Subject–Verb Concord MCQs Quiz | Class 9
This quiz is for Class 9 students studying English Language and Literature (Code 184), focusing on Section B: Grammar. It covers key concepts in Subject–Verb Concord, including agreement rules, common error patterns, and editing tasks. Complete the quiz, submit your answers to see your score, and download the PDF of your answer sheet for review.
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 with its subject in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third). A singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb. Mastering this concept is crucial for constructing clear, correct, and professional sentences.
Key Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
Here are the essential rules you need to know, with examples:
- Basic Principle: A singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Example: The dog barks. (Singular) / The dogs bark. (Plural) - Compound Subjects with ‘and’: Two or more subjects joined by ‘and’ usually take a plural verb.
Example: Rahul and Priya are siblings.
Exception: If the subjects form a single idea, use a singular verb. Example: Bread and butter is my favorite breakfast. - Subjects joined by ‘or’/’nor’: When two subjects are joined by ‘or’, ‘nor’, ‘either…or’, or ‘neither…nor’, the verb agrees with the subject that is closer to it.
Example: Neither the teacher nor the students were present. - Indefinite Pronouns: Pronouns like each, every, either, neither, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, no one, nobody are singular and require a singular verb.
Example: Everyone has completed the assignment. - Collective Nouns: Nouns like team, committee, family, jury, herd, audience can be singular or plural. If the group acts as a single unit, use a singular verb. If the members act as individuals, use a plural verb.
Example (Unit): The committee has submitted its report.
Example (Individuals): The jury were divided in their opinions. - Interrupting Phrases: Words and phrases like as well as, along with, together with, in addition to, besides do not affect the number of the verb. The verb agrees with the main subject.
Example: The captain, along with his players, is celebrating. - Nouns Plural in Form but Singular in Meaning: Subjects like mathematics, news, physics, mumps, measles take a singular verb.
Example: The news is alarming. - Expressions of Time, Money, and Distance: When these are considered a single unit, they take a singular verb.
Example: Ten kilometres is a long distance to walk.
Common Error Patterns to Avoid
Students often make mistakes in specific situations. Be careful with these:
- ‘One of the…’ construction: This phrase is always followed by a plural noun, but the verb remains singular because it agrees with ‘one’.
Incorrect: One of the students are absent.
Correct: One of the students is absent. - Inverted Sentences: In sentences where the subject follows the verb (e.g., sentences starting with ‘Here’ or ‘There’), find the true subject to ensure agreement.
Example: There are three apples on the table. (Subject is ‘apples’) - ‘A number of’ vs. ‘The number of’: ‘A number of’ means ‘many’ and takes a plural verb. ‘The number of’ refers to a specific quantity and takes a singular verb.
Example: A number of students were late.
Example: The number of late students was small.
Summary Table: Indefinite Pronouns
| Pronoun Type | Examples | Verb Agreement |
|---|---|---|
| Always Singular | each, either, neither, one, everyone, everybody, no one, nobody, anyone, anybody, someone, somebody | Singular |
| Always Plural | both, few, many, several | Plural |
| Depends on the Object | some, any, none, all, most | Singular if object is singular/uncountable; Plural if object is plural |
Quick Revision Checklist
- Always identify the true subject of the sentence first.
- Ignore any phrases that come between the subject and the verb.
- Remember that ‘or’ and ‘nor’ make the verb agree with the closest subject.
- Treat collective nouns as singular unless the members are acting individually.
- Check for indefinite pronouns; most of them are singular.
Practice Questions
Test your knowledge with these additional questions. The answers are provided below.
- The pack of wolves _____ towards the mountain.
a) run
b) are running
c) runs
d) have run - Neither my brother nor my parents _____ to the party.
a) is coming
b) are coming
c) was coming
d) has come - The information provided by the sources _____ unreliable.
a) were
b) have been
c) are
d) was - Many a student _____ tried to solve this problem.
a) has
b) have
c) are
d) were - The manager, not the employees, _____ responsible for the decision.
a) is
b) are
c) were
d) have been
Answers: 1-c (runs), 2-b (are coming), 3-d (was), 4-a (has), 5-a (is)
