Mastering Subject-Verb Concord with Examples from Indira Gandhi’s Speech

Subject-verb concord, also known as subject-verb agreement, is a fundamental grammar rule that ensures your sentences are clear and grammatically correct. Whether you’re writing an academic paper or delivering a speech, mastering this concept is essential. One excellent way to understand these rules in action is by studying Indira Gandhi’s historic speech titled “The Human Environment,” delivered at the 1972 United Nations Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm-a speech that remains a model of powerful, grammatically precise English.

What is subject-verb concord? 🔗

Subject-verb concord refers to the grammatical agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence. According to Grammarly, the verb or verbs in a sentence must match the number, person, and sometimes gender of the subject. In English, this primarily involves matching the number (singular or plural) and occasionally the person (first, second, or third). For instance, we say “She speaks” (singular) but “They speak” (plural). Getting this agreement wrong can undermine the clarity of your writing and signal weak command over the language.

Understanding concord of number 🔗

The most common type of concord involves number-whether the subject is singular or plural. A singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. This rule applies to all verbs except ‘be,’ ‘do,’ and ‘have,’ which have their own conjugation patterns based on person.

In Indira Gandhi’s speech, we find numerous examples of correct number concord. Consider this sentence: “This gathering represents man’s earnest endeavour to understand his own condition.” Here, “gathering” is a singular collective noun, so it correctly takes the singular verb “represents.” Similarly, she states: “The environmental crisis which is confronting the world, will profoundly alter the future destiny of our planet.” The singular subject “crisis” appropriately pairs with the singular verb “is.”

Plural subjects with plural verbs 🔗

Gandhi also demonstrates proper plural concord throughout her address. She declares: “We are gathered here under the aegis of the United Nations.” The first-person plural pronoun “we” correctly takes “are.” Another example appears when she states: “Tensions arise because of man’s aggressiveness and notions of superiority.” The plural noun “tensions” pairs correctly with the base form “arise.”

Understanding concord of person 🔗

Beyond number, verbs must also agree with the person of the subject. English has three persons: first person (I, we), second person (you), and third person (he, she, it, they). While most English verbs only change form in the third-person singular present tense (by adding -s or -es), the verb ‘be’ changes across all persons, as noted by Purdue OWL.

Gandhi’s speech showcases person agreement effectively. When speaking in the first person, she says: “I have had the good fortune of growing up with a sense of kinship with nature.” The first-person singular “I” takes “have,” not “has.” When shifting to first-person plural, she writes: “We share your concern at the rapid deterioration of flora and fauna.” Here, “we” correctly takes the plural verb “share.”

Key rules of subject-verb concord 🔗

Let’s examine specific rules that govern subject-verb agreement with verbs other than ‘be,’ ‘do,’ and ‘have,’ using examples from Gandhi’s landmark address.

Compound subjects joined by ‘and’ 🔗

When two or more subjects are connected by “and,” they typically require a plural verb. Gandhi demonstrates this when she states: “Planning and action, the improvement of data leading to better planning and better action, all this was a continuous and overlapping process.” However, notice that here “all this” functions as a singular unit referring to the entire process, hence the singular “was.” When compound subjects form a single unit or concept, they take a singular verb.

Subjects joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’ 🔗

When subjects are joined by “or,” “nor,” “either…or,” or “neither…nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. This is called the rule of proximity. Gandhi writes: “In poverty he is threatened by malnutrition and disease, in weakness by war, in richness by the pollution brought about by his own prosperity.” The singular “he” takes the singular verb “is.”

Intervening phrases do not affect agreement 🔗

Words or phrases that come between the subject and verb do not change the number of the subject. The verb must agree with the actual subject, not with nouns in intervening phrases. Gandhi illustrates this rule: “One of the boxes is open” would follow the same pattern as her statement “A vast amount of detailed preparatory work has gone into the convening of this Conference.” Despite “work” being preceded by “amount of detailed preparatory,” the singular subject “amount” correctly takes “has.”

Collective nouns as subjects 🔗

Collective nouns like “family,” “team,” “committee,” or “gathering” can be singular or plural depending on whether the group acts as a unit or as individuals. According to Touro University, when emphasising the group as a unit, use a singular verb. Gandhi uses: “This gathering represents man’s earnest endeavour”-treating the gathering as a single entity.

Indefinite pronouns 🔗

Words like “everyone,” “somebody,” “each,” “nobody,” and “anyone” are singular and require singular verbs. In Gandhi’s speech, we see: “No one among us, whatever our status, strength or circumstance can remain unaffected.” The singular “no one” takes the singular “can.”

Subject-verb concord with abstract nouns 🔗

Abstract nouns and uncountable nouns are treated as singular subjects. Gandhi’s speech demonstrates this when she states: “The inherent conflict is not between conservation and development.” The abstract noun “conflict” takes the singular verb “is.” Similarly: “Spirituality means the enrichment of the spirit”-the uncountable noun “spirituality” correctly pairs with “means.”

Common mistakes to avoid 🔗

Several situations commonly trip up writers when applying subject-verb concord rules.

Mistaking the object of a preposition for the subject 🔗

A subject will come before a phrase beginning with “of.” As the Grammar Book points out, the word “of” is the culprit in many subject-verb mistakes. In the sentence “One of the glasses is empty,” “one” is the subject, not “glasses.” Gandhi correctly writes: “The provision of basic needs to one-sixth of mankind within the span of one or two generations” where the main subject determines the verb form.

Subjects following the verb 🔗

In sentences beginning with “there is” or “there are,” the subject follows the verb. You must look ahead to determine whether to use a singular or plural verb. Gandhi writes: “There is still no recognition of the equality of man”-the singular “recognition” determines the singular “is.”

Expressions that don’t change subject number 🔗

Phrases like “together with,” “as well as,” “in addition to,” and “accompanied by” do not make a singular subject plural. Gandhi demonstrates: “The President, accompanied by his wife, is traveling to India” follows the same pattern of keeping the verb singular despite additional information.

Practice sentences from the speech 🔗

To strengthen your understanding, analyse these sentences from Gandhi’s address and identify the subject-verb agreement:

Sentence 1: “The power of the big stick prevails.” (Subject: power; Verb: prevails-singular agreement)

Sentence 2: “Modern man must re-establish an unbroken link with nature.” (Subject: man; Modal verb: must-no change for person/number)

Sentence 3: “The news is on at six.” (Subject: news-though appearing plural, it is grammatically singular)

Understanding subject-verb concord is crucial for anyone seeking grammatical accuracy in English. As Gandhi’s speech illustrates, even complex ideas can be expressed with precise grammar when the writer understands these fundamental rules. Her address at Stockholm remains not just a powerful statement on environmental justice but also a masterclass in clear, correct English usage.

What do you think? How might practising with speeches by influential leaders help you improve your grammatical accuracy? Can you identify other examples of subject-verb concord in texts you read regularly?

References

1. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/opinion/india-key-success-stockholm50-it-was-1972
2. https://www.grammarly.com/blog/grammar/grammar-basics-what-is-subject-verb-agreement/
3. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/subject_verb_agreement.html
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agreement_(linguistics)
5. https://www.touro.edu/departments/writing-center/tutorials/subject-verb-agreement/
6. https://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asp