Class 9 English Grammar Subject Verb Agreement | Subject Verb Agreement Exercise with Answers
Subject Verb Agreement Rules for class 9
Subject Verb Agreement for Class 9- If you want to ace your English grammar skills then you cannot overlook the topic of Subject-verb agreement. Students can score full marks in the Grammar section with the complete knowledge of subject-verb agreement. This article gives you a detailed lesson on the grammar topic of Subject – verb agreement with solved questions for your practice.
First of all, let us understand what does the grammar topic of subject-verb agreement mean-
Subject-Verb Agreement means that subjects and verbs must always agree in number. Not only does a verb change its form to tell time, but it also can change its form to indicate how many subjects it has.
There are some cases which have to be kept in mind while determining the correct verb form for the subject given. Read further to understand these unique situations.
Let us see the different rules related to subject – verb agreement to be kept in mind –
1. Third person singular form of verbs in the simple present tense
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.
He/ She/ Common Nouns/ Proper Nouns + verb (base form) with s/es at the end + object (optional)
Let us take a look at the examples
- He goes for a jog every morning.
- Does she like coffee?
2. Subject ‘one of + plural noun’
This rule for subject verb agreement is that the subject ‘one of + plural noun’ is singular and the verb along with it is also singular.
Let us take a look at the examples
- One of my friends plays badminton internationally.
- One of my neighbors owns a Mercedes Benz.
3. When the subject and the verb are separated by a clause
This rule is that when the subject and the verb are separated by a clause or a long phrase, the verb must agree with the actual subject.
Let us take a look at the examples
- The vegetables that father brought in the morning are now rotten.
- My dog that used to stay cheerful earlier is now moody.
4. When a subject is made up of two or more nouns joined by ‘and’
This rule says that 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.
Let us take a look at the examples
- Snakes and mongoose are supposed to be enemies.
- The plate and bowl are kept in the cupboard.
5. When two subjects are joined together by ‘as well as’, ‘with’, ‘in addition to’
This rule states that 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.
Let us take a look at the examples
- Mr. Gurpreet as well as his sons runs a business in Chandni Chowk.
- My friends as well as I are going on a trip.
6. Words such as each, every, either, neither and ‘many a’
This rule states that the words such as each, every, either, neither and ‘many a’ are followed by a singular verb.
Let us take a look at the examples
- Neither of the five thieves is caught.
- Each student has passed with flying colors.
7. When the word ‘none’ is used
This rule says that the word ‘none’ will take a verb according to the sense of the sentence. It might be singular or plural depending upon the sentence.
Let us take a look at the examples
- None of the students did their homework.
- None of the kids wants to go out and play.
8. Distances, weights or amounts
This rule of subject verb agreement says that 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.
Let us take a look at the examples
- Ten thousand rupees will be enough to host the birthday party.
- Delhi is 250 kilometers from Dehradun.
9. Collective nouns such as ‘group’, ‘herd’, ‘team’
The ninth rule is that 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.
Let us take a look at the examples
- A group of children is performing nukkad natak on the street.
- The herd of bison ran across the prairie, leaving a massive dust cloud in its wake.
10. Uncountable nouns such as furniture, sugar, rice, equipment
Uncountable nouns such as furniture, sugar, rice, equipment, etc. are considered singular subjects and get singular verbs attached to them.
Let us take a look at the examples
- The furniture in his room is very modern.
- The weather is going to be pleasant today.
11. Nouns like amends, archives, compasses, glasses, trousers
This rule states that 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.
Let us take a look at the examples
- This pair of jeans needs to be washed.
- The scissors are lying on the floor.
12. Nouns like news, physics, measles, ethics
This rule for the subject-verb agreement states that nouns like news, physics, measles, ethics are although plural by name but are considered to be singular when used in a sentence.
Let us take a look at the examples
- Physics is mostly detested by students.
- According to the news, it is going to be the most damaging flood.
Here is a list of subject words which are plural by sound but are considered singular-
- Mathematics
- Politics
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rickets
- Billiards
- Darts
- Draughts
- The United States
- The West Indies
- The Arabian Nights
- Three Musketeers
- Physics
- Economics
- Civics
- Statistics
- Political Sciences
- Physics
- News
- Ethics
Exercise on Subject Verb Agreement (Practice Questions) for Class 9
Choose the correct option:
1. Neither of the houses ___________(is/are) worth much.
2. Some of the food ____________(is/are) delicious.
3. The news ____________(seems/seem) more and more depressing every day.
4. Measles ___________ (is/are) the only childhood disease I haven’t had.
5. Three weeks __________ (are/is) a long vacation.
6. The team _____(has/have) received their letters.
7. The detectives ____(are/is) investigating the case.
8. None of these flowers ________(grow/grows) well inside the house.
9. Neither of these printers _________(work/works) properly.
10. Bread and eggs ___ (is/are) my favourite.
11. Don’t you think oil in America ____________(cost/costs) much less than in India.
12. Each of the girls ______(has/have) her own dress.
13. Five miles _____ (is/are) long distance.
14. Many a man ______ (have/has) tried hard to climb the treacherous mountain range.
15. Few students ___(is/are) coming to the party.
16. The level of pain tolerance ________(vary/varies) from person to person.
17. Either Tina or Rohit ______ (is/are) telling lies.
18. The government ________(was/were) criticised by the Supreme Court for their actions.
19. Two ________(year/years) ago, here is the place where the accident took place.
20. Fast food, like burgers and street food, ________ (is/are) harmful to our health.
21. If anybody _______(calls/call) for me, do let me know.
22. The people ______(has/have) lived without electricity for many years.
23. The dog ____ (is/are) chasing the cat.
24. Neither Penny nor Amy _______(has/have) gone to work.
25. The Olympics _______ (is/are) held every four years.
Answers:
1. is
2. is
3. seems
4. is
5. is
6. has
7. are
8. grows
9. work
10. is
11. costs
12. Has
13. is
14. has
15. are
16. varies
17. is
18. was
19. years
20. is
21. calls
22. have
23. is
24. has
25. is
A Fill in the blanks with appropriate words keeping subject verb agreement in mind:
My favorite hobby 1. __________ reading. I enjoy reading 2. ___________ because it 3. __________me to explore new worlds and learn about different 4. ______________ . Reading 5. __________ me improve my vocabulary and comprehension skills.
1. (a) are (b) is (c) some (d) the
2. (a) books (b) his books (c) her books (d) book
3. (a) allowed (b) allow (c) allows (d) allowing
4. (a) some cultures (b) cultures (c) culture (d) my culture
5. (a) help (b) helped (c) helping (d) helps
Answers
1. (b) is
2. (a) books
3. (c) allows
4. (b) cultures
5. (d) helps
B Fill in the blanks with appropriate words keeping subject verb agreement in mind:
Education is very important because it 1. _____________ us with the knowledge and skills that we 2. ____________ to succeed in life. Education 3. __________ us understand the world around us and make 4. __________ decisions. It also helps us 5. ___________ critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities. Education is the key to a brighter future.
1. (a) provide (b) has provided (c) provides (d) providing
2. (a) need (b) needs (c) needed (d) would need
3. (a) help (b) would help (c) helps (d) helped
4. (a) informing (b) informed (c) had informed (d) have informed
5. (a) develop (b) develops (c) developed (d) had developed
Answers
1. (c) provides
2. (a) need
3. (c) helps
4. (b) informed
5. (a) develop
C Fill in the blanks with appropriate words keeping subject verb agreement in mind:
We 1. ______________rubbish dump full of polythene, animals, especially cows, eat garbage. They 2. ____________ materials like polythene bags and wrappers of food. The plastic material 3. ___________ their respiratory system and stomach. It can 4. __________ death. Carelessly thrown poly bags clog the drains. Wrappers of chips, biscuits, other eatables and polythene should not be 5. __________ on the roads or near drains.
1. (a) seen (b) just see (c) see (d) saw
2. (a) swallow (b) swallowed (c) swallows (d) swallowing
3. (a) chokes (b) choked (c) just chokes (d) had choked
4. (a) caused (b) cause (c) causing (d) had caused
5. (a) threw (b) had thrown (c) thrown (d) throwing
Answers
1. (c) see
2. (a) swallow
3. (a) chokes
4. (b) cause
5. (c) thrown
D Fill in the blanks with appropriate words keeping subject verb agreement in mind:
The Rajasthan Government has 1. __________ the ‘Right to Education (RTE)’ act since March 29, 2011. The Central Government implemented it in 2009. After this act every child between 6 to 14 years has 2. _______ a right to get free and compulsory education. Every private school is to 3. __________ 25% free admission to the students from weaker societies. No student will be 4. ___________ a failure. There will be grades instead of marks. We should be 5. _________ with the provisions in the Act.
1. (a) implements (b) implemented (c) implement (d) implementing
2. (a) got (b) get (c) gotten (d) has gotten
3. (a) provided (b) provides (c) providing (d) provide
4. (a) declare (b) declared (c) declaring (d) has declared
5. (a) benefit (b) has benefited (c) benefited (d) had benefited
Answers
1. (b) implemented
2. (a) got
3. (d) provide
4. (b) declared
5. (c) benefited
E Fill in the blanks with appropriate words keeping subject verb agreement in mind:
Morning walk has a number of advantages. 1. ____________ refreshes our mind and makes us smart and cheerful. It 2. ___________ our efficiency. It keeps the diseases away. In the morning, nature is full of peace and beauty. We 3. __________ the beauties of nature. Birds chirp. The air is cool and fresh. We 4. __________ natural oxygen which makes our lungs and heart strong. Morning walk 5. _________ nothing but gives a wealth of good health.
1. (a) Its (b) It (c) Them (d) He
2. (a) increases (b) increased (c) has increased (d) increasing
3. (a) enjoyed (b) enjoying (c) has enjoyed (d) enjoy
4. (a) gotten (b) get (c) gets (d) had gotten
5. (a) costed (b) cost (c) costs (d) has costed
Answers
1. (b) It
2. (a) increases
3. (d) enjoy
4. (b) get
5. (c) costs