In English grammar, Subject-Verb Concord, also known as Subject-Verb Agreement, is a fundamental rule that governs the relationship between the subject and the verb in a sentence. It ensures that the verb agrees with the number and person of the subject. Subject-verb concord is crucial for maintaining sentence coherence and clarity. In this chapter, we will delve into the rules governing subject-verb concord and explore various examples to strengthen our understanding.
Section 1: Number Agreement
The basic rule of subject-verb concord is that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. Let's examine the key points for number agreement:
Singular Subjects: When the subject of a sentence is singular (referring to one person, place, thing, or idea), the verb must also be in the singular form.
Example:
- She runs every morning.
- The bird sings beautifully.
Plural Subjects: When the subject is plural (referring to more than one person, place, thing, or idea), the verb should be in the plural form.
Example:
- They play soccer on weekends.
- The dogs bark loudly at night.
Indefinite Pronouns: Some indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural depending on their context. For instance, "everyone," "nobody," "somebody," "each," and "everyone" are singular and require a singular verb, while "both," "few," "many," and "several" are plural and require a plural verb.
Example:
- Everybody wants to succeed. (singular)
- Both teams are ready for the game. (plural)
Section 2: Person Agreement
The rule of person agreement states that the verb must agree with the person of the subject. There are three persons in English: first person (I, we), second person (you), and third person (he, she, it, they).
First Person: The first-person subject requires a corresponding first-person verb.
Example:
- I love playing the piano.
- We enjoy hiking in the mountains.
Second Person: The second-person subject necessitates a second-person verb.
Example:
- You look beautiful today.
- Do you need any help?
Third Person: The third-person subject should take a third-person verb.
Example:
- He goes to school every day.
- She sings beautifully.
Section 3: Tricky Cases
Collective Nouns: Collective nouns refer to groups of people or things but are treated as singular when the group is seen as a single entity. They take singular verbs.
Example:
- The team is practicing for the tournament.
- My family enjoys spending time together.
Titles, Names, and Phrases: Titles, names, and phrases referring to a singular entity take singular verbs, even though they may imply multiple people or things.
Example:
- "The Lord of the Rings" is a famous fantasy novel.
- "Mathematics" is a challenging subject.
Section 4: When Subjects Are Connected
When subjects are connected by "and," the verb should generally be plural. However, there are exceptions when the connected subjects refer to a single entity.
Plural Subjects Connected by "And":
Example:
- Tom and Jerry are good friends.
- Cats and dogs chase each other.
Singular Subjects Connected by "And":
Example:
- Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.
- The captain and coach is arriving together.
Section 5: Inverted Word Order
In some sentences, the subject and verb positions are inverted, such as in questions and certain expressions. The same rules of subject-verb concord apply to these sentences as well.
Example:
- Have you seen the movie yet?
- Here comes the bus!
Conclusion
Subject-Verb Concord is an essential aspect of English grammar that ensures the proper agreement between subjects and verbs in sentences. By following the rules outlined in this chapter, you can improve the accuracy and clarity of your writing, making your communication more effective and precise. Practice identifying subjects and verbs, and remember to pay attention to both number and person agreement. With time and practice, mastering subject-verb concord will become second nature, enhancing your overall proficiency in English language usage.
Exercise 1. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) to test students of Class 10 on the topic of Subject-Verb Agreement:
Question 1: Choose the sentence with the correct subject-verb agreement.
A) The group of students was going on a field trip. B) The group of students were going on a field trip.
Question 2: Select the sentence that demonstrates the correct subject-verb agreement.
A) Either John or his friends are coming to the party. B) Either John or his friends is coming to the party.
Question 3: Identify the sentence with the appropriate subject-verb agreement.
A) Some of the cake were missing from the plate. B) Some of the cake was missing from the plate.
Question 4: Which of the following sentences has the correct subject-verb agreement?
A) Each of the boys are wearing a blue shirt. B) Each of the boys is wearing a blue shirt.
Question 5: Choose the sentence that shows the accurate subject-verb agreement.
A) The news are not good. B) The news is not good.
Question 6: Identify the correct sentence with subject-verb agreement.
A) The number of people attending the seminar are large. B) The number of people attending the seminar is large.
Question 7: Select the sentence with the proper subject-verb agreement.
A) There goes the students. B) There go the students.
Question 8: Which sentence displays the correct subject-verb agreement?
A) My favorite color is green, and my sister's favorite color is blue. B) My favorite color are green, and my sister's favorite color is blue.
Question 9: Choose the sentence that demonstrates the appropriate subject-verb agreement.
A) The police officer who saved the kittens were praised by the community. B) The police officer who saved the kittens was praised by the community.
Question 10: Identify the sentence with the correct subject-verb agreement.
A) Each of these books have colorful covers. B) Each of these books has a colorful cover.
Answer Key:
- A
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- A
- B
- B
Exercise 1. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) to test students of Class 10 on the topic of Subject-Verb Agreement:
Question 1: Select the sentence with the correct subject-verb agreement.
A) The multitude of issues were discussed in the meeting. B) The multitude of issues was discussed in the meeting. C) The multitude of issues is discussed in the meeting.
Question 2: Choose the sentence that demonstrates the correct subject-verb agreement.
A) Neither the teacher nor the students was understanding the concept. B) Neither the teacher nor the students were understanding the concept. C) Neither the teacher nor the students is understanding the concept.
Question 3: Identify the sentence with the appropriate subject-verb agreement.
A) Each of the boys were given a prize for their achievements. B) Each of the boys was given a prize for their achievements. C) Each of the boys was given a prize for his achievements.
Question 4: Which of the following sentences has the correct subject-verb agreement?
A) Either the dog or the cats are sleeping in the garden. B) Either the dog or the cats is sleeping in the garden. C) Either the dog or the cats are sleeping in the gardens.
Question 5: Choose the sentence that shows the accurate subject-verb agreement.
A) The committee have not reached a decision yet. B) The committee has not reached a decision yet. C) The committee is not reaching a decision yet.
Question 6: Identify the correct sentence with subject-verb agreement.
A) The percentage of employees who are satisfied with their jobs are decreasing. B) The percentage of employees who is satisfied with their jobs are decreasing. C) The percentage of employees who are satisfied with their jobs is decreasing.
Question 7: Select the sentence with the proper subject-verb agreement.
A) Neither of the options were suitable for the task. B) Neither of the options was suitable for the task. C) Neither of the options is suitable for the task.
Question 8: Which sentence displays the correct subject-verb agreement?
A) The cost of the products have increased significantly. B) The cost of the products has increased significantly. C) The cost of the products is increased significantly.
Question 9: Choose the sentence that demonstrates the appropriate subject-verb agreement.
A) One of the students were absent yesterday. B) One of the students was absent yesterday. C) One of the students is absent yesterday.
Question 10: Identify the sentence with the correct subject-verb agreement.
A) The staff at the restaurant was working tirelessly to serve the customers. B) The staff at the restaurant were working tirelessly to serve the customers. C) The staff at the restaurant is working tirelessly to serve the customers.
Answer Key:
- B
- B
- C
- B
- B
- C
- B
- B
- B
- A
