Class 8 English Grammar Subject Verb Agreement | Subject Verb Agreement Exercise with Answers
Subject Verb Agreement Rules for class 8
In Class 8, subject-verb agreement is a very important topic of English Grammar. However, the complicated rules make it tough for young students and children. Here subject-verb agreement has been made easier for children with the use of illustrated examples.
Read ahead to know the rules for correct sentences in English grammar as per the rules of Subject verb concord. With the help of this knowledge, you will be able to answer all grammar questions correctly.
The topic, subject-verb agreement states that the verb must comply with the subject in number. It means that a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb. However, the road does not end here because there are a numer to exceptions to this. We have listed down these exceptions as rules and read ahead to know the uniqueness of each rule and understand it better with an illustrated example.
Rule 1
The third person singular form of verbs in the simple present tense is formed by adding ‘s/es’ to the root form of third person plural.
Rule 2
The subject ‘one of + plural noun’ is singular and the verb along with it is also singular.
Rule 3
When the subject and the verb are separated by a clause or a long phrase, the verb must agree with the actual subject.
Rule 4
When a subject is made up of two or more nouns joined by ‘and’, the verb to be attached along should be plural.
But if two of them join to form a compound name of one thing, then the verb given along remains singular.
Rule 5
When two subjects are joined together by ‘as well as’, ‘with’, ‘in addition to’, ‘and not’ , the verb attached along is chosen according to the first subject
Rule 6
Words such as each, every, either, neither and ‘many a’ are followed by a singular verb.
Rule 7
The word ‘none’ will take a verb according to the sense of the sentence. It might be singular or plural depending upon the sentence.
Rule 8
When distances, weights or amounts represent a single unit or a fixed quantity, they are treated as singular and the verb attached along is also singular.
Rule 9
Collective nouns such as ‘group’, ‘herd’, ‘team’, etc. are considered singular when taken as one body and the verb attached to them is also singular but when the members of the group are considered individually then they are considered plural and the verb attached is also plural.
Rule 10
Uncountable nouns such as furniture, sugar, rice, equipment, etc. are considered singular subjects and get singular verbs attached to them.
Rule 11
The nouns like amends, archives, compasses, glasses, trousers are always considered plural and the verb attached along is also plural. But, when used with ‘a pair of’ they are considered to be singular. Then the verb form attached also becomes singular.
Rule 12
Nouns like news, physics, measles, ethics are although plural by name but are considered to be singular when used in a sentence.
Exercise on Subject Verb Agreement (Practice Questions)
Choose the correct option:
1. Here _____ is/are the package of letters.
2. Two weeks _______ were/was all the vacation he got.
3. The vases on the table _____ is/are beautiful.
4. One of the diamonds ___ was/were stolen.
5. A number of videos ________ have/has been deleted from the phone.
6. Two hundred rupees _______ seem/seems a fair price for 2 bricks of ice cream.
7. Not everyone ______ want/wants to learn more and more.
8. Each of the employes ________ is/are going to get a trip as a gift.
9. The style and colour of the trouser _____ are/is best for you.
10. One of you ________ has/have to take the responsibility of the kid.
11. What _______ does/do a pair of jeans cost?
12. Nine and nine __________ make/makes eighteen.
13. The furniture of the house _______ is/are quite impressive.
14. Uma, my childhood friend _______ is/are leaving for Delhi next month.
15. Most of my friends ______ is/are government employees.
16. A number of people ______ was/were reported to have fallen sick after drinking the water from the tubewell.
17. No one _____ has/have a greater collection of books than my friend Reeshav.
18. Somebody _____ is/are waiting at the door for you.
19. All the students _______ is/are excited to visit the museum after school.
20. Neither Joseph nor his family _______ speaks/speak French.
21. Either Ross or Joey ________ has/have broken the glass.
22. The plumber, along with his helper ____ is/are, expected to come soon.
23. Several neighbours _______ has/have complained about the loud sound coming from that house.
24. The little boy ______ like/likes mangoes.
25. I _______ thinks/think it is good for you.
Answers:
1. is
2. was
3. are
4. was
5. have
6. seems
7. wants
8. is
9. are
10. has
11. does
12. makes
13. is
14. is
15. are
16. were
17. Has
18. is
19. are
20. speaks
21. has
22. is
23. have
24. likes
25. think