Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 7: Subject-Verb Concord — 13 Solved Previous Year Questions
Subject-Verb Concord is one of the most tested grammar concepts in CBSE Class 9 English. This chapter from Kaveri teaches students how to match verbs correctly with their subjects—a skill that appears in every board exam, worksheet, and competitive test. Whether your child struggles with 'The team are/is playing' or 'Neither of them were/was right,' mastering concord rules prevents costly marks loss. Our collection of 13 solved previous year questions walks through real CBSE patterns, model answers, and expert explanations so your child can confidently tackle any concord question on their exam.
Your child's private AI tutor — trained on NCERT.
3-day free trial · ₹1 to start · Cancel anytime.
What Is Subject-Verb Concord in CBSE Class 9 English?
Subject-Verb Concord refers to the grammatical agreement between a subject and its verb. In simple terms, if the subject is singular, the verb must be singular; if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. NCERT Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 7 teaches that this rule applies across all tenses and sentence structures. Understanding concord prevents errors like 'The dogs is barking' and ensures your writing meets formal English standards required in CBSE exams and everyday communication.
13 Solved Previous Year CBSE Questions on Subject-Verb Concord
These questions have appeared in actual CBSE Class 9 board exams, half-yearly tests, and quarterly assessments. Each question includes the correct answer, detailed explanation, and the concord rule applied. Questions range from basic singular-plural matching to complex structures involving collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and inverted subjects. Working through all 13 variants ensures your child recognizes every pattern the examiner might test and builds confidence for the final exam.
Common Errors in Subject-Verb Concord Every CBSE Student Makes
Class 9 students frequently confuse: (1) Collective nouns—'The committee are/is deciding'; (2) Indefinite pronouns—'Everyone have/has finished'; (3) Inverted subjects—'Are the books on the shelf?'; (4) Plural nouns ending in 's' that are singular—'Mathematics is difficult'; (5) 'Neither/Either...nor/or' constructions. These errors cost 2–5 marks per question. Recognizing these pitfalls during revision helps students avoid them on exam day. Our solved questions isolate each error type with clear corrections.
Step-by-Step Method to Solve Concord Questions
First, identify the subject of the sentence (ask 'Who/What is performing the action?'). Second, determine whether the subject is singular or plural. Third, check if special rules apply (collective nouns, pronouns, inverted structure). Fourth, select the verb form that matches. Fifth, read the complete sentence aloud to verify it sounds natural. This method, taught in NCERT Class 9, works for 99% of concord questions. Practice it on all 13 previous year questions until it becomes automatic.
Subject-Verb Concord Rules: Complete NCERT Reference Guide
Rule 1: Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs. Rule 2: Collective nouns (team, family, class) are usually singular in British English. Rule 3: Indefinite pronouns (everyone, someone, anyone, nobody) are singular. Rule 4: Plural nouns ending in 's' but singular in meaning (news, measles, physics) take singular verbs. Rule 5: Two subjects joined by 'and' are plural; joined by 'or/nor' agree with the nearer subject. Rule 6: In inverted sentences, the verb still agrees with the subject. Mastering these rules unlocks the chapter.
Why CBSETUTOR.ai Is the Most-Trusted AI Tutor for CBSE English Across India
CBSETUTOR.ai serves thousands of CBSE families across India with 24x7 AI-powered personalized tutoring for Classes 6–12. Our English module covers all chapters, including Subject-Verb Concord, with interactive practice, instant feedback, and progress tracking. Students use our AI tutor to clarify doubts immediately, take unlimited quizzes on previous year questions, and build exam readiness. Hindi-medium and English-medium learners both benefit from our NCERT-aligned explanations. Parents trust us because we're affordable, reliable, and genuinely improve marks.
Previous Year Question Patterns: What Examiners Test
CBSE examiners focus on: (1) Fill-in-the-blank questions requiring correct verb selection; (2) Error identification—spotting wrong verbs in sentences; (3) Rewriting sentences with correct concord; (4) Multiple-choice questions mixing distractors that sound right but violate concord. Questions usually appear in Grammar sections worth 10–15 marks total. By studying our 13 solved examples, your child sees the exact question formats, marking schemes, and scoring patterns used by CBSE. This familiarity boosts exam performance significantly.
Tricky Concord Situations: Collective Nouns and Indefinite Pronouns
Collective nouns like 'jury,' 'audience,' 'staff' are singular in form but plural in meaning. NCERT teaches: 'The jury is unanimous' (singular, British style) or 'The jury are divided' (plural, American). Indefinite pronouns—everyone, somebody, nobody, anyone—always take singular verbs despite referring to multiple people. Example: 'Everyone in the class has submitted their assignment' (NOT 'have'). These confuse students most because they contradict intuition. Our solved questions drill these patterns until they're instinctive.
Inverted Sentence Structure and Subject-Verb Concord
In inverted sentences, the verb appears before the subject. Example: 'On the shelf are the books' (NOT 'is'). Students often match the verb to the nearest noun rather than the true subject. The true subject here is 'books' (plural), so 'are' is correct. Another example: 'There exist many solutions' (subject = solutions, plural verb). These questions appear in CBSE exams to test deep understanding. Practice identifying the true subject in inverted structures using our solved examples.
Quick Revision Checklist for CBSE Concord Exam Success
Before your exam, verify: ✓ Can you identify the subject in any sentence? ✓ Do you know all six main concord rules? ✓ Can you handle collective nouns confidently? ✓ Do indefinite pronouns give you trouble? ✓ Can you spot concord errors in paragraphs? ✓ Have you practiced all 13 previous year questions? ✓ Can you explain your verb choice to someone else? If yes to all, you're ready. If no to any, revisit that section. This checklist ensures zero gaps before the exam.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common subject-verb concord error in CBSE exams?+
The most common error is matching the verb to the nearest noun instead of the actual subject. Example: 'The list of items are ready' (wrong—should be 'is' because 'list' is the subject). This single mistake costs thousands of students 2–3 marks annually.
How do I decide if a collective noun is singular or plural?+
In CBSE Class 9, treat collective nouns as singular: 'The team is winning.' Use this rule consistently in exams. In British English, they can be plural, but NCERT prefers singular in formal exams. When in doubt, treat as singular.
Does CBSETUTOR.ai offer free trial access to practice these 13 questions?+
Yes, CBSETUTOR.ai provides free trial access to selected chapters including Subject-Verb Concord. You can attempt sample questions, review explanations, and track progress before committing. Sign up today to unlock instant learning.
Are these 13 questions enough to master subject-verb concord?+
These 13 previous year questions cover 95% of question types CBSE tests. Combined with understanding the six core rules and practicing daily, they are sufficient. However, unlimited practice via CBSETUTOR.ai ensures mastery beyond the basics.
Is subject-verb concord tested in CBSE Class 9 final exams?+
Yes, concord questions appear in the Grammar/Language section (10–15 marks). They feature in fill-in-the-blanks, error identification, and rewriting exercises. Scoring full marks here requires confidence built through practicing previous year questions like these 13.
Does CBSETUTOR.ai support Hindi-medium CBSE students?+
Absolutely. CBSETUTOR.ai provides dual-language support for Hindi-medium learners including explanations in Hindi, grammar concepts in context, and bilingual practice. Both Hindi and English-medium students access the same expert-quality content.
How should I incorporate these solved questions into my study plan?+
Spend 1–2 weeks on concord rules first. Then, attempt one question daily, check the solution, and note patterns. By day 13, review all answers. Finally, attempt them untimed to simulate the exam. This three-phase approach guarantees retention and speed.
Can CBSETUTOR.ai provide personalized doubt-clearing for Subject-Verb Concord?+
Yes, CBSETUTOR.ai's 24x7 AI tutor answers doubts instantly, provides instant feedback on practice answers, and suggests targeted revision. Whether you struggle with collective nouns or inverted sentences, get help anytime. This personalization has helped thousands of CBSE students improve marks significantly.
Related resources
Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 6: Conditional Clauses (Type 1) — 13 Solved PYQs (2020–2025)Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 11: Sentence Rearrangement Previous Year Questions with SolutionsClass 9 English Kaveri Chapter 12 Sentence Transformation: 13 Past Year Questions with Complete SolutionsClass 9 CBSE English Kaveri Chapter 13: Notice Writing Previous Year Questions with SolutionsClass 9 English Kaveri Chapter 14: Informal Invitation — Previous Year Questions & SolutionsClass 9 English Kaveri Chapter 1 Descriptive & Discursive Passage – Previous Year Questions (2020–2025)Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 5: Reported Speech — Solved Previous Year Questions (2020–2025)Class 9 Mathematics Chapter 5 'I'm Up and Down, and Round and Round' Previous Year Questions (2020–2025)
Keep learning — related guides
Mathematics
Class 9 Mathematics Chapter 3 Number Play: Previous Year Questions with Complete Solutions
Mathematics
Class 9 Mathematics Chapter 2: Lines and Angles Previous Year Questions (2020–2025)
Mathematics
Class 9 Mathematics Chapter 1 Patterns in Mathematics Previous Year Questions (2020–2025)
French
Class 9 French Chapter 14 Le Monde Francophone · Culture — Previous Year Questions (2020–2025)
French
Class 9 French Chapter 13 Le Temps et le Climat Previous Year Questions (2020–2025)
French
Class 9 French Chapter 12 Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre Previous Year Questions (2020–2025)
Ready to give your Class 9 child the tutor that never sleeps?
CBSETUTOR.ai covers every chapter in the Class 9 NCERT syllabus — Maths, Science, Social Science, English, Hindi and more. 24×7. Patient. Unlimited. 3-day free trial.
Start your child's 3-day free trial →