Subject Verb Agreement Exercises For Class 8 Cbse With Answers

Subject-Verb Agreement Exercises for Class 8 CBSE with Answers

Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental concept in grammar that dictates that a verb must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject. Mastering this skill is crucial for writing clear and grammatically correct sentences. This comprehensive guide provides a range of subject-verb agreement exercises specifically tailored for Class 8 CBSE students, complete with answers to aid understanding and practice.

Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement

Before diving into the exercises, let's refresh our understanding of subject-verb agreement. The basic rule is simple: a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Examples:

• Singular: The dog barks loudly. (Singular subject "dog" takes singular verb "barks")
• Plural: The dogs bark loudly. (Plural subject "dogs" takes plural verb "bark")

However, several complexities can arise, making it essential to practice diligently. These complexities include:

• Intervening phrases: Phrases placed between the subject and verb do not affect the agreement. For example, "The box of chocolates is delicious." The subject is "box," not "chocolates."
• Compound subjects: When two or more subjects are joined by "and," they generally take a plural verb. Example: "John and Mary are going to the park." Exceptions occur with compound subjects referring to a single entity (e.g., "peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich").
• Collective nouns: Nouns like "team," "family," and "group" can be singular or plural depending on whether they refer to the group as a single unit or its individual members. Example: "The team is playing well" (team as a unit); "The team are arguing amongst themselves" (team as individual members).
• Indefinite pronouns: Pronouns like "everyone," "someone," "anyone," "nobody," and "each" are always singular and take singular verbs. Example: "Everyone is invited."
• Subjects joined by "or" or "nor": The verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Example: "Neither the cats nor the dog is allowed inside."

Exercise 1: Basic Subject-Verb Agreement

Instructions: Choose the correct verb from the parentheses to complete each sentence.

1. The bird (sing, sings) sweetly.
2. The birds (sing, sings) sweetly.
3. My friend and I (go, goes) to school together.
4. The cat and the dog (play, plays) in the garden.
5. Each student (receive, receives) a prize.
6. Someone (is, are) knocking at the door.
7. The flock of sheep (graze, grazes) peacefully.
8. The team (win, wins) the championship.
9. Neither the teacher nor the students (know, knows) the answer.
10. The books (is, are) on the shelf.

Answers:

1. sings
2. sing
3. go
4. play
5. receives
6. is
7. graze
8. wins
9. know
10. are

Exercise 2: Subject-Verb Agreement with Intervening Phrases

Instructions: Choose the correct verb from the parentheses to complete each sentence.

1. The bouquet of flowers (smell, smells) wonderful.
2. The group of children (is, are) playing in the park.
3. A box of chocolates (is, are) a thoughtful gift.
4. The collection of stamps (is, are) quite valuable.
5. The swarm of bees (buzz, buzzes) around the hive.
6. The bag of apples (is, are) heavy.
7. The pile of books (is, are) on the floor.
8. The basket of oranges (look, looks) fresh.
9. A flock of birds (fly, flies) overhead.
10. The pack of wolves (howl, howls) at the moon.

Answers:

1. smells
2. are
3. is
4. is
5. buzz
6. is
7. is
8. look
9. fly
10. howl

Exercise 3: Subject-Verb Agreement with Compound Subjects

Instructions: Choose the correct verb from the parentheses to complete each sentence.

1. My sister and I (walk, walks) to school every day.
2. The teacher and the students (discuss, discusses) the lesson.
3. The dog and the cat (chase, chases) each other.
4. Bread and butter (is, are) my favourite breakfast.
5. The principal and the vice-principal (attend, attends) the meeting.
6. Rice and curry (is, are) a popular dish.
7. Honesty and integrity (is, are) important qualities.
8. John and his friends (play, plays) football every weekend.
9. The sun and the moon (shine, shines) brightly.
10. The birds and the bees (pollinate, pollinates) the flowers.

Answers:

1. walk
2. discuss
3. chase
4. is
5. attend
6. is
7. are
8. play
9. shine
10. pollinate

Exercise 4: Subject-Verb Agreement with Collective Nouns and Indefinite Pronouns

Instructions: Choose the correct verb from the parentheses to complete each sentence.

1. The family (is, are) having dinner together.
2. The team (is, are) celebrating their victory.
3. The class (is, are) going on a field trip.
4. Everyone (is, are) welcome to attend.
5. Somebody (has, have) stolen my book.
6. Nothing (is, are) wrong.
7. Each of the students (has, have) completed the assignment.
8. The committee (has, have) reached a decision.
9. Nobody (is, are) to blame.
10. Someone (has, have) left the door open.

Answers:

1. is
2. is
3. is
4. is
5. has
6. is
7. has
8. has
9. is
10. has

Exercise 5: Mixed Subject-Verb Agreement Practice

Instructions: Choose the correct verb from the parentheses to complete each sentence.

1. The beautiful flowers in the garden (smell, smells) sweet.
2. Neither rain nor snow (stop, stops) us from going to school.
3. My father and mother (work, works) very hard.
4. Each of the players (know, knows) the rules of the game.
5. The team of doctors (is, are) treating the patient.
6. The crowd (cheer, cheers) loudly for their favourite team.
7. Nobody (want, wants) to miss the party.
8. The box of candies (is, are) delicious.
9. The group of tourists (visit, visits) the museum.
10. The principal and the teachers (attend, attends) the conference.

Answers:

1. smell
2. stops
3. work
4. knows
5. is
6. cheer
7. wants
8. is
9. visit
10. attend

Exercise 6: Advanced Subject-Verb Agreement with Difficult Cases

This exercise includes more complex sentences to challenge your understanding.

Instructions: Choose the correct verb to complete each sentence.

1. The number of students (is/are) increasing.
2. A number of students (is/are) absent today.
3. The data (show/shows) a clear trend.
4. The news (is/are) good.
5. Measles (is/are) a contagious disease.
6. Ten dollars (is/are) a small amount.
7. Fifty percent of the class (is/are) present.
8. One-third of the pie (is/are) gone.
9. Physics (is/are) my favorite subject.
10. My trousers (is/are) torn.

Answers:

1. is
2. are
3. shows
4. is
5. is
6. is
7. is
8. is
9. is
10. are

Tips for Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement

• Identify the subject: Carefully pinpoint the subject of the sentence before choosing the verb.
• Ignore intervening phrases: These phrases don't affect the subject-verb agreement.
• Pay attention to compound subjects: Remember the rules for subjects joined by "and" or "or."
• Understand collective nouns: Determine whether the noun refers to the group as a whole or individual members.
• Memorize indefinite pronouns: These are always singular.
• Practice regularly: Consistent practice is key to mastering subject-verb agreement.

This comprehensive guide, including multiple exercises with answers, should provide a solid foundation in subject-verb agreement for Class 8 CBSE students. Remember to practice regularly and consult grammar resources when needed to further enhance your understanding and skills. Consistent practice will make you confident in applying these rules to your writing. Good luck!