7 Things to Know About Concords

1) A concord is a way of showing that two grammatical units have a certain feature in common.

2) The most important is the third person in the present tense. This states that singular subjects take singular verbs or plural subjects take plural verbs. For example:

My boy watches television in the evening.

My boys watch television in the evening. 

3) The verb 'be' shows first person concord between the subject and verb in the present tense, using 'am'. This verb is the only one to display past tense concord, with the first and third persons, using was. For example:

I am tired. I was tired. He was tired.

4) Three types of concord:

a) Grammatical concord - This occurs when elements formally agree with each other. For example, a plural concord for plural subjects.

b) Notional concord - This is when the verb agrees with the singular or plural. For example: Two miles is a long way. The verb is singular because 'two miles' is seen as a singular entity. 

c) Concord of proximity - This is when a verb agrees with the number of a nearby noun, rather than the real subject. For example: No one except his football team agree that it was a goal.

5) Concord can be confusing and people are uncertain about it. Traditional grammars insist on grammatical concord, but usage often favours notional concord. Concord of proximity often occurs in spontaneous speech, but is condemned in writing. 

6) Usage is particularly divided over 'none'.

None of the pens is/are on the table.

The plural is more commonly used, but the older tradition insists on the singular. 

7) When two nouns are linked as a subject, you need to decide if you want to consider them as one or two separate entities.

Law and order is/are now established.  

7 Things to Know About Vocatives

1) A vocative refers to a person or persons to whom a sentence is addressed.

2) They could be used to call someone to get their attention. For example

John, your dinner's ready. 

Guys, it's poker time.

3) They can be used to address someone. For example:

Teacher, please tell me that one again. 

Are you sure that you want to do that, love?

Stop it, idiot. 

4) Vocatives are optional in a sentence. They can be added or removed without affecting the rest of the sentence. 

5) They can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. In this way they convey different kinds of nuance. For example:

Mary, I'd like my boy to walk here. 

I'd like my boy, Mary, to walk here.

I'd like my boy to walk here, Mary.

6) Vocatives can be:

a) Names.

b) Family.

c) Markers of status or respect - lord, sir...

d) Labels for occupations - doctor, teacher...

e) Evaluative - darling, love, fool...

f) General labels - guys, gals, boys...

g) The pronoun you - Although this can be very impolite - You, pass me that.

h) Occasionally, certain kinds of clause - Whatever your name is, don't touch it.

7) There is normally only one vocative per sentence because there is no need to keep addressing the same person or group of people. 

8 Things to Know About the Complement Element in a Clause

1) It expresses meaning which adds to that of another clause element. 

2) It adds to either the subject (subject complement) or the object (object complement).

3) The subject complement usually follows the subject and verb in a clause. The verb is usually a form of be (is, was, etc.) It could be other verbs. As long as it can link the complement meaning with the subject meaning. These are called copular, or linking verbs. For example:

She is a housewife. 

 (S) (V)   (C)

The dog became agitated.

   (S)        (V)         (C)

The painting looks marvellous.

    (S)               (V)     (C)

4) Here is a list of some copular verbs with complements:

appear (sad)

feel (happy)

grow (weary)

remain (still)

seem (agitated)

turn (hot)

5) An object complement usually follows the direct object and its meaning relates to it. For example:

They voted him leader.

He made me happy.

6) All of these can be complements: 

Noun phrases, including single nouns:

John is a chef.          They became movie stars. 

Adjective phrases, including single adjectives:

Joyce is very sad.        The pie is ready.

Pronouns:

This is her.       Where's that?       That's who?

Some subordinate clauses:

That's what I replied. 

7) When the complement is a noun phrase, it has the same number as its corresponding element. For example:

The child is a monster.

The children are monsters.

8) It's the same with the object complement:

I find your child a monster.

I find your children monsters.