Subject–Verb Concord (Agreement)
1. Definition & Importance
Concord means “agreement” or “harmony.”
In English grammar, Subject–Verb Concord means that the verb must agree
with the subject in number and person.
If the subject is singular → the verb must be singular.
If the subject is plural → the verb must be plural.
✅ Correct: The boy runs fast.
❌ Wrong: The boy run fast.
Why it matters:
Ensures correctness in writing and speaking.
Plays a key role in CBSE exams, especially in error correction, gap-filling, and
writing tasks.
2. Core Rules of Subject–Verb Concord
Rule 1: Singular subject → singular verb; Plural subject → plural verb
, He plays cricket every day.
They play cricket every day.
Rule 2: Subjects joined by “and” → plural verb
Ram and Shyam are friends.
👉 Exception: If “and” refers to a single idea/unit, verb is singular:
Bread and butter is my favourite breakfast.
When two singular subjects joined by “and” refer to the same person/thing, the
verb is singular:
Example: The poet and philosopher is dead (same person).
Rule 3: Subjects joined by “or / either…or / neither…nor”
Verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
Either Rahul or his friends are coming.
Neither the teachers nor the principal is available.
Neither the principal nor the teachers are available.
Rule 4: Indefinite pronouns
Words like everyone, each, someone, anyone, nobody, everybody → Singular verb
1. Definition & Importance
Concord means “agreement” or “harmony.”
In English grammar, Subject–Verb Concord means that the verb must agree
with the subject in number and person.
If the subject is singular → the verb must be singular.
If the subject is plural → the verb must be plural.
✅ Correct: The boy runs fast.
❌ Wrong: The boy run fast.
Why it matters:
Ensures correctness in writing and speaking.
Plays a key role in CBSE exams, especially in error correction, gap-filling, and
writing tasks.
2. Core Rules of Subject–Verb Concord
Rule 1: Singular subject → singular verb; Plural subject → plural verb
, He plays cricket every day.
They play cricket every day.
Rule 2: Subjects joined by “and” → plural verb
Ram and Shyam are friends.
👉 Exception: If “and” refers to a single idea/unit, verb is singular:
Bread and butter is my favourite breakfast.
When two singular subjects joined by “and” refer to the same person/thing, the
verb is singular:
Example: The poet and philosopher is dead (same person).
Rule 3: Subjects joined by “or / either…or / neither…nor”
Verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
Either Rahul or his friends are coming.
Neither the teachers nor the principal is available.
Neither the principal nor the teachers are available.
Rule 4: Indefinite pronouns
Words like everyone, each, someone, anyone, nobody, everybody → Singular verb
