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CBSE Class 9 English — Kaveri Chapter 7 Subject-Verb Concord Worksheet with Answers

Subject-Verb Concord is the backbone of grammatically sound English sentences. In CBSE Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 7, you learn 11 essential rules governing how subjects and verbs must agree in number and person. This worksheet translates those rules into targeted practice: multiple-choice questions, gap-fills, true-false challenges, short explanations, and advanced error-correction tasks. Print this page, set a timer for 60 minutes, and work through all sections without referring to notes. Check your answers against the detailed key at the end to understand every mistake and lock in the rules for your exams.

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Key takeaways

✓Subject-verb concord ensures the verb agrees with its subject in number (singular/plural) and person (first, second, third).
✓Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs — the foundation rule for all concord questions.
✓Collective nouns (team, family, council) usually take singular verbs when the group acts as one unit.
✓Words like each, every, either, neither, and indefinite pronouns (everyone, someone) always demand singular verbs.
✓When two subjects are joined by 'and', use a plural verb; when joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
✓Phrases like 'as well as', 'with', 'along with' are parenthetical — the verb agrees only with the main subject, not the added phrase.
✓Avoid the error of proximity: always identify the true subject before choosing the verb, ignoring intervening prepositional phrases.

Quick Chapter Recap — 11 Rules of Subject-Verb Concord

Before you begin the worksheet, refresh the core rules from NCERT Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 7. Rule 1: Two or more singular subjects joined by 'and' take a plural verb (Computer and telecommunication have transformed IT). Rule 2: If two singular nouns refer to the same person or thing, the verb is singular (The poet and critic has been honoured). Rule 3: Two nouns expressing one idea use singular verb (Bread and butter is essential). Rule 4: Subjects preceded by 'each' or 'every' take singular verbs (Every man and woman is responsible). Rule 5: Singular subjects joined by 'or' or 'nor' use singular verb (Either Manoj or Madhukar has the key). Rule 6: When subjects of different numbers are joined by 'or'/'nor', place the plural subject nearer the verb and use a plural verb (Neither Rekha nor her friends were present). Rule 7: When subjects of different persons are joined by 'or'/'nor', verb agrees with the nearest subject (Either she or I shall pay). Rule 8: Avoid error of proximity — verb agrees with the actual subject, not a nearby noun in a prepositional phrase (The behaviour of the students was not proper). Rule 9: Phrases introduced by 'with', 'as well as', 'along with' are parenthetical; verb agrees with the main subject (The guru as well as his disciples is committed). Rule 10: Collective nouns and titles often take singular verbs (The council has chosen its president; The Arabian Nights is an interesting book). Rule 11: A plural noun representing a specific quantity or amount as a whole uses singular verb (Five hours is too short a time). These rules form the backbone of every question in this worksheet.

Rules 1-3 govern subjects joined by 'and'
Rules 4-7 address conjunctions 'or', 'nor', 'either…or', 'neither…nor'
Rules 8-9 prevent common errors: proximity and parenthetical phrases
Rules 10-11 handle collective nouns, titles, and quantity-as-unit constructions

Section A — Multiple Choice Questions (6 Marks)

Each MCQ carries 1 mark. Choose the grammatically correct option that ensures subject-verb concord. Read the sentence carefully, identify the true subject, and apply the relevant rule from Kaveri Chapter 7. Pay special attention to collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and conjunctions. Time guideline: 10 minutes for this section. Write only the question number and the letter of your answer (A/B/C/D) in your answer sheet. Avoid guessing; instead, eliminate obviously wrong choices by checking number agreement first, then person agreement. Remember that singular subjects like 'everyone', 'each', 'neither' always pair with singular verbs, while plural subjects like 'students', 'they', 'both' need plural verbs. Sentences with 'or' and 'nor' require you to locate the nearest subject to the verb. Phrases starting with 'as well as' or 'with' are merely additions and do not change the number of the main subject. Stay alert for the error of proximity, where a plural noun inside a prepositional phrase tempts you to pick a plural verb even when the actual subject is singular. These six questions mirror the exact patterns seen in CBSE Class 9 term exams and will sharpen your rule-application speed.

Q1. The committee ______ divided in their opinions. (A) is (B) are (C) has (D) have
Q2. Neither of the boys ______ present yesterday. (A) was (B) were (C) are (D) have been
Q3. Each of the girls ______ received a prize. (A) have (B) has (C) are (D) were
Q4. The poet and the novelist ______ arrived. (A) has (B) have (C) is (D) was
Q5. My friend, along with his parents, ______ going to Delhi. (A) are (B) were (C) is (D) have
Q6. Ten kilometres ______ a long distance to walk. (A) are (B) is (C) were (D) have

Section B — Fill in the Blanks (5 Marks)

Complete each sentence by writing the correct form of the verb given in brackets. Each blank carries 1 mark. Focus on number agreement: is the subject singular or plural? Check for tricky words like 'each', 'every', 'many a', which sound plural but take singular verbs. If the subject is a collective noun (team, family, jury), treat it as singular unless the sentence emphasizes individual members acting separately. When two subjects are joined by 'and', default to plural unless they represent one idea or one person. For 'or' and 'nor' constructions, the verb must agree with the subject placed nearest to it. Parenthetical phrases introduced by 'as well as', 'together with', 'along with' do not affect the verb; ignore them and agree with the main subject. Time guideline: 8 minutes. Write the question number and the correct verb form in your answer booklet. Do not change tense unless the sentence structure demands it; the tense is usually indicated by context or an auxiliary in the brackets. These five sentences are designed to test Rules 1, 4, 6, 8, and 9 from Class 9 English Kaveri notes. Cross-check your answers by reading the completed sentence aloud — if it sounds awkward, revisit your subject identification.

Q7. The behaviour of the students ______ (be) excellent during the assembly.
Q8. Every man and woman ______ (have) the right to vote.
Q9. Either the manager or his assistants ______ (be) responsible for the error.
Q10. Many a soldier ______ (have) laid down his life for the nation.
Q11. The teacher as well as the students ______ (be) eager to start the project.

Section C — True or False (5 Marks)

Read each statement carefully and write True or False against the question number. Each correct answer scores 1 mark. These statements test your conceptual understanding of subject-verb concord rules rather than rote memory. Some statements will present common misconceptions — for instance, thinking that 'everyone' is plural because it refers to many people, or assuming that any subject followed by 'and' must take a plural verb. Others will check whether you understand the difference between 'and' (which usually creates a plural compound subject) and 'as well as' (which is parenthetical and leaves the subject singular). You must also recognize when a plural noun represents a single quantity or block of time, making the verb singular (Rule 11). If a statement says a collective noun always takes a singular verb, consider edge cases where members act individually. Time guideline: 7 minutes. Do not overthink; rely on the exact wording of the NCERT rules. After marking True or False, briefly note the rule number in your mind for the answer-key cross-check. These five statements integrate multiple rules, so each one is a mini-challenge requiring you to recall the exact conditions under which a rule applies. This section is excellent prep for objective-type term papers.

Q12. Two singular subjects joined by 'or' always take a plural verb.
Q13. The phrase 'as well as' makes the subject plural, so the verb must be plural.
Q14. 'Neither' is an indefinite pronoun and always requires a singular verb.
Q15. If two singular nouns joined by 'and' refer to the same person, the verb remains singular.
Q16. A sentence like 'Five rupees is all I have' uses a singular verb because the amount is treated as one unit.

Section D — Short Answer Questions (10 Marks)

Answer each question in 30 to 40 words. Each question carries 2 marks. These questions demand that you explain a rule, justify a verb choice, or identify and correct an error with reasoning. Marks are awarded for accuracy of the rule cited, clarity of explanation, and correct use of grammatical terminology (subject, verb, singular, plural, concord, parenthetical, indefinite pronoun). Avoid vague statements like 'it sounds right'; instead write 'The subject is singular, so the verb must be is, not are.' Reference the rule number from Kaveri Chapter 7 wherever possible (e.g. 'According to Rule 8, the verb agrees with the main subject, not the noun in the prepositional phrase'). Time guideline: 15 minutes for all five. Structure each answer in two to three sentences: first, identify the subject and its number; second, state the applicable rule; third, provide or correct the verb. This format ensures you cover all mark-earning points. Short-answer questions are a staple of CBSE Class 9 English Kaveri exams, and practicing them builds the habit of writing concise, rule-backed explanations that examiners love. If a question asks you to rewrite a sentence, ensure the rewritten version is grammatically flawless and retains the original meaning.

Q17. Explain why the verb in 'The council has chosen its president' is singular even though a council has many members.
Q18. Correct the error: 'Neither of the students were able to solve the problem.' State the rule.
Q19. Why does 'Bread and butter is my breakfast' take a singular verb despite two nouns joined by 'and'?
Q20. Rewrite with correct concord: 'The captain along with his teammates are practicing daily.'
Q21. Identify the subject and choose the correct verb: 'Each of the boys (has/have) submitted the assignment.'

Section E — Long Answer and HOTS Questions (9 Marks)

This section contains three higher-order thinking questions worth 3 marks each. You are expected to write 60 to 80 words per answer, demonstrating deep understanding of subject-verb concord, the ability to spot and fix multiple errors in a passage, and skill in constructing original sentences that obey all 11 rules. Marks are split: 1 mark for identifying the error or concept, 2 marks for explanation, correction, and examples. Time guideline: 15 minutes total. Question 22 asks you to find and correct five concord errors in a short paragraph — read the paragraph twice, underline every subject-verb pair, check agreement, and rewrite incorrect verbs with a one-line justification citing the rule. Question 23 requires you to write five original sentences, each illustrating a different concord rule; ensure variety (use 'and', 'or', 'neither…nor', 'as well as', collective noun) and label which rule each sentence demonstrates. Question 24 is analytical: compare how 'and' versus 'as well as' affects verb choice, using examples. These HOTS questions mirror the Class 9 English Kaveri board exam pattern and assess whether you can apply rules flexibly in new contexts, not just recall them. Invest time in clear, well-punctuated answers; examiners reward logical structure and correct terminology.

Q22. The following paragraph contains five errors in subject-verb concord. Identify, correct, and state the rule for each. 'The team of players are ready. Neither the coach nor the captain were present. Each of the boys have brought their kit. The news are spreading fast. My brother, along with his friends, are going to the match.'
Q23. Write five sentences, each demonstrating a different rule of subject-verb concord from Kaveri Chapter 7. Label the rule number beside each sentence.
Q24. Explain with examples how the use of 'and' differs from 'as well as' in determining verb number. Why does 'The teacher and the student are happy' use a plural verb, while 'The teacher as well as the student is happy' uses singular?

Section F — Case-Study Question (5 Marks)

Read the passage below and answer the sub-questions that follow. This case-study integrates comprehension with grammar application, a format increasingly seen in CBSE Class 9 English Kaveri exams. The passage contains deliberate concord challenges: collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, 'or' and 'nor' constructions, and parenthetical phrases. Sub-questions will ask you to pick out subjects and verbs, explain why a certain verb form is used, correct an error if present, and write a sentence on the same pattern. Total marks: 5 (1 + 1 + 1 + 2). Time guideline: 10 minutes. Read the passage twice — first for overall meaning, second to annotate every subject-verb pair. When answering, quote the exact phrase from the passage and then provide your analysis. For the sentence-writing sub-question, ensure your sentence mirrors the grammatical structure of the given example and is contextually meaningful. This section tests real-world application: can you spot concord in a flowing paragraph, not just in isolated drill sentences? It is excellent practice for the integrated grammar tasks in term exams. Use ruled paper and number your answers clearly (a, b, c, d).

Complete Answer Key with Explanations

Below are the correct answers for all sections, each accompanied by a brief explanation and the relevant rule number from CBSE Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 7. Use this key to self-assess: award yourself the mark only if your reasoning matches the rule logic, not just if the answer happens to be correct. Understanding why an answer is right cements the concept for future questions. Section A answers map to Rules 10, 5, 4, 1, 9, and 11 respectively. Section B tests application of Rules 8, 4, 6, and 9. Section C statements check Rules 5, 9, 5, 2, and 11. Section D explanations must cite the rule and show subject-verb identification. Section E requires error correction with rule justification and original sentence construction. The case-study answer key models how to extract grammar from a passage and write analytical responses. If you scored below 60 percent in any section, revisit that rule set in your Kaveri textbook, make flashcards of tricky examples (many a, neither, as well as), and redo the questions after two days. Consistent practice with immediate feedback — as this answer key provides — is the fastest route to mastery. For deeper conceptual doubts and 24x7 doubt-solving with photo upload, consider CBSETUTOR.ai at a flat ₹999/month for all classes 6–12, with a 3-day free trial.

A1. (B) are — When a collective noun emphasizes individual members, use plural verb; here 'divided in their opinions' shows individual variation (Rule 10 exception).
A2. (A) was — 'Neither' is singular; takes singular verb 'was' (Rule 5).
A3. (B) has — 'Each' is singular indefinite pronoun; verb must be 'has' (Rule 4).
A4. (B) have — Two different people ('the poet' and 'the novelist' — note two articles); plural verb 'have' (Rule 1).
A5. (C) is — 'Along with his parents' is parenthetical; main subject 'My friend' is singular, so 'is' (Rule 9).
A6. (B) is — 'Ten kilometres' treated as one distance/quantity; singular verb 'is' (Rule 11).
A7. was — Subject is 'behaviour' (singular); 'of the students' is prepositional phrase (Rule 8).
A8. has — 'Every man and woman' = each individual, singular focus (Rule 4).
A9. are — Different numbers: 'manager' (singular) or 'assistants' (plural); plural subject nearer verb, so 'are' (Rule 6).
A10. has — 'Many a' takes singular verb despite plural meaning (Rule 4).
A11. is — 'As well as the students' is parenthetical; main subject 'teacher' is singular (Rule 9).
A12. False — Two singular subjects joined by 'or' take a singular verb (Rule 5).
A13. False — 'As well as' is parenthetical; it does not make the subject plural (Rule 9).
A14. True — 'Neither' is an indefinite pronoun, always singular (Rule 5).
A15. True — Two nouns referring to the same person take singular verb (Rule 2).
A16. True — Quantity as one unit takes singular verb (Rule 11).

Section E Long-Answer Model Responses

Q22 Error corrections: (i) 'The team of players are ready' → 'is ready'. Subject 'team' is singular collective noun (Rule 10). (ii) 'Neither the coach nor the captain were present' → 'was present'. Two singular subjects with 'nor', verb singular 'was' (Rule 5). (iii) 'Each of the boys have brought' → 'has brought'. 'Each' is singular (Rule 4). (iv) 'The news are spreading' → 'is spreading'. 'News' is singular (Rule 10). (v) 'My brother, along with his friends, are going' → 'is going'. 'Along with his friends' parenthetical; subject 'brother' singular (Rule 9). Q23 Sample sentences: (1) 'The cat and the dog are playing.' (Rule 1: and = plural). (2) 'Neither Ram nor Shyam was absent.' (Rule 5: or/nor singular). (3) 'Each of the students has a textbook.' (Rule 4: each = singular). (4) 'The teacher as well as the pupils is excited.' (Rule 9: as well as parenthetical). (5) 'The jury has reached its verdict.' (Rule 10: collective noun singular). Q24 Answer is in the example above; expand to 70 words for full marks, citing that 'and' joins equals (compound subject, plural verb) while 'as well as' adds information without changing subject number (main subject governs verb).

Case-Study Answer Key

(a) Error: 'Many a journalist have tried' → Correct: 'Many a journalist has tried'. 'Many a' takes singular verb (Rule 4). (b) 'Has approved' is singular because 'council' is a collective noun acting as one unit making one decision (Rule 10). (c) 'Neither the opposition nor the media were informed' — 'media' is treated as plural here and is nearer the verb, so 'were' is used (Rule 6, mixed number). Note: If 'media' were treated as singular collective, it would be 'was'; context suggests plural. (d) Sample: 'The principal, along with the vice-principal, is attending the meeting.' Main subject 'principal' (singular) governs verb 'is'; 'along with the vice-principal' is parenthetical (Rule 9). Award 1 mark for (a), 1 for (b), 1 for (c), 2 for (d) if sentence structure and concord are both correct.

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Frequently asked questions

What is subject-verb concord in CBSE Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 7?+

Subject-verb concord is the grammatical rule that the verb in a sentence must agree with its subject in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, third). Kaveri Chapter 7 teaches 11 detailed rules to ensure this agreement, covering conjunctions, collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and parenthetical phrases.

Why does 'Neither of the boys was present' use 'was' and not 'were'?+

'Neither' is an indefinite pronoun that is always singular, so it takes a singular verb 'was'. Even though 'boys' is plural, 'of the boys' is a prepositional phrase and does not affect the verb. This is Rule 5 from the NCERT Class 9 English Kaveri syllabus.

How is 'and' different from 'as well as' in subject-verb concord?+

'And' joins two subjects into a compound subject requiring a plural verb (The teacher and student are here). 'As well as' is a parenthetical phrase; the verb agrees only with the main subject (The teacher as well as the student is here). This distinction is covered in Rules 1 and 9.

Do collective nouns always take singular verbs?+

Usually yes, when the group acts as one unit (The team has won). However, if the sentence emphasizes individual members acting separately, a plural verb may be used (The team have different opinions). Context and emphasis determine the choice, per Rule 10.

What is the error of proximity in subject-verb concord?+

Error of proximity occurs when you mistakenly make the verb agree with a nearby noun instead of the true subject. Example: 'The behaviour of the students were' is wrong; 'behaviour' (singular) is the subject, so the verb must be 'was'. Avoid this by identifying the subject first, ignoring prepositional phrases (Rule 8).

Why does 'Many a soldier has laid down his life' use a singular verb?+

'Many a' is a unique phrase that, despite its plural meaning, takes a singular verb in formal English. It emphasizes individuals one by one. This is explicitly taught in Rule 4 of Kaveri Chapter 7 and is a frequent exam trap.

How do I handle 'either…or' and 'neither…nor' when subjects have different numbers?+

When subjects joined by 'or' or 'nor' differ in number, place the plural subject nearer to the verb and use a plural verb. Example: 'Neither the captain nor the players were ready.' If both are singular, use singular verb. This is Rule 6.

Are titles of books and names of subjects treated as singular or plural?+

Titles of books, even if plural in form, are treated as singular ('The Arabian Nights is interesting'). Similarly, subjects like Mathematics, Physics, and News are singular. Rule 10 covers these special cases in Class 9 English Kaveri notes.

Can I use 'they' with 'everyone' to be gender-neutral?+

In informal modern English, yes, but CBSE grammar rules in Class 9 treat 'everyone' as strictly singular, pairing it with 'he', 'she', or 'he or she'. For exam purposes, write 'Everyone has his or her book' or rephrase to avoid the issue. Follow NCERT guidelines for marks.

How much time should I spend on this Subject-Verb Concord worksheet?+

Aim for 60 minutes total: Section A (10 min), Section B (8 min), Section C (7 min), Section D (15 min), Section E (15 min), Case-Study (10 min). Use remaining time to review. Regular timed practice builds exam speed and accuracy for Class 9 English Kaveri grammar questions.

Related resources

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