Language Agenda: Concord With Correlative Conjunctions

Introduction
Correlative conjunctions are pairs connecting elements that are similar in length and grammatical structure. Examples of correlative conjunctions are "either...or", "neither...nor." Mostly, these conjunctions constitute a serious source of errors of concord.

In Grammar, concord refers to agreement between a subject (doer of action) and a verb (action) or between a pronoun and its antecedent. An antecedent is the word a pronoun refers to. In this discourse, however, emphasis is on the subject-verb agreement.

Techniques
Because of the difficulty associated with the subject-verb agreement involving correlative conjunctions, linguists have propounded simple but effective techniques to demystify the difficulty. Below are the techniques:

When the pair is made up of singular subjects, the verb should be singular. Examples:

● Either AZINDOO or AZINPAGA IS good for the job. (Azindoo and Azinpaga are both singular subjects)

● Neither the PEN nor the BOOK IS needed. (Pen and book are both singular subjects)

When the pair is made up of two plural subject, a plural verb should be considered. Examples:

● Either TEACHERS or STUDENTS ARE important in learning. (Teachers and students are both plural subjects)

● Neither PARENTS nor CHILDREN ARE happy about the increasing violence in society. (Parents and children are both plural subjects)

When the pair is made up of a singular subject and a plural subject, the verb should agree with the subject closer to the verb. Examples:

● Either CHALPANG or her BROTHERS ARE decently dressed. ("Brothers" which is plural is closer to the verb "ARE")

● Neither her PARENTS nor CHALPANG IS indecently dressed. ("Chalpang" which is singular is closer to the verb "IS")

Conclusion
Colleague learner, the above techniques may sound insignificant or cumbersome to you. But a little time to master them would undoubtedly enhance the quality of your language performance. Nobody is perfect, but everybody must aspire to be excellent.

Please, understand the techniques and avoid a grammatical disaster that may be occasioned by the misapplication of the Rule of Concord.

Allah is the Best Grammarian.
The Writer Is A Lecturer At The University of Applied Management, Germany-Ghana Campus, McCarthy Hill, Accra