lecture xi- xiii sub- verb concord
TRANSCRIPT
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Subject-verb Concord
Prepared by:Dr. PARUL MISHRA
ASSISTANT PROFESSORDCE, GURGAON
Introduction:
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Concord, also termed “agreement”, can be defined as “the relationship between two grammatical units such that one of them displays a particular feature (e.g. plurality) that accords with a displayed (or semantically implicit) feature in the other. ”
Concord refers to the agreement relationship between two grammatical units.
Subject-verb concord
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The most important type of the concord is:
The number agreement between the subject and the verb.
2. Grammatical concord
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The Verb must match its subject both in person and number. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.
e.g. Each boy has his own book. Two girls were standing on the corner. Much effort is wasted.
Notional concord: agreement in meaning
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The verb can sometimes agree with the subject according to the notion of number rather than to the actual presence of the grammatical marker of that notion.
e.g. Fifteen miles seems like a long walk to me. The government have asked the country to
decide by a vote.
3. Proximity
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noun phrase in preference to with the head of the noun phrase that functions as subject.
The verb should agree with the closer of the two subjects.
e.g. Either you or I am responsible for the mistake.
No one except his own supporters agree with him.
Brief summary of the three principles
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The grammatical concord is the basic principle, and generally applies to formal English. The other two, on the otherhand, play an auxiliary role in informal english.
Usually grammatical concord and notional concord coincide. Problems often arise when the grammatical concord comes into the conflict with the other two.
Problems of concord with collective nouns as subject
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Collective nouns are singular in form but plural in meaning.
The choice between grammatical and notional concord is mostly governed by usage.
Gentry, Mankind, Police, Cattle, Poultry, Clergy, Peasantry, Vermin, Nation, Folk, Public, Committee, Team, Jury.
Ex: The Committee has passed the decision. The Committee were divided in the decision.
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1. Disease and game names ending in –s1. Disease and game names ending in –s They are mostly treated as singulars.They are mostly treated as singulars. A few such names can be used either as singular A few such names can be used either as singular
or as plural.or as plural. 2. Subject names ending in –ics2. Subject names ending in –ics Such names are generally singular nouns, but Such names are generally singular nouns, but
some such nouns are treated as plural when used some such nouns are treated as plural when used in other senses than subject names. in other senses than subject names.
3. Geographical names ending in –s3. Geographical names ending in –s Plural except for a few treated as singular when Plural except for a few treated as singular when
used as country names.used as country names.
Problems of concord with nouns ending in -s
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Other nouns ending in –s measles, mumps, goods, wages,
premises, thanks, riches, pantaloons, stockings, mathematics, economics,
gymnastics, news, mechanics, classics, ethics, innings, gymnastics, billiards, arms, trousers, calipers, compasses, flares, forceps/ tongs,
glasses/bifocals, jeans, pants, pincers, pliers, scales, scissors, shades, shorts,
suspenders, spectacles, [email protected]
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problems of concord with collective nouns as subject
1) Collective nouns usually used as plural People, police, cattle, military , poultry, vermin,
etc.2) Collective nouns usually used as singular
Foliage, cutlery, poetry, machinery, equipment, furniture, merchandise, etc.
3) Collective nouns used either as plural or as singular
Couple, crew, government, majority, opposition , etc
4) A committee, etc + plural noun A committee /jury/ board / panel of
Collective nouns used as plural
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They include people, police, cattle, poultry, vermin etc.
e.g. The police are searching for the murderer.Domestic cattle provide us with milk, beef
and hides. Poultry are less expensive in rural areas.
Collective nouns used as Singular
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They include foliage, machinery, furniture, jewelry, merchandise, etc.
e.g. All the machinery in that country is made in
China. Jewelry is no longer a mark of wealth.
Collective nouns used either as plural or as singular
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They include army, audience, family, team, committee, class, etc.
The choice of the verb form depends on the exact meaning of the noun in a specific context.
when the noun is used as a whole, the verb takes the singular form. If the noun is used as the individuals that make the collective, the verb takes the plural form.
Examples:
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during the intermission. The audience are listening to a Beethoven
symphony.
The class are busy taking notes. The class is a modal one.
Problems of concord with nouns ending in -s
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The regular plural is formed by adding –s or –es to the base.
Quite a few nouns ending in –s are uncountable.
Some are treated as singular, some as plural, and some either as singular or as plural.
Disease and game names ending in –s
They are mostly treated as singular.
e.g.Mumps is a kind of infectious disease.Generally, measles occurs in children.
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Subject names ending in –ics
They are generally singular nouns, but some are treated as plural when used in
other senses.e.g.
Mathematics is the study of numbers.His mathematics are not good.
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2)Subject names ending in – ics
Such names aregenerally singular nouns, but some such
nouns are treated as plural when used in other senses than subject
names. acoustics, classics, electronics, information, linguistics, mechanics,
optics, plastics, thermodynamics, [email protected]
Geographical names ending in –s
They are usually used as plural except a few country names..
e.g.The Himalayas have a magnificent variety
of plant and animal life.The West Indies are commonly divided into
two parts.
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Country names ending with -s
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* The United States is a country of people with varied origins.
The United Nations was founded in 1945.
other nouns ending in –s
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Names for things made of two parts such as scissors, glasses, trousers, shorts, etc. are used as plural.
His trousers are torn. Nouns usually taking plural endings such
as arms, clothes, contents, goods, etc. are used as plurals.
High wages often result in high prices.
Problems of concord with a coordinate subject
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Coordination with “and” or “both… and” It is usually treated as plural when it refers to
two or more persons/things, but as singular when it refers to only one person or thing.
e.g.Peter and Bob are deadly rivals.Both John and his son have gone fishing.
More examples:
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*The poet and musician visits our school today.
Ham and egg is a good breakfast. Every boy and every girl was asked to
complete the form.
coordination with “or”/ “either… or”, “nor”/ “neither… nor”, “not only… but
also”
It is generally dealt with according to the principle of proximity.
e.g.Neither you nor your husband is responsible for
the mistake. Not only the students but also their teacher has
participated in the game. 05/01/23
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subject + as well as, in addition to, together with, etc.
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with the principle of the grammatical concord.e.g. The President, as well as his advisors, was aware of
the risk of the mission. The head coach, together with his team, was
overjoyed when they won the NBA final.
Expressions of quantity as subject
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Definite quantity as subject a. When it is regarded a single unit, the
verb takes a singular form. Six months is too short a time. A hundred dollars is a large sum of money
to a university student.
“a fraction/percentage + of-phrase” as subject
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The verb form is determined by the noun in the of-phrase.
e.g. Over 60% of the city was destroyed in the
war. Two-thirds of the students are willing to
take the test.
“one in/out of + plural noun” as subject
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The verb takes the singular form in formal style, but plural in informal style.
e.g. One in ten students has / have failed the
exam.
Indefinite quantity as subject
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a. “all of, some of, none of, half of + noun” as subject
The verb is determined by the noun in of-phrase.
e.g. Some of the money has been stolen. Half of the students are girls.
b. “a portion of, a series of, a pile of, or this kind/sort/type of, +
noun” as subject
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The verb invariably takes the singular form. e.g.A substantial portion of the report is missing.
A series of accidents has been reported.
c. “many a/more than one + noun” as subject
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This kind of noun phrase, though notionally plural, is treated as singular.
e.g. Many a man has done his duty. More than one student has failed the exam.
Other problems
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Nominal clauses as subject Generally, a one-clause subject takes the
singular verb, and a two-clause subject, the plural verb.
e.g.What caused the accident was a complete
mystery.What he did and what he said are totally
different.*What she wanted from him were just promises.
Non-finite clauses
The verb usually as subject takes the singular form.
e.g. Playing tennis is a very good exercise.
To eat well is all he asks.* Singing and dancing are her favorite
hobbies. To eat to live and to live to eat constitute two different attitudes
towards life.05/01/23
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Concord in existential sentence
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The verb agrees with the notional subject.e.g. There is a note left on the desk. There are three routes you can take.*There is a sofa and two chairs in the room.
(principle of proximity)
Concord in relative clauses
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a. In the construction of “one of + plural noun + relative clause”, the principle of proximity is generally preferred (especially in BE).
e.g. She is one of the girls who have trouble
making up their minds.
b. When one is premodified by the or the only/very , the verb can only be singular.
e.g. She is the only one of her family who
has trouble making up her mind.05/01/23
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Exercises :
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391. The committee ( has, have) agreed to the
proposal.2. The suite of furniture he bought (was, were)
of contemporary design. 3. The statistics on traffic accidents in this city
(is, are) increasing 4. The New York Times (is, are) published
daily..
5. War and peace (is, are) a constant theme in history.
6. Thirty miles (seems, seem) a long walk to me.
7. Many a boy (was, were) disappointed after seeing the film.
8. There (is, are) more than one answer to
the question.
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9. All of the fruit (looks, look) ripe.10. The greater part of the valley (was,
were) flooded.11. What they want (is, are) some
financial aids.12. She is the only one of these
women who never (cares, care) her look.
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Assignment:
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421. The Secretary asked us the immediately assemble in the hall . 2. He promised to soon send the article .3. You should not hesitate to once more check the figures .4. She was asked to thoroughly revise the draft .5. Why has these letters not been posted.6. One of the vice –presidents have resigned.7. When it rains , dust turn into mud.8. The furnitures you wish to buy is very expensive.9. His good were stolen in transit.10. The committee have submitted its report.11. The jury have given its verdict .12. Neither the members nor the chairman have turned up for the
meeting.13. All the students has gone.14. Three mile a day is a good walk.15. To succeed as a speaker , the preparation must be [email protected]
