Subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of English grammar that students must grasp by the time they reach Class 10. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key notes on subject-verb agreement that Class 10 students should keep in mind.
1. Singular subjects should have singular verbs: When the subject of a sentence is singular, the verb accompanying it should also be singular. For example, “The boy runs” and “The girl dances” are both examples of sentences in which the subject and verb agree in number.
2. Plural subjects should have plural verbs: Similarly, when the subject of a sentence is plural, the verb accompanying it should also be plural. For example, “The boys run” and “The girls dance” are both examples of sentences in which the subject and verb agree in number.
3. Collective nouns can be singular or plural: Collective nouns are words that refer to groups of people or things, such as “team”, “class”, or “herd”. Depending on the context, they can be treated as singular or plural. For instance, you could say “The herd is grazing in the field” or “The herd are grazing in the field”. While the first sentence treats the herd as a single unit, the second sentence treats the individual animals as separate entities.
4. “Each”, “every”, and “many a” take singular verbs: When “each”, “every”, or “many a” precedes a noun, the verb that follows should be singular. For instance, “Each student is responsible for his or her own book” and “Many a person has claimed to have seen a UFO” are both examples of sentences in which the singular verb agrees with the singular subject.
5. “Either…or”, “neither…nor”, and “not only…but also” take the verb that agrees with the subject closer to the verb: When there are two subjects connected by “either…or”, “neither…nor”, or “not only…but also”, the verb that agrees with the subject closer to it should be used. For instance, “Neither the teacher nor the students were paying attention” uses the plural verb “were” because the subject closest to it (students) is plural.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a vital aspect of English grammar that Class 10 students must master to become proficient writers. By keeping the above notes in mind, they can make sure that their sentences are grammatically correct and convey their intended meaning effectively.