Lesson 7

Dr Acho Lesley
Lesson VII
Concord In Grammar
In grammar, concord refers to the way that a word has a form appropriate to the number
or gender of the noun or pronoun it relates to. For example, in 'She hates it', there is
concord between the singular form of the verb and the singular pronoun 'she'.
Rule 1
The verb and subject must agree in number (singular or plural)
This means that if the subject is singular, the verb should be singular and if the subject is plural,
the verb should also be plural.
Examples:
1. He plays football. (SINGULAR)
2. They play football. (PLURAL)
Rule 2
The number of the subject (singular or plural) will not change due to words/phrases in
between the subject and the verb.
Examples:
1. One of the glasses is empty. (Here, since the subject is ‘one’, the verb should be
‘is’).
2. The bouquet of red roses smells so sweet. (Here, since ‘bouquet’ is the subject and
not ‘roses’, the verb should be ‘smells’ and not ‘smell’)
Rule 3
Subjects that are joined by ‘and’ in a sentence, use a plural verb. Subjects that are joined
by ‘either/or’, neither/nor’ use a singular verb.
Examples:
1. Radha and Meera are coming home.
2. Neither John nor Roy is coming home.
3. My dad or my mom is arriving today.
Rule 4
The verb in a sentence containing ‘or’, ‘either/or’, ‘neither/nor’ agrees with the noun or
pronoun closest to it.
Examples:
1. Neither the shoes nor the bag matches the dress. (Here, ‘bag’ is closest to the verb,
hence ‘matches’)
2. Neither the bag nor the shoes match the dress. (Here, ‘shoes’ is closest to the verb,
hence ‘match’)
Rule 5
When the subject is followed by words such as ‘as well as’, ‘along with’, ‘besides’, ‘not’ etc.
ignore them and use a singular verb if the subject is singular.
Examples:
1. Matt, as well as his dog, is expected shortly.
2. Peter, along with his brother, is going to school.
Rule 6
In sentences that begin with ‘here’, ‘there’, the true subject usually follows the verb.
Examples:
1. Here are the chocolates.
2. There is a big puddle on the road.
Rule 7
In sentences that include sums of money, periods of time or distances etc. (as a unit), use
singular verbs.
Examples:
1. 500 Fcfa is a high price to pay.
2. 62 years is the minimum age of retirement.
3. 10 kilometers is too far to walk.
Rule 8
In the case of words such as ‘a lot of’, all’, ‘some’ etc. in a sentence, pay attention to the
noun after ‘of’. If the noun after ‘of’ is singular then use a singular verb, if plural, use a
plural verb.
Examples:
1. All of the cake is gone.
2. All of the cakes are gone.
3. A lot of the cake is gone.
4. A lot of the cakes are gone.
5. Some of the cake is gone.
6. Some of the cakes are gone.
Rule 9
In the case of collective nouns such as ‘group, ‘population’, ‘family’, in a sentence, the verb
can be singular or plural depending on their use in the sentence.
Examples:
1. Most of my family is here OR are here.
2. Half of the population was against the bill OR were against the bill.
Rule 10
Nouns such as ‘mathematics’, ‘civics’, ‘news’ etc. while plural in form, are singular in
meaning and use singular verbs.
Examples:
1. Mathematics is very difficult for some people.

2. The news is very saddening.
Rule 11
In sentences that express a wish, request or contrary to fact, the word ‘were’ is used
instead of ‘was.
Examples:
1. I wish my sister were here.
2. Aditya requested that she raise her glass.
Question: Choose the correct subject verb combinations in the sentences below.
a. The lady in the car (look/looks) like your mother.
b. Most of the milk (is/are) gone.
c. One of the flowers (has/have) wilted.
d. Either Jay or Jerry (is/are) coming today.
e. Here (is/are) the newspaper.
f. The group of dancers (is/are) here.
g. Civics (is/are) my favorite subject.
Homophones
What are homophones?
Homophones are two or more words that sound the same (identical pronunciation), but have
different meanings. These words are often spelt differently in English too (e.g. pear vs. pair).
The term homophone comes from Greek ‘homo-’ (meaning: same) and ‘-phone’ (meaning:
sound or voice), so the word literally means: ‘same sound’.
Examples of Homophones
1. One, won
One (noun): The number that comes after 0 but before 2.

My son is one year old today.
Won (verb): The past tense of ‘win’.

The football team won two games in a row.
2. Two, to, too
Two (noun): The number that comes after 1 and before 3, a pair.
He bought two packets of crisps.
To (preposition): In the direction of a particular location.

I am going to the shop.
Too (adverb): To a higher degree than desired, also.

The girl was too tired to work. I was tired too.
3. Four, for
Four (noun): The number that comes after 3 and before 5.

The clock struck four.
For (preposition): If someone receives something, if something is done for a reason.

I bought John some sweets for his birthday (for him to eat).
4. Steak, stake
Steak (noun): Prime cut of meat, usually beef.

My all-time favourite meal is steak and chips.
Stake (noun): A strong wooden post with a sharp point at one end.
Vampires can only be killed with a stake through the heart!
5. Pear, pair
Pear (noun): Common type of fruit.

Would you like a pear from the garden?
Pair (noun): A set of two things (often used together).

He couldn’t find a matching pair of socks.
6. Bread, bred
Bread (noun): Type of food.

Our local bakery sells the best wholemeal bread for miles!
Bred (verb): Past tense form of ‘breed’ – to raise or develop animal stock.
In the past, many farmers bred rabbits for meat and fur.
7. Meat, meet
Meat (noun): Food from the flesh of an animal.

The hotel guests got food poisoning because the meat wasn’t cooked properly.
Meet (verb): Arrange or happen to cross paths with somebody.

I’m going to meet my friend at the train station this evening.
8. Wine, whine
Wine (noun): Alcoholic drink made from fermented grapes.

Chilled white wine goes well with fish.
Whine (noun/verb): Long high-pitched cry, complain.

The little dog shivered by the door and let out a whine.
9. Grate, great
Grate (verb): Shred into small pieces using a food grater.

The recipe says we need to grate the cheese into the sauce.
Great (adjective): Large, prominent, very good.
The Great White Shark is a great hunter!
10. Sauce, source
Sauce (noun): Liquid used to add flavour to food.

This Chinese cooking sauce uses a variety of citrus fruits.
Source (noun): Origin, cause of something.

Citrus fruits are a good source of vitamin C.
11. Sweet, suite
Sweet (noun/adjective): Candy, food with a sugary taste.

If you eat up all your vegetables, I’ll let you have one more sweet!
Suite (noun): Set of rooms or technical instruments.

The journalist interviewed the rock star in his London hotel suite.
12. Deer, dear
Deer (noun): Large animal with antlers, similar to a small elk or moose.
Some UK farmers keep deer and breed them for their meat (venison).
Dear (noun/adjective): Beloved person, expensive.

The wedding ring you’ve chosen is a bit too dear, my Dear!
13. I, eye
I (pronoun): Used by a speaker to refer to himself/herself.

I did not enjoy the film.
Eye (noun): The pair of organs that allow us to see.

He is blind in one eye.
14. Which, witch

Which (pronoun/determiner): Used when asking for information about people or things.
Which of these shirts do you like best?
Witch (noun): Woman with magic powers, usually evil ones.

I’m dressing up as a witch for Halloween this year.
Writing
How to write a Curriculum vitae (CV)

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Dr Acho Lesley

The verb and subject must agree in number (singular or plural)

1. He plays football. (SINGULAR)

2. They play football. (PLURAL)

1. Radha and Meera are coming home.

2. Neither John nor Roy is coming home.

3. My dad or my mom is arriving today.

1. Matt, as well as his dog, is expected shortly.

2. Peter, along with his brother, is going to school.

1. Here are the chocolates.

2. There is a big puddle on the road.

1. 500 Fcfa is a high price to pay.

2. 62 years is the minimum age of retirement.

3. 10 kilometers is too far to walk.

1. All of the cake is gone.

2. All of the cakes are gone.

3. A lot of the cake is gone.

4. A lot of the cakes are gone.

5. Some of the cake is gone.

6. Some of the cakes are gone.

1. Most of my family is here OR are here.

1. Mathematics is very difficult for some people.

1. I wish my sister were here.

2. Aditya requested that she raise her glass.

a. The lady in the car (look/looks) like your mother.

b. Most of the milk (is/are) gone.

c. One of the flowers (has/have) wilted.

d. Either Jay or Jerry (is/are) coming today.

e. Here (is/are) the newspaper.

f. The group of dancers (is/are) here.

g. Civics (is/are) my favorite subject.

What are homophones?

One (noun): The number that comes after 0 but before 2.

Won (verb): The past tense of ‘win’.

2. Two, to, too

To (preposition): In the direction of a particular location.

Too (adverb): To a higher degree than desired, also.

Four (noun): The number that comes after 3 and before 5.

For (preposition): If someone receives something, if something is done for a reason.

Steak (noun): Prime cut of meat, usually beef.

Pear (noun): Common type of fruit.

Pair (noun): A set of two things (often used together).

Bread (noun): Type of food.

Meat (noun): Food from the flesh of an animal.

Meet (verb): Arrange or happen to cross paths with somebody.

Wine (noun): Alcoholic drink made from fermented grapes.

Whine (noun/verb): Long high-pitched cry, complain.

Grate (verb): Shred into small pieces using a food grater.

10. Sauce, source

Sauce (noun): Liquid used to add flavour to food.

Source (noun): Origin, cause of something.

11. Sweet, suite

Sweet (noun/adjective): Candy, food with a sugary taste.

Suite (noun): Set of rooms or technical instruments.

12. Deer, dear

Dear (noun/adjective): Beloved person, expensive.

I (pronoun): Used by a speaker to refer to himself/herself.

Eye (noun): The pair of organs that allow us to see.

14. Which, witch