As a student in tenth grade, it is crucial to have a solid understanding of subject-verb agreement. A simple way to define subject-verb agreement is when the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number. In simpler terms, if the subject is plural, then the verb should also be in the plural form.
To help you strengthen your skills in subject-verb agreement, we have prepared a list of exercises with answers that will be beneficial in your preparation for class 10 English exams.
Exercise 1:
Choose the correct verb form that agrees with the subject in each sentence.
1. The dog (barks, bark) at the mailman every day.
Answer: barks
Explanation: The subject of the sentence is the singular noun ‘dog’, and therefore, the verb form should also be singular – ‘barks’.
2. Our new classmate (speak, speaks) three languages fluently.
Answer: speaks
Explanation: The subject of the sentence is the singular noun ‘classmate’, and therefore, the verb form should also be singular – ‘speaks’.
3. The group of students (is, are) planning a field trip next week.
Answer: is
Explanation: The subject of the sentence is the singular noun ‘group’, but it refers to a group of people. In this case, the subject is considered singular, and therefore, the verb form should also be singular – ‘is’.
4. The boys in the class (likes, like) to play soccer during recess.
Answer: like
Explanation: The subject of the sentence is the plural noun ‘boys’, and therefore, the verb form should also be plural – ‘like’.
Exercise 2:
Identify the subject and verb in each sentence and determine if they are in agreement.
1. The flowers in the garden needs to be watered.
Answer: Subject – flowers; Verb – needs; Incorrect agreement
Explanation: The subject of the sentence is the plural noun ‘flowers’, but the verb form ‘needs’ is singular. The correct verb form should be ‘need’.
2. My friends and I are going to the mall after school.
Answer: Subject – friends/I; Verb – are; Correct agreement
Explanation: The subject of the sentence is the plural noun ‘friends’ and the pronoun ‘I’. Both are plural, and therefore, the verb form ‘are’ is correct.
3. Each of the students in the class have submitted their essays.
Answer: Subject – each/student; Verb – have submitted; Incorrect agreement
Explanation: The subject of the sentence is ‘each’, which is considered singular, and therefore, the verb form ‘has submitted’ should be used instead.
4. The book on the shelf needs to be returned to the library.
Answer: Subject – book; Verb – needs; Correct agreement
Explanation: The subject of the sentence is the singular noun ‘book’, and therefore, the verb form ‘needs’ is correct.
By practicing exercises on subject-verb agreement, you will gain a better understanding of how to construct grammatically correct sentences. Always remember that when the subject and verb agree in number, the sentence flows smoothly and is easy to read.