Subject-verb agreement is a rule in grammar that states that the subject and the verb in a sentence should agree with each other in terms of number. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should also be plural. This rule is particularly important in class 10, as it forms the foundation for building strong writing skills.
Here are all the rules you need to know to master subject-verb agreement:
1. Singular subjects take singular verbs.
For example:
– The boy plays soccer.
– She sings beautifully.
2. Plural subjects take plural verbs.
For example:
– The boys play soccer.
– They sing beautifully.
3. Indefinite pronouns such as everyone, anyone, someone, nobody, each, either, and neither are considered singular and take singular verbs.
For example:
– Everyone has his or her own experience.
– Someone left their bag on the bench.
4. Collective nouns such as team, group, family, and audience can be either singular or plural, depending on the context.
For example:
– The team is working hard to win the game. (singular)
– The team members are working hard to win the game. (plural)
5. When subjects are joined by “and,” the verb is plural.
For example:
– Sarah and John are going to the movies.
6. When the subject is a compound subject and the parts are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
For example:
– Neither the cat nor the dog is hungry.
– Either the cake or the cookies are delicious.
7. When the subject is a collective noun and the members are acting as individuals, the verb is plural.
For example:
– The audience clapped their hands.
8. When the subject is a relative pronoun such as who, that, or which, the verb agrees with the antecedent of the pronoun.
For example:
– The student who studies hard gets good grades.
In conclusion, understanding and applying subject-verb agreement rules is a crucial aspect of writing effectively. Class 10 students can hone their writing skills by mastering these rules and applying them consistently in their writing. By doing so, they can ensure that their writing is clear, concise, and grammatically correct.