Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of the English language, especially in the academic context. It is a fundamental rule that governs the relationship between the subject and the verb in a sentence. Essentially, the subject is the doer of the action, and the verb is the action itself. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that the subject and verb agree in terms of number and tense. This article aims to provide an overview of subject-verb agreement and discuss some MCQ questions that are typically asked in Class 9th exams.
Subject-verb agreement refers to the correct matching of the subject and verb in a sentence. In simple terms, if the subject is singular, the verb must also be in singular form. Likewise, if the subject is plural, the verb must be in plural form. For example:
Singular Subject: The cat drinks milk. (The subject and verb `drinks` agree in singular form as `cat` is a singular noun)
Plural Subject: The cats drink milk. (The subject and verb `drink` agree in plural form as `cats` is a plural noun)
It is also essential to ensure that the verb agrees in tense with the subject. For instance, if the subject is in present tense, the verb should also be in the present tense. Similarly, if the subject is in past tense, the verb should also be in the past tense. For example:
Present Tense: John writes a letter. (The subject and verb `writes` agree in present tense as `John` is a singular noun)
Past Tense: John wrote a letter. (The subject and verb `wrote` agree in past tense as `John` is a singular noun)
Now let`s move on to some MCQ questions that are commonly asked in Class 9th exams:
Question 1: The group of students __(is/are)__ going on a field trip tomorrow.
Answer: The correct answer is `is`. Here, the subject `group` is singular, so the verb `is` should agree in singular form.
Question 2: Each of the books __(is/are)__ interesting in its way.
Answer: The correct answer is `is`. Here, the word `each` is a singular pronoun, and therefore, the verb `is` should agree in singular form.
Question 3: The committee __(has/have)__ reached a decision.
Answer: The correct answer is `has`. Here, the word `committee` is a singular noun, and therefore, the verb `has` should agree in singular form.
Question 4: Either the cat or the dog __(is/are)__ responsible for the mess.
Answer: The correct answer is `is`. Here, the conjunction `either…or` indicates the use of a singular verb, which agrees with the singular subject `cat` and `dog`.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of the English language that ensures clear communication and effectively conveys the intended meaning. Therefore, it is essential to understand the concept and practice it in written and spoken communication. To ace Class 9th MCQ questions related to subject-verb agreement, it is crucial to understand the rules and apply them correctly.