Language Agenda: Concord in Relative Adjectival Construction 

Introduction
In a relative adjectival construction, a verb agrees with the antecedent of the Relative Pronoun NOT the Relative Pronoun itself. An antecedent is the word a pronoun refers to in a sentence or phrase. Among the Relative Pronouns are WHO, WHOM, WHOEVER, WHICH, WHICHEVER, and THAT. Let us consider the following illustrative sentences to maximize our understanding:

● It is I WHO AM to represent Tamakloe House.
But
● I am the person WHO IS to represent Tamakloe House.

Illustration
In the first sentence, the Relative Pronoun is "WHO", and the antecedent is "I." The verb must agree with "I" NOT "WHO." That is why we have chosen "AM." Indeed, "AM" is the present simple tense of the infinitive "TO BE", and it is suitable for "I" in the conjugation under review. In a simple structure, the sentence could be rewritten as:

● I AM to represent Tamakloe House.
In the second sentence, "WHO" remains the Relative Pronoun, but the antecedent is "PERSON." Obviously, "IS" is the suitable verb to agree with "PERSON" because it is a Third Person Singular situation. In simple language, the sentence could be rewritten as:

● The PERSON IS to represent Tamakloe House.
Conclusion
Conclusively, It is instructive to state that relative constructions are important because they are tools of emphasis. However, if they are not properly handled in terms of concord, they could rather become tools of ridiculous miscommunication. For instance, a reckless writer is more likely to state: "It is I who IS to represent Tamakloe House." In that case, the simple version would be: "I IS to represent Tamakloe House" instead of "I AM to represent Tamakloe House." But one thing good about such a grammatical catastrophe is that it could serve as a comic relief for a person who has been provoked by his or her spouse. 😅😅😅!

Allah is the Best Grammarian.
Dedication
This discourse is dedicated to my lovely sister, Abdul Aziz Farida, in recognition of her graduation from Tamale Technical University (TaTU). The entire family celebrates her success and prays that the achievement constitutes a strong foundation for more academic laurels, professional development, and personal prosperity.

Dr. Abubakar Mohammed Marzuq Azindoo,
Lecturer, University of Applied Management,
Germany - Ghana Campus, McCarthy Hill, Accra