Exercise of Subject Verb Agreement for Class 8

For students in Class 8, one of the most important grammar concepts to understand is subject-verb agreement. This refers to the idea that the subject of a sentence should agree with the verb in terms of its number and tense. Failing to adhere to this rule can lead to confusing and grammatically incorrect sentences that can ultimately harm your writing and communication skills.

Here are a few guidelines to help you exercise subject-verb agreement properly:

1. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. For example, “The dog barks” (singular subject, singular verb) versus “The dogs bark” (plural subject, plural verb).

2. In the present tense, third-person singular verbs typically add “-s” or “-es” to the base form. For example, “She runs” (third-person singular) versus “They run” (not third-person singular).

3. When using collective nouns (e.g. team, family, group), consider whether you are referring to the group as a single unit or as individuals. If you are treating the group as a singular unit, use a singular verb (e.g. “The team is playing well”). If you are referring to individuals within the group, use a plural verb (e.g. “The team are all talented players”).

4. For compound subjects connected by “and,” use a plural verb. For example, “John and Jane are siblings.”

5. For compound subjects connected by “or” or “nor,” use a verb that agrees with the subject closest to it. For example, “Neither the teacher nor the students were happy.”

6. When using verbs with modal auxiliaries (e.g. can, could, should, must, etc.), the auxiliary verb will always remain the same, regardless of the subject. For example, “I should exercise more,” versus “You should exercise more.”

Remember that subject-verb agreement is vital to ensuring that your writing is clear, concise, and grammatically correct. Taking the time to exercise this concept will ultimately help you improve your communication skills and become a better writer overall.