Subject–Verb Concord MCQs Quiz | Class 9
This is an interactive online quiz for Class 9 students on the topic of Subject–Verb Concord from the Communicative English (Code 101) Grammar unit. This quiz covers key agreement rules, error correction, and contextual usage of verbs. Attempt all the multiple-choice questions, submit your answers to see your score, and then download the answer sheet as a PDF for your records.
Understanding Subject–Verb Concord
Subject-Verb Concord, also known as subject-verb agreement, is a fundamental rule of English grammar. It states that the verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject. This means a singular subject must take a singular verb, and a plural subject must take a plural verb. Mastering this concept is crucial for constructing clear and grammatically correct sentences.
Key Agreement Rules
Here are some of the most important rules related to subject-verb concord, often tested in exams:
1. The Basic Rule
A singular subject (he, she, it, Ram, book) takes a singular verb (is, was, has, writes), while a plural subject (they, we, Ram and Shyam, books) takes a plural verb (are, were, have, write).
- Example: The dog barks loudly. (Singular)
- Example: The dogs bark loudly. (Plural)
2. Phrases Between Subject and Verb
The verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun or pronoun in a phrase that comes between the subject and the verb. Ignore phrases starting with ‘as well as’, ‘along with’, ‘together with’, ‘in addition to’, etc.
- Example: The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly. (The subject is ‘politician’, which is singular).
3. Subjects Joined by ‘or’, ‘nor’, ‘either…or’, ‘neither…nor’
When two singular subjects are joined by these conjunctions, the verb is singular. If one subject is singular and the other is plural, the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it (Rule of Proximity).
- Example: Neither the shoes nor the bag matches the dress. (The verb ‘matches’ agrees with ‘bag’).
4. Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns like ‘each’, ‘every’, ‘either’, ‘neither’, ‘anyone’, ‘everybody’, ‘someone’ are singular and require a singular verb.
- Example: Each of the students is responsible.
5. Collective Nouns
Collective nouns (e.g., team, committee, family, jury, group) can take a singular or plural verb. If the group acts as a single unit, use a singular verb. If the members of the group act as individuals, use a plural verb.
- Example (Unit): The team is winning.
- Example (Individuals): The committee are debating the question among themselves.
6. Plural Nouns with Singular Meaning
Some nouns are plural in form but singular in meaning. These take a singular verb. Examples include ‘news’, ‘mathematics’, ‘physics’, ‘mumps’, and titles of books like ‘The Arabian Nights’.
- Example: Mathematics is an interesting subject.
- Example: The news is alarming.
Subject and Verb Agreement at a Glance
| Subject Type | Example Subject | Correct Verb Form | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular Noun | The cat | Singular (sits) | The cat sits on the mat. |
| Plural Noun | The cats | Plural (sit) | The cats sit on the mat. |
| Joined by ‘and’ | The cat and the dog | Plural (are) | The cat and the dog are friends. |
| Joined by ‘or’/’nor’ | Either the cat or the dogs | Agrees with nearest (are) | Either the cat or the dogs are in the garden. |
| Indefinite Pronoun | Everyone | Singular (knows) | Everyone knows the answer. |
| Collective Noun (as unit) | The jury | Singular (has) | The jury has reached its verdict. |
Quick Revision Points
- Always identify the main subject of the sentence first.
- Ignore any phrases or clauses that come between the subject and the verb.
- Remember that words like ‘each’, ‘everybody’, and ‘anyone’ are singular.
- For ‘either…or’ and ‘neither…nor’, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
- Collective nouns are tricky: singular if acting as one unit, plural if acting as individuals.
Practice Questions
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb given in brackets.
- The quality of the apples ____ not good. (be)
- The politician, together with his bodyguards, ____ arrived. (have)
- Neither of the two brothers ____ paid the fee. (have)
- A pair of scissors ____ lying on the table. (be)
- Many a man ____ tried to climb this mountain. (have)
Answers: 1. was, 2. has, 3. has, 4. is, 5. has
