn nor his friends have the answer.
12) Collective nouns may be either singular or plural so should agree in number.
(See section under Nouns.)
13) Words stating amount, time, distance and quantity, when thought of as a
unit, are usually singular so should be followed by a singular verb, for
example, A million dollars is a lot of money. Twenty days was the time you
were given. Four fifths of the cake was eaten.
If the amount is referring to a plural word, then the verb should be plural, for
example, Three quarters of the girls are playing basketball.
14) The title of a work of art, literature or music, even when plural in form,
should be followed by a singular verb, for example, Spelling Strategies is my
favourite spelling book.
15) When the subject follows the verb as in sentences beginning with there and
here and in questions, find the subject and make sure the verb agrees with it.
Here is a book for you.
There are blocks on the table.
There are my friends in the class.
Where are the students?
There are many old books under the table.
16) Some nouns - news, mumphs, physics, politics, measles and rickets - are plural
in form but take a singular verb, for example, The news is at seven oclock.
17) Nouns such as pants, trousers, jeans, scissors, eyeglasses, and tweezers are
singular in intent but always take a plural verb, for example, The jeans are her size.