Education
English Concord, Types, Examples and 50 Objectives Questions
English Concord, also known as subject-verb agreement, is a fundamental aspect of English grammar that ensures harmony and consistency between the subject and the verb in a sentence. Concord requires that the verb form agrees in number and person with the subject of the sentence. In other words, a singular subject should be paired with a singular verb, and a plural subject should be paired with a plural verb.
Let’s explore the different types of concord in English with copious examples:
- Singular Subject with Singular Verb:
- The dog barks loudly.
- She sings beautifully.
- The car drives smoothly.
- The book is on the table.
- Plural Subject with Plural Verb:
- The cats meow in unison.
- They play soccer every weekend.
- The birds chirp melodiously.
- The flowers bloom in spring.
- Indefinite Pronouns and Concord:
- Everyone is invited to the party.
- Somebody has taken my pen.
- Nobody knows the answer.
- Each of the students has his or her own book.
- Collective Nouns and Concord:
- The team is practicing for the match.
- The committee agrees on the proposal.
- The jury has reached a verdict.
- The audience applauds enthusiastically.
- Subject-Verb Concord with “Either/Neither…nor”:
- Neither John nor his friends are coming to the party.
- Either she or her sister is responsible for the mess.
- Neither the book nor the movie is worth your time.
- Either the cat or the dog needs to be fed.
- Subject-Verb Concord with “Not only…but also”:
- Not only the students but also the teacher was excited about the field trip.
- Not only the flowers but also the trees are in full bloom.
- Not only the car but also the motorcycle needs repairs.
- Not only the cake but also the cookies were delicious.
- Subject-Verb Concord with “One of/Each of”:
- One of the apples is rotten.
- Each of the students has completed the assignment.
- One of the books is missing.
- Each of the boys knows how to swim.
- Subject-Verb Concord with “A number of/The majority of”:
- A number of people were present at the event.
- The majority of voters support the new law.
- A number of cars were parked outside.
- The majority of the students are studying for the exam.
- Subject-Verb Concord with “The only/All”:
- The only thing that matters is your happiness.
- All my friends are coming to the party.
- The only person who knows the truth is her.
- All the books on the shelf belong to me.
Understanding and applying concord correctly in English grammar is crucial for maintaining proper sentence structure and coherence. By ensuring subject-verb agreement, concord helps convey meaning accurately and improves the overall clarity of communication in written and spoken English.
Objective Questions on English Concord:
- What is concord in English grammar? Answer: Concord refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence.
- Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct subject-verb concord? a) The cat chase the mouse. b) The cat chases the mouse. c) The cat chasing the mouse. d) The cat chases mice. Answer: b) The cat chases the mouse.
- Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct pronoun-antecedent concord? a) Each of the boys have his own book. b) Each of the boys has his own book. c) Each of the boys have their own book. d) Each of the boys has their own book. Answer: b) Each of the boys has his own book.
- Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “She _______ to the park every morning.” a) go b) goes c) going d) went Answer: b) goes
- Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement? a) The books is on the table. b) The books are on the table. c) The books am on the table. d) The books be on the table. Answer: b) The books are on the table.
- Identify the correct concord in the sentence: “Neither the cats nor the dog _____ friendly.” a) is b) are c) were d) be Answer: a) is
- Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the sentence: “My sister and I _______ going to the concert.” a) am b) is c) are d) be Answer: c) are
- Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct concord with indefinite pronouns? a) Everyone were invited to the party. b) Everyone was invited to the party. c) Everyone is invited to the party. d) Everyone be invited to the party. Answer: b) Everyone was invited to the party.
- Select the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “The group of students ________ for their exams.” a) study b) studies c) studying d) studied Answer: b) studies
- Identify the correct concord in the sentence: “One of the boys _______ the team captain.” a) is b) are c) were d) be Answer: a) is
- Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “Each of the students ________ a different language.” a) speak b) speaks c) speaking d) spoke Answer: b) speaks
- Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct subject-verb concord? a) The child plays in the garden. b) The child play in the garden. c) The child is playing in the garden. d) The child has played in the garden. Answer: a) The child plays in the garden.
- Select the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “Many of the students ________ the assignment on time.” a) submit b) submits c) submitting d) submitted Answer: a) submit
- Identify the correct concord in the sentence: “Either the cat or the dog _______ causing the trouble.” a) is b) are c) were d) be Answer: a) is
- Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “Everyone in the room ________ their hand.” a) raise b) raises c) raising d) raised Answer: b) raises
- Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct concord with collective nouns? a) The team were celebrating their victory. b) The team was celebrating its victory. c) The team is celebrating their victory. d) The team are celebrating its victory. Answer: b) The team was celebrating its victory.
- What is the correct form of the verb to complete the sentence: “The committee ________ a decision yesterday.” a) make b) makes c) making d) made Answer: d) made
- Identify the correct concord in the sentence: “The group of musicians _______ practicing their instruments.” a) is b) are c) were d) be Answer: b) are
- Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “My dog and yours ________ best friends.” a) is b) are c) was d) be Answer: b) are
- Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement? a) Each of the answers were correct. b) Each of the answers was correct. c) Each of the answers is correct. d) Each of the answers be correct. Answer: b) Each of the answers was correct.
- Select the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “The company ________ a new product next month.” a) launch b) launches c) launching d) launched Answer: b) launches
- Identify the correct concord in the sentence: “Not only the students but also the teacher _______ excited about the field trip.” a) is b) are c) were d) be Answer: a) is
- Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “Each of the cars ________ a different color.” a) have b) has c) having d) had Answer: b) has
- Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct pronoun-antecedent concord? a) Everybody has their own opinions. b) Everybody have their own opinions. c) Everybody has his own opinions. d) Everybody have his own opinions. Answer: c) Everybody has his own opinions.
- Select the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “The river ________ through the valley.” a) wind b) winds c) winding d) wound Answer: b) winds
- Identify the correct concord in the sentence: “Ten percent of the students _______ late for class.” a) is b) are c) were d) be Answer: b) are
- Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “Each of the flowers ________ a unique fragrance.” a) emit b) emits c) emitting d) emitted Answer: b) emits
- Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct subject-verb concord? a) The bird sings beautifully. b) The bird sing beautifully. c) The bird is singing beautifully. d) The bird had sung beautifully. Answer: a) The bird sings beautifully.
- Select the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “A group of friends ________ for a picnic in the park.” a) leave b) leaves c) leaving d) left Answer: b) leaves
- Identify the correct concord in the sentence: “Neither the students nor the teacher _______ happy with the test results.” a) is b) are c) were d) be Answer: a) is
- Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “The book, along with the pen, ________ on the desk.” a) lie b) lies c) lying d) laid Answer: b) lies
- What is the correct form of the verb to complete the sentence: “The news ________ me by surprise.” a) take b) takes c) taking d) took Answer: d) took
- Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct concord with indefinite pronouns? a) Some of the cake were eaten. b) Some of the cake was eaten. c) Some of the cake are eaten. d) Some of the cake be eaten. Answer: b) Some of the cake was eaten.
- Select the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “The population of the city ________ rapidly.” a) grow b) grows c) growing d) grew Answer: b) grows
- Identify the correct concord in the sentence: “Both the mother and the daughter _______ blue eyes.” a) has b) have c) had d) be Answer: b) have
- Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “Neither of the options ________ suitable.” a) is b) are c) was d) be Answer: a) is
- Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement? a) The apples was ripe. b) The apples were ripe. c) The apples is ripe. d) The apples be ripe. Answer: b) The apples were ripe.
- Select the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “The team ________ their victory with a celebration.” a) celebrate b) celebrates c) celebrating d) celebrated Answer: b) celebrates
- Identify the correct concord in the sentence: “Every one of the apples _______ rotten.” a) is b) are c) were d) be Answer: a) is
- Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “Each of the students ________ their homework.” a) complete b) completes c) completing d) completed Answer: b) completes
- What is the correct form of the verb to complete the sentence: “The new employee ________ her colleagues well.” a) like b) likes c) liking d) liked Answer: b) likes
- Select the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “The committee ________ the proposal yesterday.” a) approve b) approves c) approving d) approved Answer: d) approved
- Identify the correct concord in the sentence: “Not only the books but also the notebook _______ missing.” a) is b) are c) were d) be Answer: a) is
- Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “Each of the employees ________ an important role.” a) play b) plays c) playing d) played Answer: b) plays
- Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct pronoun-antecedent concord? a) Everyone can bring their own lunch. b) Everyone can bring his own lunch. c) Everyone can bring its own lunch. d) Everyone can bring her own lunch. Answer: a) Everyone can bring their own lunch.
- Select the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “The package ________ delivered tomorrow.” a) deliver b) delivers c) delivering d) delivered Answer: b) delivers
- Identify the correct concord in the sentence: “Each of the boys _______ a different sport.” a) play b) plays c) playing d) played Answer: b) plays
- Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “The dog, along with its puppies, ________ for a walk.” a) go b) goes c) going d) went Answer: b) goes
- Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct subject-verb concord? a) The flowers blooms in spring. b) The flowers bloom in spring. c) The flowers is blooming in spring. d) The flowers had bloomed in spring. Answer: b) The flowers bloom in spring.
- Select the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “A series of books ________ released by the author.” a) is b) are c) was d) be Answer: a) is
Concord, also known as subject-verb agreement, is an essential aspect of English grammar. It ensures that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number and person. Here are the various types of concord in English grammar, along with explanations:
- Singular Subject with Singular Verb: When the subject of a sentence is singular, it should be paired with a singular verb. For example:
- The dog barks loudly.
- She sings beautifully.
- The car drives smoothly.
- The book is on the table.
- Plural Subject with Plural Verb: When the subject of a sentence is plural, it should be paired with a plural verb. For example:
- The cats meow in unison.
- They play soccer every weekend.
- The birds chirp melodiously.
- The flowers bloom in spring.
- Indefinite Pronouns and Concord: Indefinite pronouns, such as everyone, somebody, nobody, and each, require singular verbs. For example:
- Everyone is invited to the party.
- Somebody has taken my pen.
- Nobody knows the answer.
- Each of the students has his or her own book.
- Collective Nouns and Concord: Collective nouns, which refer to groups of people or things, can take singular or plural verbs depending on the context. For example:
- The team is practicing for the match. (singular verb)
- The committee agrees on the proposal. (singular verb)
- The jury has reached a verdict. (singular verb)
- The audience applauds enthusiastically. (singular verb)
- Subject-Verb Concord with “Either/Neither…nor”: When using “either…or” or “neither…nor” to connect two subjects, the verb agrees with the closer subject. For example:
- Neither John nor his friends are coming to the party.
- Either she or her sister is responsible for the mess.
- Neither the book nor the movie is worth your time.
- Either the cat or the dog needs to be fed.
- Subject-Verb Concord with “Not only…but also”: When using “not only…but also” to connect two subjects, the verb agrees with the closer subject. For example:
- Not only the students but also the teacher was excited about the field trip.
- Not only the flowers but also the trees are in full bloom.
- Not only the car but also the motorcycle needs repairs.
- Not only the cake but also the cookies were delicious.
- Subject-Verb Concord with “One of/Each of”: When using “one of” or “each of” before a plural noun, the verb remains singular. For example:
- One of the apples is rotten.
- Each of the students has completed the assignment.
- One of the books is missing.
- Each of the boys knows how to swim.
- Subject-Verb Concord with “A number of/The majority of”: When using “a number of” or “the majority of” before a plural noun, the verb remains plural. For example:
- A number of people were present at the event.
- The majority of voters support the new law.
- A number of cars were parked outside.
- The majority of the students are studying for the exam.
Understanding these different types of concord is crucial for maintaining proper subject-verb agreement in English grammar. By using the appropriate verb form based on the subject, we ensure clarity and accuracy in our communication.