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Subject-Verb Agreement - Summary and Revision — Class 7 English

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📌 Key Points

  • Subject-Verb Agreement: Subject and verb must match in number (singular/plural)
    Subject-Verb Agreement: Subject and verb must match in number (singular/plural)
  • Rule 1: Singular subject + Singular verb (The cat is sleeping.)
    Rule 1: Singular subject + Singular verb (The cat is sleeping.)
  • Rule 2: Plural subject + Plural verb (The cats are sleeping.)
    Rule 2: Plural subject + Plural verb (The cats are sleeping.)
  • Rule 3: 'And' makes compound subjects plural (Ravi and Priya are friends.)
    Rule 3: 'And' makes compound subjects plural (Ravi and Priya are friends.)
  • Rule 4: 'Or/Nor' - verb agrees with nearest subject (Either boys or Priya is coming.)
    Rule 4: 'Or/Nor' - verb agrees with nearest subject (Either boys or Priya is coming.)
  • Rule 5: Collective nouns are singular (The team is playing well.)
    Rule 5: Collective nouns are singular (The team is playing well.)
  • Rule 6: Indefinite pronouns are singular (Each, every, someone, anyone, everyone, nobody)
    Rule 6: Indefinite pronouns are singular (Each, every, someone, anyone, everyone, nobody)
  • Rule 7: 'With' is a preposition - doesn't change subject number (The boy with friends is here.)
    Rule 7: 'With' is a preposition - doesn't change subject number (The boy with friends is here.)
  • Rule 8: Inverted sentences - identify actual subject first (Here comes the bus.)
    Rule 8: Inverted sentences - identify actual subject first (Here comes the bus.)
  • Common collective nouns: team, family, group, class, committee - all take singular verbs
    Common collective nouns: team, family, group, class, committee - all take singular verbs

📘 Important Definitions

Subject-Verb Agreement
The grammatical rule that a subject and its verb must match in number and person.
The grammatical rule that a subject and its verb must match in number and person.
Singular Verb
A verb form used with singular subjects (is, was, has, does).
A verb form used with singular subjects (is, was, has, does).
Plural Verb
A verb form used with plural subjects (are, were, have, do).
A verb form used with plural subjects (are, were, have, do).
Compound Subject
Two or more subjects in a sentence (usually joined by 'and', 'or', or 'nor').
Two or more subjects in a sentence (usually joined by 'and', 'or', or 'nor').
Collective Noun
A noun that represents a group (team, family, group, class, committee).
A noun that represents a group (team, family, group, class, committee).
Indefinite Pronoun
A pronoun that refers to an unspecified person or thing (each, every, someone, anyone).
A pronoun that refers to an unspecified person or thing (each, every, someone, anyone).
Preposition
A word that shows the relationship between other words; doesn't change subject number (with, of, in, on).
A word that shows the relationship between other words; doesn't change subject number (with, of, in, on).
Conjunction
A word that joins words or clauses (and, or, nor, but) - 'and' makes plural.
A word that joins words or clauses (and, or, nor, but) - 'and' makes plural.
Inverted Sentence
A sentence where the verb comes before the subject (There are books. Here comes the bus.).
A sentence where the verb comes before the subject (There are books. Here comes the bus.).
Nearest Subject
In 'or/nor' compounds, the subject closest to the verb - determines agreement.
In 'or/nor' compounds, the subject closest to the verb - determines agreement.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

✗ Wrong: Using plural verb with singular collective noun: 'The team are playing.'

Using plural verb with singular collective noun: 'The team are playing.'

Using plural verb with singular collective noun: 'The team are playing.'

✓ Correct: Use singular verb: 'The team is playing.'

Use singular verb: 'The team is playing.'

Use singular verb: 'The team is playing.'

✗ Wrong: Using plural verb with indefinite pronouns: 'Everyone have done it.'

Using plural verb with indefinite pronouns: 'Everyone have done it.'

Using plural verb with indefinite pronouns: 'Everyone have done it.'

✓ Correct: Use singular verb: 'Everyone has done it.'

Use singular verb: 'Everyone has done it.'

Use singular verb: 'Everyone has done it.'

✗ Wrong: Treating 'with' as conjunction: 'The boy with friends are here.'

Treating 'with' as conjunction: 'The boy with friends are here.'

Treating 'with' as conjunction: 'The boy with friends are here.'

✓ Correct: Remember 'with' is a preposition: 'The boy with friends is here.'

Remember 'with' is a preposition: 'The boy with friends is here.'

Remember 'with' is a preposition: 'The boy with friends is here.'

✗ Wrong: Forgetting 'and' makes plural: 'Ravi and Priya has come.'

Forgetting 'and' makes plural: 'Ravi and Priya has come.'

Forgetting 'and' makes plural: 'Ravi and Priya has come.'

✓ Correct: Use plural verb: 'Ravi and Priya have come.'

Use plural verb: 'Ravi and Priya have come.'

Use plural verb: 'Ravi and Priya have come.'

✗ Wrong: Confusing subject in inverted sentences: 'Here are the book.'

Confusing subject in inverted sentences: 'Here are the book.'

Confusing subject in inverted sentences: 'Here are the book.'

✓ Correct: Identify the real subject: 'Here is the book.'

Identify the real subject: 'Here is the book.'

Identify the real subject: 'Here is the book.'

📝 Exam Focus

These questions are frequently asked in CBSE exams:

Define subject-verb agreement and state the basic rule.
Define subject-verb agreement and state the basic rule.
2m★★
Explain the rule for compound subjects with 'and' and give an example.
Explain the rule for compound subjects with 'and' and give an example.
2m★★
How do 'or' and 'nor' work in subject-verb agreement?
How do 'or' and 'nor' work in subject-verb agreement?
2m★★
Explain why 'The boy with his friends is here.' is correct.
Explain why 'The boy with his friends is here.' is correct.
2m★★
Identify and correct all subject-verb errors in a paragraph.
Identify and correct all subject-verb errors in a paragraph.
3m★★

🎯 Last-Minute Recall

Close your eyes and try to recall: Key definitions, formulas, and 3 common mistakes. If you can recall 80% without looking, you're exam-ready!