CBSE Class 9 English — Kaveri Chapter 7 Subject-Verb Concord — 20 MCQs with Answers

The foundational rule of concord is simple: a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. In the present tense, third-person singular verbs often add '-s' (he reaches, she writes), while plural verbs drop it (they reach, we write). Similarly, the be-verb changes: 'is' and 'was' are singular, 'are' and 'were' are plural. The NCERT Kaveri text stresses that clear, logical communication depends on this harmony. When subject and verb do not match, sentences break down, and readers stumble. Most errors occur when a plural phrase comes between the subject and verb, leading to 'error of proximity' — the verb incorrectly agrees with a nearby noun instead of the actual subject. To avoid mistakes, always ask: 'Who or what is doing the action?' That word is your subject. Check its number, then pick the matching verb form. The MCQs below test your ability to identify correct agreement in simple and compound sentences, focusing on common traps like intervening prepositional phrases and inverted word order.

Collective nouns name groups treated as single units: team, family, council, jury, class, furniture, committee. Even though these nouns represent multiple items or people, they usually take singular verbs because the group acts as one entity. For example, 'The council has chosen its president' treats council as one decision-making body. However, if you want to emphasize that members of the group are acting individually, a plural verb is permissible: 'The council have different views on this issue.' Context and emphasis determine the choice. The NCERT text also explains that when a plural noun represents a specific quantity or amount considered as a whole, it takes a singular verb: 'Five hours is too short a time to judge character.' Here 'five hours' is one chunk of time, not five separate hours. Similarly, 'Twenty-five years is the minimum age' treats the span as a single requirement. Understanding this rule prevents common exam errors where students wrongly pair collective nouns with plural verbs. The three MCQs below isolate collective nouns in different contexts to help you recognize when singular agreement is correct.

Words like each, every, either, neither, someone, everyone, anyone, nobody, and anybody are indefinite pronouns that take singular verbs, even when they refer to more than one person or thing conceptually. This is one of the trickiest areas in subject-verb concord because the meaning sounds plural but the grammar is singular. For instance, 'Each of the girls has received an award' is correct because 'each' means one at a time. Similarly, 'Every man and woman in a family is responsible' uses 'every' to bring singular focus. The NCERT Kaveri text stresses that 'either' and 'neither' refer to one of two options, so they pair with singular verbs: 'Either Manoj or Madhukar has the key.' Another disguised form is 'many a,' which despite sounding plural takes a singular verb: 'Many a man has resigned in crisis.' Your instinct may rebel, but the grammar rule is firm. Other indefinite pronouns like everyone, someone, anyone, nobody, and anything all follow the same pattern: always singular. Mastering this rule helps you avoid classic exam traps. The four MCQs below cover each, every, either, neither, and other indefinite pronouns in varied sentence structures.

When two or more singular subjects are joined by 'and,' they usually form a compound subject and take a plural verb. For example, 'Computer and telecommunication have metamorphosed information technology' — two subjects, so plural verb 'have.' However, exceptions exist. If two singular nouns refer to the same person or thing, the verb remains singular: 'The poet and critic has been honoured' means one person who is both poet and critic. Compare this with 'The poet and the critic have been honoured,' which refers to two separate people, so the verb is plural. Another exception arises when two nouns together express a single idea: 'Bread and butter is essential for life' treats bread-and-butter as one concept (livelihood), so the verb is singular. The NCERT text calls this Rule 3. Recognizing these nuances prevents mistakes in exam questions that test whether you understand compound subjects versus single-concept phrases. The three MCQs below present standard 'and' conjunctions, same-person constructions, and single-idea phrases, helping you distinguish when to use singular versus plural verbs with 'and.'

When two or more singular subjects are connected by 'or' or 'nor,' the verb is singular because only one of the subjects is performing the action, not both together. For example, 'Either Manoj or Madhukar has the key' uses singular 'has' because either one or the other has it, not both. Similarly, 'Neither you nor your sister should talk to them' keeps the verb singular. The challenge arises when subjects joined by 'or' or 'nor' differ in number — one singular, one plural. NCERT Rule 6 states that in such cases, the verb is plural and the plural subject should be placed nearest to the verb: 'Neither Rekha nor her friends were present at the party.' Here 'friends' (plural) is near the verb, so 'were' is used. When subjects differ in person, Rule 7 says the verb agrees with the nearest subject: 'Either she or I shall pay the fees' — 'I' is nearest, so 'shall' (first person) is correct. These rules prevent confusion in exam questions that mix singular and plural, or first and third person, in compound subjects. The three MCQs below test your grasp of 'or/nor' conjunctions in same-number, different-number, and different-person scenarios.

Phrases introduced by 'with,' 'as well as,' 'along with,' 'together with,' 'besides,' and 'in addition to' are parenthetical — they add supporting information but do not change the number of the main subject. The verb agrees only with the main subject, not with the noun in the parenthetical phrase. For example, 'The guru as well as his disciples is committed to celibacy' uses singular 'is' because 'guru' is the main subject (singular), and 'as well as his disciples' is parenthetical. If you replaced 'as well as' with 'and,' you would write 'The guru and his disciples are committed,' making both parts equal and the verb plural. This distinction is crucial. NCERT Rule 9 emphasizes that these phrases function like asides in brackets, not as full co-subjects. Many students fall into the trap of making the verb agree with the parenthetical noun because it sits closer to the verb (error of proximity). To avoid mistakes, identify the main subject first, ignore the parenthetical phrase, and match the verb to the main subject. The two MCQs below test your ability to recognize and correctly handle parenthetical constructions in varied sentence patterns.

Error of proximity occurs when writers mistakenly make the verb agree with a noun that sits close to it, rather than with the true subject of the sentence. For instance, in 'The behaviour of the students were not proper,' many students choose 'were' because 'students' (plural) is right before the verb. But the actual subject is 'behaviour' (singular), so the correct verb is 'was.' NCERT Rule 8 warns against this common trap. To avoid it, locate the main subject by asking: 'Who or what is performing the action or being described?' Then match the verb to that subject, ignoring intervening prepositional phrases or other modifiers. Mixed constructions — sentences with compound subjects of different numbers or persons joined by 'or' or 'nor' — add another layer of complexity. Always remember: if subjects differ in number, place the plural subject nearest the verb and use a plural verb. If they differ in person, the verb agrees with the nearest subject. Practicing these rules through MCQs builds the habit of pausing to identify the true subject before selecting the verb. The final MCQ below combines proximity error and mixed-person agreement to test your mastery of advanced concord rules before you face board exams.

Subject-Verb Concord is a scoring topic in CBSE Class 9 English exams, but many students lose marks because they rush through agreement rules or forget exceptions for collective nouns and indefinite pronouns. CBSETUTOR.ai provides 24×7 AI tutoring tailored to NCERT syllabi, including Kaveri Chapter 7. You can upload a photo of any tricky concord question — from textbook exercises, sample papers, or previous years' boards — and receive step-by-step explanations in seconds. The AI tutor identifies which of the eleven rules applies, shows you the subject, explains why the verb is singular or plural, and highlights common traps like error of proximity or parenthetical phrases. Unlike coaching centres that meet once a week, CBSETUOR.ai is available every evening after school, during revision marathons before exams, and even on holidays. At a flat ₹999 per month for all classes from 6 to 12, it costs less than two hours of private tuition in most cities. Parents appreciate the value: one subscription covers every subject, every chapter, and every query, so your child never waits for the next tutor appointment. A 3-day free trial lets you and your child test the platform without payment — perfect for mastering concord before your next grammar test.

CBSE English papers often include 4–5 MCQs on grammar topics like concord, voice, narration, and modals. Each MCQ carries one mark, so accuracy matters more than speed. For Subject-Verb Concord MCQs, follow this four-step method. First, read the sentence carefully and identify the main subject — ignore prepositional phrases, parenthetical clauses, and nearby nouns that might distract you. Ask: 'Who or what is doing the action or being described?' Second, determine whether the subject is singular or plural. Watch for tricky words like 'each,' 'everyone,' 'neither,' and collective nouns such as 'team' or 'jury' that are usually singular. Third, check if subjects are joined by 'and' (usually plural) or 'or'/'nor' (agree with nearest subject if numbers differ). Fourth, match the verb to the subject in number and person. If two options seem close, re-read the sentence aloud in your mind — the correct choice will sound natural because your ear has heard correct English thousands of times. Eliminate obviously wrong options first (cross them out lightly in your question paper), then choose between the remaining two. If you are unsure, trust the rule over your instinct, because concord rules are firm even when they sound odd. Finally, manage your time: spend no more than 30–40 seconds per MCQ, and move on if you are stuck — you can revisit the question if time permits after completing easier sections.