Hy dearie wanna know jamb English syllabus?
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Check this out......
Note: The JAMB English syllabus consists of three sections:
SECTION A: Comprehension/Summary
SECTION B: Lexis and Structure, and
SECTION C: Oral Forms
A. Comprehension/Summary
Topics/Contents/Notes:
(a) description
(b) narration
(c) exposition
(d) argumentation/persuasion
(i) Each of the two passages to be set (one will be a cloze test) should reflect various disciplines and be about 200 words long.
(ii) Questions on the passages will test the following:
(a) Comprehension of the whole or part of each passage.
(b) Comprehension of words, phrases, clauses, sentences, figures of speech and idioms as used in the passages.
(c) Coherence and logical reasoning (deductions, inferences, etc).
(d) “Sweet Sixteen” by Bolaji Abdullahi
(e) Synthesis of ideas from the passages.
NOTE:
By synthesis of ideas is meant the art of combining distinct or separate pieces of information to form a complete whole.
ObjectHeistress
Candidates should be able to:
i. identify main points/topic sentences in passages;
ii. determine implied meaning;
iii. identify the grammatical functions of words, phrases, clauses and figurative/idiomatic expressions;
iv. deduce or infer the writer’s intentions including mood, attitude to the subject matter and opinion.
B. Lexis and Structure
Topics/Contents/Notes:
(a) synonyms
(b) antonyms
(c) homonyms
(d) clause and sentence patterns
(e) word classes and their functions
(f) mood, tense, aspect, number, agreement/concord, degree (positive, comparative and superlative) and question tags
(g) punctuation and spelling
(h) ordinary usage, figurative usage and idiomatic usage are to be tested.
NOTE:
Idioms to be tested shall be those that are formal and expressed in standard British English.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
i. identify words and expressions in their ordinary, figurative and idiomatic contexts;
ii. determine similar and opposite meaning of words;
iii. differentiate between correct and incorrect punctuation and spelling;
iv. identify various grammatical patterns in use;
v. interpret information conveyed in sentences.
C. Oral Forms
Topics/Contents/Notes:
(a) Vowels (monothongs and diphthongs
(b) Consonants (including clusters)
(c) Rhymes (including homophones)
(d) Word stress (monosyllabic and polysyllabic)
(e) Intonation (words emphatic stress)
NOTE:
Emphatic stress involves the placement of normal stress on words in an utterance for the purpose of emphasis.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
i. make distinctions between vowel types;
ii. differentiate between consonant types;
iii. identify correct accentuation in individual words and connected speech.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE EXAMINATION
SECTION A: Comprehension/Summary
Topics:
(a) 1 comprehension passage – 5 questions
(b) I cloze passage – 10 questions
(c) 1 reading text – 10 questions
SECTION B: Lexis Structure
Topics:
(a) Sentence interpretation – 5 questions
(b) Antonyms – 5 questions
(c) Synonyms – 5 questions
(d) Sentence completion – 10 questions
SECTION C: Oral Forms
Topics:
10 questions
Total: 60 questions
JAMB English Recommended Textbooks
Attah, M. O. (2013). Practice in Spoken English for Intermediate and Advanced Learners, Maiduguri: University of Maiduguri Press.
Bamgbose, A. (2002). English Lexis and Structure for Senior Secondary Schools and colleges (Revised Edition), Ibadan: Heinemann
Banjo, A. et al (2004). New Oxford Secondary English Course Book Six for Senior Secondary Schools, Ibadan: UP Plc.
Caesar, O. J. (2003). Essential Oral English for Schools and Colleges, Lagos: Tonad Publishers Limited
Daniel Jones (2011). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Egbe, D. I (1996). Mastering English Usage and Communication Skills, Lagos: Tisons
Elugbe, B. (2000). Oral English for Schools and Colleges, Ibadan: Heinemann
I can show you right here more than enough of all the syllabus need
From oral c
We have word stress
WORD STRESS
Word stress/Stress pattern is one of the important topics in the learning and teaching of English as a second language (henceforth ESL). However, most teachers of ESL skip or shy away from this topic because of their incompetence; thus, leaving their students helpless in an external exam. In Nigeria, with essay writing occupying the front seat as regards "the reasons why students fail English in WAEC, NECO or NABTEB", one can inarguably place word stress/stress pattern, which comes as paper 3 (Test of Oral) in WAEC examination, as the second reason why students fail English in WAEC, NECO or NABTEB. Students have no option(s) other than resorting to error and trial method when it comes to answering questions on word stress because they were neither taught nor properly taught. Therefore, this article is written to expose students and teachers of English to the rudiments of word stress in order to enable them easily identify the stressed syllable of a word.
WORD STRESS: 10 easy ways to identify the stressed syllable of a word
Stress is the degree of force applied when pronouncing the syllable(s) of a word. The stressed syllable is the syllable on which the speaker uses more muscular energy and breath effort when pronouncing a word. A syllable is a unit of pronunciation that has one vowel sound. A word might have one syllable (like “come or “go”), two syllables (like "doc-tor" or "pre-sent"), three syllables ("dis-a-gree" or "com-pa-ny") and more (like "pan-de-mo-nium" or "per-so-ni-fi-ca-tion"). A word with one syllable is called a monosyllable; a word with two syllables is called a bisyllable, and a word with more than two syllables is called a polysyllable. Whatever the word, pay attention to the vowels because one of them will be where you find the stress of a word.
It is also important to note that syllables are different from letters. For example, “come” has four letters but one syllable. On the other hand, "Sunday" has six letters but two syllables.
Stressed syllables possess similar feature which enables us to identify them. According to Roach (2004), "...all stressed syllables have one characteristic in common, and this is prominence." Four main factors make a stressed syllable prominent:
1. Loudness
Loudness is an important factor in determining the stressed syllable of a word. When pronouncing a word, the syllable that is louder than the others is heard as stressed. In other words, for hearers and listeners, stressed syllables are perceived as louder than unstressed syllables.
2. Length
A stressed syllable is usually longer than the other syllables in a word. Roach (2004) asserted that "If one of the syllables in a word is made longer than the others, there is quite a strong tendency for that syllable to be heard as stressed"(p. 94).
As regards this, Umera-Okeke (2015, p. 125) asserted that "Syllables containing long vowels are viewed as more prominent than those with short vowels."
3. Pitch
Pitch is the extent of vibration of the vocal cords when producing the syllables of a word. In a word, a syllable is heard as stressed if it is said with a high pitch unlike the other syllables. Umera-Okeke (2015) opined that "when there is a pitch change on a syllable, that syllable is seen as being more prominent" (pp. 125 - 126). For example, in the word "Pandemonium", the primary stress is on the third syllable, "mo", since there is a pitch change on that syllable.
4. Quality
The quality of a sound in a syllable determines whether or not that syllable is stressed. That is to say that "a syllable of a sound will tend to be prominent if it contains a vowel that is different in quality from the neighbouring vowels" (Roach, 2004, p. 94). Vowels are very important in determining the stressed syllable of a word. Therefore, one needs to pay attention to the type of vowel a syllable contains. Within vowels, open vowels are more prominent; thus, a syllable containing an open vowel is most likely to be stressed.
When next you pronounce a word, take note of these aforementioned features. It is also important to state that, of all these factors, loudness and length are more important in determining the stressed syllable of an English word.
RULES THAT WILL ENABLE YOU IDENTIFY THE STRESSED SYLLABLE OF A WORD
1. Monosyllabic words, such as come, go, sit etc., are usually stressed since they can't be divided into different syllables.
2. Numbers that end in "ty" are stressed on the first syllable while numbers that end in "teen" have their stress on the second syllable. For example, "sixty" has its stress on first syllable (SIXty) while "sixteen" has its stress on the second syllable (sixTEEN).
3. Most bisyllabic nouns and adjectives are usually stressed on the first syllable.
Examples: BAS-tard, PRE-tty, CLE-ver, DOC-tor, STU-dent etc.
However, there is an exception to this rule, and you have to learn these words by heart: ho-TEL, ex-TREME, con-CISE etc.
4. Bisyllabic verbs and prepositions are usually stressed on the second syllable. Examples: be-LOW, a-BOUT, a-BOVE, be-TWEEN, a-SIDE, pre-SENT, re-PLY, ex-PORT etc.
5. Some words in English language function as both nouns and verbs. When such words function as noun, the stress is usually on the first syllable, and as verbs, the stress is usually on the second syllable.
Examples:
i. PRE-sent (a gift) vs. pre-SENT (to give something formally to someone).
ii. RE-fuse (garbage) vs. re-FUSE (to decline).
iii. SU-spect (someone who the police believe may have committed a crime) vs. su-SPECT (to believe that something is true, especially something bad).
However, this is not always the case. For example, the word "respect" has its primary stress on the second syllable both when it’s a verb and a noun.
6. Six syllable words ending in "tion" are usually stressed on their fifth syllable. Examples: per-so-ni-fi-CA-tion, ca-pi-ta-li-SA-tion, i-ni-tia-li-SA-tion etc.
7. Three syllable words ending in "ly" often have their stress on the first syllable. Examples: OR-der-ly, QUI-et-ly etc.
8. Words ending in "ic", "sion" and "tion" are usually stressed on the second-to-last syllable. In this case, you are to count the syllables backward in order to get the second-to-last syllable. Examples: cre-A-tion, com-MI-ssion, au-THEN-tic etc. However, there are times when you need to count the syllable forward in order to get the second-to-last syllable. Examples: pho-to-GRA-phic, a-ccom-mo-DA-tion, ex-CUR-sion etc.
9. Words ending in "cy", "phy", "al", "ty" and "gy" are usually on the third-to-last syllable. You should also the count the syllables backward to get the third syllable. Examples: de-MO-cra-cy, pho-TO-gra-phy, CLI-ni-cal, a-TRO-si-ty, psy-CHO-lo-gy etc.
10. Most compound nouns (a word made up of two or more nouns) have their stress on the first noun. Examples: PLAYground, BLACKboard, FOOTball, KEYboard etc.
BONUS
Compound verbs (a verb made up of two or more words) and compound adjectives (an adjective that is made up of two or more adjectives, which are linked together by a hyphen) usually have their stress on the second word or syllable.
Examples:
outRIDE (compound verb).
outSHINE (compound verb).
old-FA-shioned (compound adjective).
In sum, the identification of the stressed syllables of English words is
not an easy task; it is a process that requires a lot of practice and
repetition as there are many rules and exceptions. For native speakers,
this wouldn't be a problem, but for non-native speakers of the language,
the reverse is always the case. Therefore, the latter should immerse
themselves in the enlightening dew of word stress through constant
practice in order to be fortified. Should there be any problem while
going through this process, and also you have to learn other idioms
apart from these ones and if u find it a little difficult don't hesitate
to make reference to this page.
SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS
Synonyms are words that have different pronunciation but are similar in meaning.
While Antonyms are words that are opposite in meaning.
More Words Words And Synonyms in Jamb English
S/N Words Synonyms
1 Astute Shrewd, Clever
2 Developed Advanced
3. Oblivious Unaware,Unmindful,Forgetful
4 Rampant Common, Frequent, Widespread
5. Entice. Tempt, Persuade
6 Imperative Very important or urgent
7 Despondent Hopeless
8 Restrain Prevent
9 Impeccable Perfect
10 Honesty. Hinder
11 Skeptica Doubtful
12 Integrity Honesty
13 Inimical Harmful
14 Hamper. Hinder
15 Impeccable Faultless
16 Eradicate Destroy, Remove, Eliminate
17 Loquacious Talkative, garrulous
18 Trivial Insignificant
19 Invaluable Priceless, of high value
20 Eventually Finally
More Words And Antonyms in Jamb English
S/N Words Antonyms
1 Kindle Extinguish
2 Remorse Unrepentant
3 Accidental Deliberate
4 Passionate Cruel
5 Innocuous Harmful
6 Admiration Disdain
7 Discrepancy Similarity
8 Obsolete Fashionable
9 Invaluable Worthless
10 Extinction Existence
11 Economical Extravagance
12 Snowballed Decreased
13 Incompetent Efficient
14 Fragile Durable
15 Seldom . Often
16 Despondent Hopeful
17 Derogatory Complementary
18 Repudiate Accommodate
19 Anonymous Known
20 Cocky . humble
IDIOMS
What’s an idiom? How is it different from a proverb?
An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a meaning that in most cases cannot be deduced directly from the individual words in that phrase or expression.
For example, the idiom ‘bite off more than you can chew’ doesn’t mean you bite more than a mouthful of a cake or something else and then struggle to chew. It means you try to do something that is too difficult for you.
How are they different from proverbs? Proverbs are well-known sayings, stating a general truth or advice. For example, the proverb ‘a picture is worth thousand words’ is a general truth. The idiom ‘bite off more than you can chew’, however, is neither a general truth nor an advice.
Before you get into the idioms, I would give you a tip if you want to use them (versus just know the meaning).
It’s relatively easier to remember words than to remember idioms (and proverbs), because idioms typically contain 3-4 or more words. Remembering a string of words in the correct sequence and recalling them in a flash while speaking isn’t easy.
One thing that has helped me remember and, more importantly, use them is to repeat the idiom few times loudly and then in 2-3 different sentences (like the examples in this post).
1. Stir up a hornets’ nest
Provoke trouble
Example: It’s not that the management is not aware of few false bills here and there, but they don’t call it because it would expose many and stir up a hornet’s nest.
2. Back against the wall
Be in a difficult situation from where escape is difficult
Example: With banks baying for his blood over default in payments, he has his back against the wall.
3. Bite off more than you can chew
To try to do something that is too difficult for you
Example: He has taken more responsibilities as he couldn’t say ‘no’ to his boss. I think he has bitten more than he can chew, and he’ll struggle to handle them all.
4. Head over heels
If you’re head over heels, you’re completely in love.
Example: Max fell head over heels in love with her colleague and wants to marry her.
5. Upset someone’s applecart
If you upset someone’s applecart, you do something that causes a plan to go wrong.
Example: The increase in customs duty by the government has upset the applecart of those car companies who were importing most of their car parts.
6. Spoil someone’s plans
To ruin someone’s plans
Example: The heavy overnight rain spoilt our plan to play cricket next morning.
7. Keep someone at arm’s length
If you keep someone at arm’s length, you avoid becoming friendly with them.
Example: I’ve more productive time in the day because I’ve developed this good habit of keeping video games at arm’s length.
8. Up in arms
Angry about something
Example: Media has traditionally been up in arms with the government of the day.
9. Drive a hard bargain
If you drive a hard bargain, you argue hard to get a favorable deal.
Example: The author tried to drive a hard bargain with the publisher on signing amount, but couldn’t because he didn’t have best sellers in his name.
10. Barking up the wrong tree
To ask the wrong person or follow the wrong course
Example: The sales team blamed the engineers for the organization’s failure to bag the mega deal, but they were barking up the wrong tree.
11. Scrape the barrel
When you’re scraping the barrel, you’re using something you do not want to but you’ve no option.
Example: I was scraping the barrel when I had to stay for six months with my parents after I lost my job.
12. Bend over backwards
To try please or accommodate someone to an unusual degree
Example: The hotel staff bent over backwards to make the visit of the dignitaries a memorable one.
13. A chip off the old block
If you’re a chip off the old block, you’re similar in some distinct way to your father or mother.
Example: He is as stingy as her mother – a real chip off the old block.
14. Blow your own trumpet
If you blow your own trumpet, you tell people how good or successful you are (used in negative way).
Example: That doctor can be so off-putting. He is always blowing his trumpet mentioning his awards and positions in various associations.
15. Once in a blue moon
If something happens once in a blue moon, it happens rarely.
Example: Many startups turn in a profit once in a blue moon.
16. Burn your boats/ bridges
If you burn your boats, you do something that makes it impossible to change your plans and go back to the earlier position or situation.
Example: I’ve burnt my boats with my previous supervisor by criticizing him publicly.
17. Make no bones about something
If you make no bones about something, you say clearly what you feel or think about it.
Example: Jack made no bones about getting a hike in his salary.
18. Break fresh/ new ground
If you break new ground, you do something that was not done before.
Example: Our scientists are breaking new ground in robotics and cancer research.
19. In the same breath
When you say two things in the same breath, you say two very different or contradictory things.
Example: How can the manager praise my colleague and talk of his average performance in the same breath?
20. Take away your breath
If someone or something takes your breath away, it astonishes you.
Example: His diving catch at the crunch moment in the match took my breath away.
21. Sell like hot cakes
If something sells like hot cakes, it sells very fast.
Example: More than five thousand cars sold so far. The new model is selling like hot cakes.
22. Burn the candle at both ends
If you burn the candle at both ends, you work excessively hard, say, by keeping two jobs or by leading a busy social life in the evening.
Example: Mitch is burning the candle at both ends. He is working two jobs, one in the evening.
23. Separate the wheat from the chaff
If you separate wheat from the chaff, you separate valuable from worthless.
Example: The new testing procedure to evaluate employees will separate the wheat from the chaff.
24. Change tune
If you change your tune, you change the way you behave with others from good to bad.
Example: After he came to know that I’m close to the power in the organization, he changed his tune.
25. Run around in circles
To be active without achieving any worthwhile result
Example: He ran around in circles trying to bring us on board for the new cause.
26. Turn the clock back
If you turn the clock back to an earlier period, you return to that time.
Example: Turning the clock back to our glory days is fruitless. We’ve to work harder and smarter in the present.
27. Against the clock
If you’re working against the clock, you’re working in great hurry.
Example: With only half the syllabus studied, I raced against the clock to be ready for the exam on Monday.
28. Close the door on someone
If you close the door on someone or something, you no longer deal with it.
Example: The country decided to close the door on talks till other outstanding issues are resolved.
29. Burn the midnight oil
To work late in the night
Example: I had to burn the midnight oil for nearly three months to write my first book.
30. Chicken and egg situation
If a situation is chicken and egg, it is impossible to decide which of the two came first and caused the other one.
Example: I need to have experience to get job, but without job, I can’t have experience. It’s a chicken and egg situation.
31. On cloud nine
If you’re on cloud nine, you’re very happy.
Example: I was on cloud nine after receiving the news of my promotion.
32. Under a cloud
If you’re under a cloud, you’re under suspicion or in trouble.
Example: The IP for our key technology has been leaked, and many in my team, including the manager, are under a cloud.
33. Head in the clouds
If your head is in the clouds, you’re not in touch with the ground realities.
Example: Many academics have their heads in the clouds.
34. Small cog in a large wheel
Someone or something that has a small role in a large setup or organization.
Example: I work as a sales representative in a Fortune 500 company – just a small cog in a large wheel.
35. The other side of the coin
The other point of view
Example: We only see the glamor and money in showbiz. But the other side of the coin is that only one in hundreds reach there.
36. Pay someone back in his /her own coin
If you pay someone back in his/ her own coin, you treat him/ her in the same way he/ she treated you.
Example: By refusing to help her colleague, she paid him back in the same coin.
37. Left out in the cold
If you’re left out in the cold, you’re ignored.
Example: I was left out in the cold in the annual promotions in the company.
38. Pour cold water on
If you pour cold water on an idea or plan, you criticize it to the extent that people lose enthusiasm to pursue it.
Example: The investors poured cold water on the plan to build another factory.
39. Blow hot and cold
If you blow hot and cold, you vacillate.
Example: The editor blew hot and cold over the story for few days and then finally decided to publish it.
40. To come to a head
If something comes to a head, it reaches to the point of a crisis.
Example: The situation came to a head when he passed a derogatory comment purportedly toward me.
41. Cool your heels
Wait for something, especially when it’s annoying
Example: I spent two hours cooling my heels in the waiting room while the CFO was busy in a meeting.
42. Cut corners
If you cut corners, you save money or effort by finding cheaper or easier ways to do things.
Example: It you cut corners on this product, it’ll have a lesser lifespan.
43. Run its course
If something runs its course, it continues naturally until it finishes.
Example: There is no cure for this infection. You’ll have to let it run its course.
44. Stay the course
If you stay the course, you persevere till the completion of a task, especially a difficult one.
Example: Despite an injury, he stayed the course to save the match for his team.
45. Cut someone down to size
If you cut someone down to size, you show them they’re not as important or intelligent as they think.
Example: The boss cut that arrogant guy to size in no time.
46. Daylight robbery
Blatant overcharging
Example: $5 for a can of juice! This is daylight robbery.
47. Boil the ocean
If you try to boil the ocean, you try to accomplish something too ambitious.
Example: You expect our plant to manufacture 40,000 parts in a week. You’re trying to boil the ocean on this one.
48. Handle with kid gloves
If you handle someone with kid gloves, you treat them with extreme tact and care.
Example: The client is hyper sensitive. We need to handle him with kid gloves, or we risk losing the deal.
49. Clear the decks
If you clear the decks for something, you remove all hurdles to get started on that work.
Example: By sanctioning the budget and filling in the vacancies, the committee has cleared the decks for our new office.
50. Between the devil and the deep blue sea
If you’re caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, you’re caught between two undesirable alternatives.
Example: If you support your son, your business partner will be hurt, and vice versa. You’re caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
CONCORD
There are five elements that make up a sentence. These elements are subject, verb, object, complement, and adverbial.That means that every sentence must have subject and verb. Not only that, the subject and the verb have to agree in order for the sentence to be correct. For instance, the sentence: The boys is here has a subject and a verb, yet the sentence is not correct because the subject and the verb do not agree. This agreement is what we call concord.
Concord is the agreement- especially in number- between the subject and verb of a sentence such that when the subject is singular, the verb will also be singular and when the subject is plural, the verb will also be plural.
TYPES OF CONCORD
1. Grammatical concord– the principle of grammatical concord holds with nouns that are grammatically marked for plural. It is the easiest type of concord. Simply put, the rule says, if the subject is singular, the verb will also be singular and if the subject is plural, the verb will also be plural.
E.g The boy is here, The boys are here, The man likes food, The men like food.
2. Proximity concord-—- Proximity means “nearness”. The principle of proximity concord says that if two or more subjects are coordinated (joined) by the correlative coordinators “either……. or” or “neither…..nor”, the subject that is closest to the verb determines the concord- the rest (first one (s)) are ignored.
E.g If Sandra fails her exams, either her parents, her friends or her sister is to blame.
3. Notional Concord. The principle of notional concord holds with collective nouns. Collective nouns are words like “committee”, “club”, “choir”, “audience”, “congregation” etc. These words mean a group of people, and they can take either singular or plural verbs depending on how they are used. The rule is that, if the collective noun performs an action, it takes a plural verb, but if no action is involved, it takes a singular verb.
E.g. The choir sing very well (not sings, since an action is involved, the verb will be plural), The Choir is very disciplined (not are), The audience is quite large (not are), The audience were clapping their hands (not is)
4. Categorization concord. There are adjectives that denote a group or category of people. Such words include The poor, the rich, the lame, the blind, the helpless, etc.When these words are used as the subject of a sentence, two things happen. The first is that these words are not pluralized, though they mean a group of people (the poor means everybody that is poor, so does the rich, the lame, the blind etc). So we do not have the forms *the poors, *the blinds etc Secondly, they take plural verbs.
E.g. The poor need our help (not needs), The rich also cry (not cries), The blind see with their inner eyes (not sees) etc.
5. Concord of indefinite pronouns. Indefinite pronouns are those pronouns that end in “body”, “thing” and “one”. They include the words somebody, everybody, nobody, anybody, something, everything, nothings, anything etc. They have a plural connotation, but they take singular verbs.
E.g Everybody in this class is hungry (not are), Nobody likes to be disrespected (not like), Anything is better than nothing (not are).
6. Concord of quasi coordinated subjects. There are words we call quasi coordinators in English. They include words like “as well as”, “with”, “together with”, “in conjunction with”, “along with”. When these words are used to join two subjects, only the first subject controls the verb and determines the concord, the second subject is ignored.
E.g. The president together with his ministers has arrived (not have), The principal as well as all the teachers and students is (not are) in the hall right now, The man with his wife was killed in the earthquake. Etc
7. Concord of coordinated subjects. W hen two or more words referring to the same person or thing are joined by “and”, the verb will be plural.
E.g. Our English teacher and our head of department are absent today, The principal and the chairman of the occasion have arrived
8. Double title concord. When two or more words referring to the same person are joined by “and”, the verb will be singular.
E.g. Our English teacher and head of department is absent today, The principal and chairman of the occasion has arrived.
9. many- a concord. When “many-a” is used, it should be immediately followed by a singular noun and singular verb.
E.g. Many a girl likes him (not like), Many a man is not trustworthy (not are) etc.
10. More than concord– when “more than” is used to qualify the subject of a sentence, it can take either a singular or a plural verb depending on what come after it. If a singular noun comes after it, then it takes a singular verb, but if a plural noun comes after it, then it takes a plural verb.
E.g. More than one man lives here (not live), More than five boys attend this school.
11. Concord of money, measurement, distance and time– When a word that denotes money (e.g. five dollars, twenty naira, fifteen pounds etc), measurement (e.g three litres, five kilograms etc), distance (twenty kilometers, five miles etc) and time (e.g four hours, eleven minutes etc) is used as the subject of a sentence, the verb will be singular. E.g. Twenty thousand naira is too small for me to spend, Five hundred thousand dollars was spent on the project (not were), Five cups of water is all he needs (not are), Five days is not enough for the police to complete their investigation (not are)
12. Concord of Fraction and percentages. When a word that denotes fraction and percentage is used with the subject of a sentence, it can take either singular or plural verbs depending on what comes after it. If a singular noun comes after it, it takes a singular verb and if a plural noun comes after it, it takes a plural verb.
E.g. Three-quarters of the hostel has been painted and three quarters of the students have moved in. Fifty percent of the boys have arrived and fifty percent of the food has been eaten. Ninety percent of dogs like bones etc.
30 Examples To Help You Master Concord
What is concord in writing? We have put together this list of 30 examples to help you master concord.
[Top Tip: If you need help with your grammar, buy The Complete Grammar Workbook.]
What Is Concord?
When we use the word ‘concord’ in everyday speech, it means ‘agreement or harmony between people or groups’ (Oxford Dictionary).
When we use the word in the context of grammar, it has a similar meaning: grammatical agreement between two parts of a sentence.
An important language skill to master is subject-verb concord.
The Basics Of Concord
Subject-verb concord is when the subject of a sentence and the verb of a sentence agree.
Simply, if the subject of the sentence is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject of a sentence is plural, the verb must be plural.
Look at these examples.
30 Examples To Help You Master Concord
1. The pages (subject) is (verb) held together by a staple.
2. The pages (subject) are (verb) held together by a staple.
Number 2 is correct, because the subject, ‘pages’, and the verb, ‘are’, are both plural. They agree.
It’s easy, yes? Let’s gear up and try something more difficult.
A phrase in between the subject and the verb
Look at these examples:
3. The message between the lines is that we need to finish before Monday.
4. The message between the lines are that we need to finish before Monday.
The temptation here is to look at the word in front of the verb (the plural ‘lines’) and choose the verb that agrees with it (the plural ‘are’). This is wrong. The subject of the sentence is not ‘lines’. It’s ‘message’. So, because the subject, ‘message’, is singular, we use the singular verb ‘is’. The phrase ‘between the lines’ is a prepositional phrase (starting with a preposition), which is why it’s not the subject of the sentence.
Try your hand at these:
5. The case of champagne bottles are for the year-end party.
6. The case of champagne bottles is for the year-end party.
The correct answer is number 6. ‘Case’ is singular, so use the singular verb ‘is’.
7. The sentiment in our offices is that our bonuses were measly this year.
8. The sentiment in our offices are that our bonuses were measly this year.
The correct answer is number 7. ‘Sentiment’ is singular, and the singular verb ‘is’ agrees with it.
Two subjects connected by either/or, or neither/nor
If you have two singular subjects that are connected by either/or, or neither/nor, use the singular verb. Look at this:
9. Neither Sibongile nor Ted has the keys to the stationery cupboard.
10. Either Mary or Shandu is manning the info desk at the conference.
Even though you’re discussing two people, only one of them (singular) is taking action, so the verb is singular.
What do you do when one of the subjects is plural and the other isn’t? Look at these examples:
11. Neither Sibongile (singular) nor the personal assistants (plural) have the keys to the stationery cupboard.
12. Either the stewards (plural) or Mary (singular) is manning the info desk at the conference.
Do you see how the verb agrees with the subject closest to it? However, the second sentence sounds awkward, so rather write sentences like this with the second subject being plural, and then make the verb plural. Sentence number 12 should rather be rewritten as:
13. Either Mary or the stewards are manning the info desk at the conference.
Two subjects connected by ‘and’
When you have two subjects connected by ‘and’, use the plural form of the verb.
14. Tshepiso and Sbo are responsible for the exchange server.
15. Elize and Raveshan are our new project managers.
There are two exceptions to the rule. The first (see number 13) is when a compound subject connected with ‘and’ is seen as a singular subject due to popular use. The second is when the subjects connected by ‘and’ are the same person or entity (see number 14).
16. Pap and wors is my favourite meal.
17. The creator and distributor of the software is Energesix Ltd.
Plural subjects that call for singular verbs
Use a singular verb when you have a subject that conveys a single unit of distance, time, or money.
18. Ninety-five cents is a great bargain for a SIM card.
19. One hundred kilometres is a gruelling daily commute.
20. Twenty minutes is all I have to prepare for the meeting.
Other subjects that call for singular verbs
The following words need singular verbs: each, everyone, everybody, anyone, anybody, somebody, nobody, someone, none, and no-one. Look at these examples:
21. Each of our staff members has to fill in an evaluation form.
22. Anyone who wants a day off in lieu of overtime must still fill out a leave form.
23. Someone has left a coffee cup on the glass of the photocopy machine.
24. None of us wants to admit to being behind on filing.
Subjects that are collective nouns
Look at these examples:
25. The board wants to make the decision by next Thursday.
26. The staff is in a meeting.
27. The team is due to fly out today.
The board, staff, and team are made up of many individual members, but each forms a collective, singular subject. Thus, a singular verb is used. Be careful not to make this mistake, though:
28. The staff is in a meeting to discuss their appraisals.
Now, you have a singular subject (staff), a singular verb (is), and a plural pronoun (their) in the same sentence. To improve concord, rather rewrite the sentence in one of the following ways:
29. The staff is in a meeting to discuss appraisals.
30. The staff members are in a meeting to discuss their appraisals.
We hope these examples to help you master concord help you with your writing!
