Subjects and verbs Agreement is a crucial grammar topic for Class 10 CBSE students. This comprehensive guide covers 12 essential rules with examples, practice questions, and answers. Master singular-plural matching, collective nouns, and tricky cases like ‘either…or’ and ‘one of’. Perfect for board exam preparation with easy-to-understand tables and tips to score full marks in English grammar.
What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-Verb Agreement means the subject and verb in a sentence must match in number. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.
Simple Rule:
- The boy plays cricket. (Singular)
- The boys play cricket. (Plural)
12 Essential Rules with Examples
Rule 1: Basic Agreement
| Singular | Singular | She goes to school |
| Plural | Plural | They go to school |
Remember: Add ‘s/es’ to verbs for singular subjects in present tense!
Rule 2: Two Subjects Joined by ‘And’
Use plural verb when subjects are joined by ‘and’.
Examples:
- Ram and Shyam are friends.
- Tea and coffee are served.
Exception: When referring to one thing:
- Bread and butter is my breakfast.
Rule 3: Subjects Joined by ‘Or’, ‘Nor’, ‘Either…Or’, ‘Neither…Nor’
Verb agrees with the nearest subject.
| Either Ram or his friends are responsible | are (agrees with ‘friends’) |
| Either his friends or Ram is responsible | is (agrees with ‘Ram’) |
| Neither the teacher nor students were present | were (agrees with ‘students’) |
Rule 4: Each, Every, Everyone, Everybody – Always Singular
Examples:
- Each student has a book.
- Every child is special.
- Everyone knows the answer.
- Somebody is knocking.
Memory Trick: Words with ‘-one’, ‘-body’, ‘each’, ‘every’ = SINGULAR!
Rule 5: Collective Nouns – Usually Singular
Collective nouns (team, family, group, class, committee) take singular verbs when acting as one unit.
Examples:
- The team is playing well.
- My family lives in Delhi.
- The committee has decided.
Rule 6: Subject Names Ending in ‘S’ – Singular
| News | is | The news is good |
| Mathematics | is | Mathematics is difficult |
| Physics | is | Physics requires focus |
| Economics | is | Economics deals with money |
Rule 7: ‘A Number Of’ vs ‘The Number Of’
| A number of (many) | Plural | A number of students are absent |
| The number of (total) | Singular | The number of students is fifty |
Easy Trick: “A” = Many (plural) | “The” = Total (singular)
Rule 8: Distance, Time, Money as Single Units
When representing one amount, use singular verb.
Examples:
- Ten kilometers is too far.
- Five hundred rupees is enough.
- Two hours is sufficient time.
Rule 9: ‘All’, ‘Some’, ‘Most’, ‘None’ – Depends on Following Noun
| All the milk is finished | milk = uncountable (singular) |
| All the students are present | students = countable (plural) |
| Some water is left | water = uncountable (singular) |
| Some books are missing | books = countable (plural) |
Rule 10: ‘One Of’ – Always Singular
Examples:
- One of my friends is a doctor.
- One of the boys has won.
Common Mistake: One of my friends are doctors.
Rule 11: ‘With’, ‘Along With’, ‘As Well As’
Verb agrees with the first subject only.
Examples:
- The teacher, along with students, is going.
- Ram, with his friends, has arrived.
Rule 12: ‘There Is’ vs ‘There Are’
| There is a book | There are many books |
| There was a party | There were many guests |
Quick Reference Table – All Rules
| Singular subject | Singular | He plays |
| Plural subject | Plural | They play |
| Two subjects + ‘and’ | Plural | Ram and Shyam are |
| ‘Either…or’ | Nearest subject | Either Ram or boys are |
| Each, Every, Everyone | Singular | Everyone is |
| Collective nouns | Singular | Team is |
| News, Mathematics | Singular | Mathematics is |
| ‘A number of’ | Plural | A number are |
| ‘The number of’ | Singular | The number is |
| Distance/Money/Time | Singular | Ten km is |
| ‘One of’ | Singular | One is |
| With, Along with | First subject | Ram, with friends, is |
Common Mistakes Students Make
| The box of chocolates are | The box is | ‘Box’ is the subject |
| One of my friends are | One of my friends is | ‘One’ is singular |
| Mathematics are difficult | Mathematics is difficult | Subject names are singular |
| The team are playing | The team is playing | Collective noun (one unit) |
| Either Ram or friends is | Either Ram or friends are | Agrees with ‘friends’ (nearest) |
Practice Exercises for Class 10
Fill in the blanks with correct verb form:
- The children _______ (play/plays) in the garden.
- Either you or I _______ (am/are) wrong.
- Mathematics _______ (is/are) interesting.
- A number of students _______ (has/have) participated.
- The team _______ (is/are) celebrating.
- Everyone _______ (know/knows) the answer.
- Neither Ram nor his friends _______ (was/were) present.
- One of the boys _______ (has/have) won.
- Ten kilometers _______ (is/are) a long distance.
- There _______ (is/are) many people here.
Answers to Practice
- play (children = plural)
- am (agrees with ‘I’)
- is (Mathematics = singular)
- have (‘A number of’ = plural)
- is (collective noun = singular)
- knows (Everyone = singular)
- were (agrees with ‘friends’)
- has (‘One of’ = singular)
- is (distance as unit = singular)
- are (many people = plural)
Learn More
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Conclusion
Subject-Verb Agreement is essential for scoring high marks in Class 10 CBSE exams. With these 12 rules, practice questions, and quick reference tables, you’re fully prepared to master this grammar topic. Practice daily, revise regularly, and apply these rules in your writing. Success in English grammar is now just practice away!
