Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of writing in English. It refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence, in terms of number and person. This agreement is essential for grammatically correct and coherent sentences. Class 9th students should understand the subject-verb agreement rules to improve their writing and communication skills. Here are some essential rules of subject-verb agreement that every class 9th student should know.
1. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. For example, “The girl walks” (singular subject, singular verb) and “The girls walk” (plural subject, plural verb).
2. When the subject is joined by “and,” the verb is usually plural. For example, “Tom and Jerry are friends.”
3. When the subject is joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the nearest subject. For example, “Neither the teacher nor the students are coming.”
4. Collective nouns are used to describe a group of people or things as a single entity. Collective nouns can be either singular or plural. When used as singular, they take a singular verb, and when used as plural, they take a plural verb. For example, “The team is playing well” (singular) and “The team are happy with their performance” (plural).
5. Verbs that end in “-s” or “-es” usually indicate the third person singular. Therefore, they take plural verbs when used with non-third person singular subjects. For example, “He eats rice” (singular subject, singular verb) and “They eat rice” (plural subject, plural verb).
6. When the subject is an indefinite pronoun, such as “everyone,” “someone,” or “anyone,” the verb is singular. For example, “Everyone is here.”
7. When the subject is a relative pronoun, such as “who,” “which,” or “that,” the verb agrees with the antecedent noun. For example, “The book that I borrowed from the library is interesting.”
8. Quantifiers, such as “many,” “a lot,” or “few,” can be either singular or plural, depending on the noun they refer to. For example, “Many students are absent today.”
In conclusion, understanding subject-verb agreement rules is crucial for class 9th students to improve their writing skills. By following these rules, they can avoid grammatical errors and create coherent and meaningful sentences. Students should practice using these rules in their writing to master them and become confident writers.