Content updated on 20 April 2026
Why do we say "She goes" but "They go"? Why is it "The list of items is long" and not "are long"? Subject‑Verb Agreement—also known as concord—is the grammatical rule that the verb must match its subject in number (singular/plural) and person (first/second/third). This lesson for Class 9–10 students covers every important rule, tricky exceptions, and common exam pitfalls with clear explanations and plenty of examples.
✅ Recommended for: Class 9-10 (Advanced) | CBSE & UP Board
(Click any topic to jump straight to that section)
- The Basic Rule of Subject‑Verb Agreement
- Compound Subjects (and, or, nor)
- Collective Nouns (team, family, jury)
- Indefinite Pronouns (everyone, each, some)
- Intervening Phrases (along with, together with)
- Special Nouns (news, mathematics, trousers)
- Expressions of Quantity, Time, and Distance
- Sentences Beginning with There / Here
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Solved Examples
- Practice Questions
- ๐ Worksheet: Subject‑Verb Agreement
Subject‑Verb Agreement is one of the most frequently tested grammar topics in CBSE and UP Board exams. A single error can change the meaning of a sentence or make it grammatically incorrect. Mastering these rules will not only boost your exam scores but also make your spoken and written English more polished and professional.
She writes a letter. (singular) / They write letters. (plural)
The Basic Rule of Subject‑Verb Agreement
The verb must agree with its subject in number and person. This sounds simple, but many students get confused when the subject is not immediately obvious or when there are words between the subject and the verb.
- The cat sleeps on the sofa. (singular subject → singular verb)
- The cats sleep on the sofa. (plural subject → plural verb)
- I am happy. / You are kind. / He is tall.
Compound Subjects (and, or, nor)
- Subjects joined by 'and': Usually take a plural verb.
Riya and Priya are best friends. / The book and the pen are on the table.
Exception: If the nouns refer to the same person or thing, use a singular verb.
The poet and philosopher is dead. (one person) - Subjects joined by 'or' / 'nor' / 'either...or' / 'neither...nor': The verb agrees with the subject closer to it.
Neither the teacher nor the students were present. (students = plural → plural verb)
Either the students or the teacher was responsible. (teacher = singular → singular verb)
Collective Nouns (team, family, jury, committee)
Collective nouns refer to a group of individuals. They usually take a singular verb when the group acts as a single unit, and a plural verb when the members act individually.
- The team is playing well. (team as one unit)
- The team are arguing among themselves. (individual members)
- My family lives in Delhi. (one unit)
- My family have different opinions. (individuals)
In formal writing and exams, the singular verb is generally preferred with collective nouns unless the context clearly indicates individuals.
Indefinite Pronouns (everyone, each, some, none)
| Always Singular | Always Plural | Depend on Context |
|---|---|---|
| each, every, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, no one, nobody, one, either, neither | both, few, many, several, others | some, any, none, all, most |
- Everyone loves a good story. (singular)
- Each of the boys has a book. (singular — 'each' is the subject)
- Few are chosen. (plural)
- Some of the milk is spoiled. (uncountable → singular)
- Some of the apples are rotten. (countable → plural)
- None of the work was done. (uncountable → singular)
None of the players were injured. (countable → plural; singular 'was' also acceptable in formal usage)
Intervening Phrases (along with, together with, as well as)
Phrases like along with, together with, as well as, in addition to, accompanied by, including do not change the number of the subject. The verb agrees with the main subject, ignoring the phrase.
- The teacher, along with her students, was present. (Subject: teacher — singular)
- The books, together with the pen, are on the desk. (Subject: books — plural)
- Riya, as well as her sisters, is invited. (Subject: Riya — singular)
Special Nouns (news, mathematics, trousers, scissors)
- Nouns that look plural but are singular: news, mathematics, physics, economics, measles, mumps, billiards.
The news is good. / Mathematics is my favourite subject. - Nouns that look singular but are plural: cattle, police, people, gentry, poultry.
The police have arrived. / The cattle are grazing. - Nouns used only in plural form (take plural verb): trousers, scissors, spectacles, jeans, shorts, pliers.
My trousers are too tight. / These scissors are blunt.
Exception: When used with 'a pair of', the verb is singular.
A pair of trousers is lying on the bed.
Expressions of Quantity, Time, and Distance
When a plural expression represents a single amount, unit, or whole, it takes a singular verb.
- Five hundred rupees is a fair price.
- Ten kilometres is a long walk.
- Two hours was enough to finish the work.
Sentences Beginning with There / Here
In sentences starting with there or here, the true subject comes after the verb. The verb agrees with that subject.
- There is a book on the table. (subject: book — singular)
- There are two books on the table. (subject: books — plural)
- Here comes the bus. (subject: bus — singular)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Wrong ❌ | Right ✅ | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| The list of items are long. | The list of items is long. | Subject is 'list' (singular); ignore 'of items'. |
| Each of the students have a book. | Each of the students has a book. | 'Each' is singular. |
| Neither Riya nor Priya are coming. | Neither Riya nor Priya is coming. | Verb agrees with 'Priya' (singular). |
| The news are shocking. | The news is shocking. | 'News' is singular. |
| There is many reasons. | There are many reasons. | Subject 'reasons' is plural. |
Solved Examples
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Practice Questions
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Why Mastering Subject‑Verb Agreement is Crucial
Subject‑Verb Agreement is the backbone of grammatically correct English. Errors in concord are among the most noticeable mistakes in writing and speaking. In CBSE and UP Board exams, editing tasks, gap‑filling, and sentence correction questions almost always test these rules. For comprehensive practice, visit the Verbs and Tenses Hub and challenge yourself with Error Correction exercises.
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๐ Subject‑Verb Agreement Worksheet
Reinforce your understanding with 50+ exam‑style questions covering all major concord rules, including collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and intervening phrases.
Go to Subject‑Verb Agreement Worksheet →Answer key included • Perfect for Class 9–10 board exam preparation
