Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 7: Subject-Verb Concord MCQ Quiz with Answers

The CBSE Class 9 English exam has shifted heavily toward objective questions. The 2024-25 rationalized syllabus prioritizes grammar accuracy over theoretical essays. Subject-Verb Concord appears in multiple formats: error identification, blank-filling, and assertion-reason questions. MCQs are the fastest way to internalize these rules because they force you to compare options critically—exactly what the exam demands. A typical CBSE paper includes 8–12 grammar questions, and at least 2–3 test concord rules. By solving MCQs, you train your brain to recognize agreement errors in real time, reducing silly mistakes. The beauty of Kaveri Chapter 7 is its emphasis on practical scenarios: collective nouns (team, family, committee), indefinite pronouns (everyone, anyone, neither), and complex subjects (with and, or, either...or). Each MCQ here mirrors the textbook's language and difficulty level, ensuring your preparation is exam-aligned.

**Question 1:** The team ___ playing well today. (A) is (B) are (C) has (D) have **Answer:** (A) is **Reason:** Collective nouns like 'team' are singular in British English; use 'is'. **Question 2:** Neither of the students ___ completed their homework. (A) have (B) has (C) were (D) was **Answer:** (A) have **Reason:** Neither...nor takes a plural verb (students is plural); 'have' is correct. **Question 3:** She ___ the books on the shelf. (A) put (B) puts (C) putting (D) putted **Answer:** (B) puts **Reason:** Third-person singular present tense; add '-s' to the base verb. **Question 4:** The news ___ shocking yesterday. (A) were (B) was (C) are (D) be **Answer:** (B) was **Reason:** 'News' is uncountable (singular); use 'was'. **Question 5:** Either Ram or Priya ___ the prize. (A) win (B) wins (C) winning (D) won **Answer:** (B) wins **Reason:** Either...or with singular subjects takes singular verb; 'wins' (present tense). **Question 6:** The committee ___ ready to decide. (A) is (B) are (C) have (D) do **Answer:** (A) is **Reason:** Committee (collective noun) acts as one unit; 'is' is correct. **Question 7:** I ___ going to school every day. (A) am (B) is (C) are (D) be **Answer:** (A) am **Reason:** First-person singular present tense uses 'am'. **Question 8:** The children ___ playing in the park. (A) is (B) are (C) was (D) am **Answer:** (B) are **Reason:** 'Children' is plural; use 'are'. **Question 9:** Everyone ___ their own opinion. (A) have (B) has (C) are (D) were **Answer:** (B) has **Reason:** 'Everyone' is indefinite singular; 'has' is correct. **Question 10:** The scissors ___ sharp. (A) is (B) are (C) was (D) has **Answer:** (B) are **Reason:** Scissors (plural noun) always takes plural verb 'are'.

**Question 11:** Either the captain or the players ___ responsible for the loss. (A) is (B) are (C) were (D) was **Answer:** (C) were **Reason:** When 'either...or' has a plural subject at the end (players), the verb agrees with it; 'were' (past tense). **Question 12:** The jury ___ divided in their opinions. (A) is (B) are (C) have (D) do **Answer:** (B) are **Reason:** 'Jury' treated as individuals (plural sense); 'are' is correct. **Question 13:** Neither the teacher nor the students ___ about the exam. (A) knew (B) know (C) knows (D) knowing **Answer:** (A) knew **Reason:** Neither...nor with plural subject takes plural verb; context is past, so 'knew'. **Question 14:** The government ___ passed new laws to protect the environment. (A) have (B) has (C) is (D) are **Answer:** (B) has **Reason:** Government (collective noun, singular) acts as one unit; 'has' is correct. **Question 15:** Either Ram, Sita, or Lakshman ___ the keys. (A) have (B) has (C) are (D) were **Answer:** (A) have **Reason:** When 'either...or' connects subjects with or, and the last is plural, use plural verb 'have'. **Question 16:** The audience ___ appreciated the play. (A) have (B) has (C) were (D) are **Answer:** (A) have **Reason:** 'Audience' often acts as individuals (plural sense); 'have' is used. **Question 17:** Neither of the two proposals ___ acceptable. (A) is (B) are (C) were (D) was **Answer:** (A) is **Reason:** 'Neither' is singular; 'is' agrees with singular subject. **Question 18:** The data ___ suggest a clear trend. (A) does (B) do (C) is (D) are **Answer:** (B) do **Reason:** 'Data' (plural of datum) takes plural verb 'do' in modern English. **Question 19:** Either the parents or the child ___ be blamed. (A) cannot (B) cannot be (C) can (D) could **Answer:** (A) cannot **Reason:** Grammatically correct construction with either...or; singular verb 'cannot' (child is the nearest subject). **Question 20:** The couple ___ their anniversary next month. (A) celebrates (B) celebrate (C) celebrating (D) have celebrate **Answer:** (A) celebrates **Reason:** 'Couple' as a single unit takes singular 'celebrates'; matches present simple tense.

**Question 21:** **Assertion (A):** The committee have decided to postpone the meeting. **Reason (R):** Committee is a collective noun and always takes a plural verb. (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct reason. (B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct reason. (C) A is true, but R is false. (D) A is false, and R is true. **Answer:** (B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct reason. **Reason:** 'Committee' can be singular or plural depending on context; here 'have' suggests members acting individually, but it's not *always* plural. **Question 22:** **Assertion:** Neither the students nor the teacher was present at the meeting. **Reason:** When 'neither...nor' connects two singular subjects, the verb agrees with the nearest subject. (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct reason. (B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct reason. (C) A is false, but R is true. (D) Both A and R are false. **Answer:** (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct reason. **Reason:** The assertion is grammatically correct; the rule about the nearest subject explains why 'was' (singular) is used. **Question 23:** **Assertion:** The statistics show that crime has decreased. **Reason:** 'Statistics' is plural when referring to multiple data points. (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct reason. (B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct reason. (C) A is true, but R is false. (D) A is false, and R is true. **Answer:** (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct reason. **Reason:** Both sentences are accurate; statistics (plural) takes plural verb; this explains why 'show' is used. **Question 24:** **Assertion:** Either Raj or his friends is going to the concert. **Reason:** 'Friends' is the nearest subject to the verb, so it should govern agreement. (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct reason. (B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct reason. (C) A is false, and R is true. (D) A is true, but R is false. **Answer:** (C) A is false, and R is true. **Reason:** The assertion should read 'are going' (friends is plural and nearest); R correctly states the rule, but A violates it. **Question 25:** **Assertion:** The number of students have increased this year. **Reason:** 'Number' is a collective noun and always takes plural verbs. (A) A is true, but R is false. (B) Both A and R are false. (C) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct reason. (D) A is false, and R is true. **Answer:** (B) Both A and R are false. **Reason:** 'The number' is singular ('has increased'); 'A number' is plural. Collective nouns vary in usage. **Question 26:** **Assertion:** Either the CEO or the board members have final authority. **Reason:** When subjects differ in number, the plural verb is used if the plural subject is closest. (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct reason. (B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct reason. (C) A is true, but R is false. (D) Both A and R are false. **Answer:** (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct reason. **Reason:** 'Board members' (plural, closest) governs 'have'; this explains the agreement rule correctly. **Question 27:** **Assertion:** Everyone at the party were enjoying themselves. **Reason:** Indefinite pronouns like 'everyone' can take either singular or plural verbs. (A) A is false, but R is true. (B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct reason. (C) A is false, and R is false. (D) A is true, and R is the correct reason. **Answer:** (A) A is false, but R is true. **Reason:** 'Everyone' is strictly singular ('was enjoying'); R is true but doesn't fully justify why A is wrong. **Question 28:** **Assertion:** The flock of birds fly south in winter. **Reason:** 'Flock' is a collective noun referring to multiple birds, so plural verb is required. (A) A is true, but R is false. (B) Both A and R are false. (C) A is false, but R is true. (D) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct reason. **Answer:** (A) A is true, but R is false. **Reason:** While 'fly' can work (birds as individuals), standard agreement says 'the flock flies' (singular); R is too broad. **Question 29:** **Assertion:** Neither option nor alternative seems viable. **Reason:** 'Neither...nor' always requires the verb to agree with the nearest subject. (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct reason. (B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct reason. (C) A is true, but R is false. (D) Both A and R are false. **Answer:** (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct reason. **Reason:** 'Alternative' (singular, nearest) governs 'seems' (singular); the rule correctly explains agreement. **Question 30:** **Assertion:** The majority of voters has cast their ballots. **Reason:** When 'majority' precedes 'of,' it is treated as singular. (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct reason. (B) A is true, but R is false. (C) A is false, and R is true. (D) Both A and R are false. **Answer:** (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct reason. **Reason:** 'The majority' (singular) + plural object takes singular verb 'has'; the rule is correctly stated.

CBSE examiners deliberately include plausible-sounding wrong answers. Here are the top traps in Subject-Verb Concord MCQs: **Trap 1: Confusing the Subject with Nearby Nouns** Example: 'The box of books *are* on the shelf.' Students pick 'are' because 'books' is plural, but the subject is 'box' (singular), so the verb should be 'is'. Always identify the true subject by removing prepositional phrases. **Trap 2: Mishandling Either...Or and Neither...Nor** Incorrect: 'Either Ram or Priya are going.' Correct: 'Either Ram or Priya is going.' The verb agrees with the nearest subject (Priya = singular = 'is'). Watch out for options that ignore this rule. **Trap 3: Treating Collective Nouns Carelessly** Context matters. 'The team is winning' (team as one unit) vs. 'The team are arguing' (members as individuals). A trap option might offer the opposite verb form. Re-read the sentence context carefully. **Trap 4: Verb-Tense Mismatch** Example: 'Everyone ___ their homework yesterday.' Wrong: 'completes.' Correct: 'completed.' Don't just match subject-verb agreement; check tense consistency too. Trap options ignore the past-tense clue ('yesterday'). **Trap 5: Plural Pronouns with Singular Verbs** Example: 'Neither of the options ___ good.' Wrong: 'sounds' (sounds is singular but 'options' is plural). Correct: 'sound.' The verb must agree with the true subject ('options'), not the pronoun. **Trap 6: Confusing Uncountable Nouns** Words like 'news,' 'information,' 'data,' and 'statistics' are tricky. 'The news is shocking' (singular), but 'The statistics show...' (plural). Trap options reverse this. **Trap 7: Either...Or with Mixed Numbers** Example: 'Either the boy or the girls ___ ready.' The verb must agree with 'girls' (plural, nearest) = 'are.' A trap might offer 'is' (agreeing with 'boy' instead). **Pro Tip:** Cross out all modifying phrases (of + noun, prepositional clauses) to isolate the true subject. Then match the verb to that subject, considering the nearest subject if using either/neither or or/nor structures.

In a real CBSE exam, you have ~60 minutes for 40 marks of English (including grammar, reading, and writing). Grammar questions appear in the objective section. Here's how to maximize your score: **Step 1: Scan & Sort (2 minutes)** Quickly read all grammar MCQs. Identify easy ones (basic he/she/it rules, obvious tense mismatches) and hard ones (either/neither, collective nouns, assertion-reason). Tackle easy ones first to build confidence and secure marks quickly. **Step 2: Identify the Subject (10 seconds per question)** For each MCQ, underline the subject. Cross out prepositional phrases (of + noun, in, with, from, etc.). Example: 'The leader of the protests *is* angry.' Cross out 'of the protests'; subject = 'leader' (singular) = 'is'. **Step 3: Apply the Rule (10 seconds)** Recall: Is it a collective noun (check context)? Either/neither/or/nor structure (find nearest subject)? Indefinite pronoun (singular verb)? Uncountable noun (singular verb)? Match accordingly. **Step 4: Eliminate Trap Options (5 seconds)** Don't overthink. If you've identified the subject and rule, eliminate options that violate it. Don't second-guess yourself unless you're truly unsure. **Step 5: Answer & Move (2 seconds)** Mark your answer. Don't dwell. Spend saved time on harder questions or reading comprehension. **For Assertion-Reason MCQs (25 seconds each):** 1. Read Assertion (A) — is it grammatically correct? 2. Read Reason (R) — is the explanation valid? 3. Match to the four option patterns: - Both true + R explains A → (A) - Both true but R doesn't explain A → (B) - A true, R false → (C) - A false, R true or both false → (D) or (C) **Time Allocation Example:** - 12 grammar MCQs × 3 min per hard Q = 36 min - 5 min buffer for rechecking - ~20 min for non-grammar sections During revision, solve 30 MCQs under timed conditions (45 minutes) to internalize the rhythm and build confidence before your exam.

The 2024-25 CBSE textbook Kaveri emphasizes these core agreement principles: **1. Basic Rule:** A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb. Example: 'She walks' (singular) vs. 'They walk' (plural). **2. Collective Nouns:** Treat as singular when acting as one unit ('The team is winning'), plural when members act individually ('The team are arguing among themselves'). Common collective nouns in exams: family, committee, jury, audience, crowd, flock, government. **3. Indefinite Pronouns:** Always singular—everyone, everyone, anybody, somebody, nobody, either, neither, each, one. Example: 'Everyone has their own opinion.' **4. Either...Or & Neither...Nor:** The verb agrees with the nearest subject. Example: 'Either the captain or the players are responsible' (players = plural, nearest). **5. Compound Subjects (and):** Generally plural. Example: 'Ram and Priya are friends.' Exception: 'bread and butter is...', 'each boy and girl is...' (when 'each' precedes). **6. Compound Subjects (or/nor):** Verb agrees with the nearest subject. Example: 'Either you or I am wrong.' **7. Uncountable Nouns:** Always singular—information, advice, news, furniture, luggage, equipment, poetry, mathematics, physics. Example: 'The news is shocking.' **8. Plural Nouns Requiring Singular Verbs:** statistics, mathematics, economics, mumps, measles, physics. Example: 'Statistics shows...' (note: context-dependent; 'statistical data' is plural). **9. Amounts/Distances/Time:** Singular when treated as a whole unit. Example: 'Ten kilometers is a long distance' (but 'Ten kilometers have passed since...'; context matters). **10. Subject-Verb Separation:** Ignore intervening clauses or phrases. Example: 'The box of books *is* on the table' (ignore 'of books'; subject = box = singular). These rules directly align with Kaveri Chapter 7 exercises and are heavily tested in CBSE exams. Memorizing them and practicing with MCQs will sharpen your accuracy.