Subject – verb concord- Practice test – NCERT – Class 10

Subject – verb concord- Practice test – NCERT – Class 10

Singular Subjects and Verbs:

When the subject of a sentence is singular (referring to one person, thing, or idea), the verb must also be singular.

Example: The cat is sleeping.

In this sentence, “cat” is a singular subject, so the verb “is” is singular to match it.

Plural Subjects and Verbs:

When the subject of a sentence is plural (referring to more than one person, thing, or idea), the verb must also be plural.

Example: The cats are playing.

In this sentence, “cats” is a plural subject, so the verb “are” is plural to match it.

Agreement with Compound Subjects:

When the subject of a sentence is a compound subject (composed of two or more nouns or pronouns joined by “and”), the verb is generally plural.

Example: Tom and Jerry are best friends.

“Tom” and “Jerry” together form a compound subject, so the verb “are” is plural.

Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns:

Indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, nobody, somebody, each, either, neither) are singular, so the verb that follows them should also be singular.

Example: Everyone wants to succeed.

“Everyone” is the singular subject, so the verb “wants” is singular.

Exceptions and Special Cases:

Collective Nouns: Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, audience) can take singular or plural verbs depending on whether the emphasis is on the group as a whole (singular) or the individuals within the group (plural).

Example: The team is practicing. (Singular – focusing on the team as a unit)

Example: The team are arguing. (Plural – focusing on the individual members)

Special Nouns: Certain nouns, despite being plural in form, are treated as singular and take singular verbs. These include news, mathematics, physics, etc.

Example: Mathematics is my favorite subject.

Here’s a table comparing verbs and verb concord (subject-verb agreement):

Aspect	Verb	Verb Concord (Subject-Verb Agreement)
Definition	A word expressing action, occurrence,	A grammatical principle stating that the subject and verb in a sentence
	or state of being in a sentence.	must agree in number.
Purpose	Essential for constructing sentences	Ensures grammatical accuracy and clarity by matching the number of the
	and conveying meaning.	subject with the appropriate form of the verb.
Example	She sings beautifully.	In the sentence “He goes to school,” the singular subject “He” matches
		the singular verb “goes” in the present tense.
Role	Part of speech	Grammatical rule
Application	Can occur in various forms to	Applies to the relationship between the subject and verb in a sentence.
	indicate different tenses, moods,
	voices, and aspects.
Importance	Essential for constructing sentences	Essential for grammatical accuracy and clear communication in writing.