NCERT English Workbook Class 10 Solutions Unit 3 Subject – Verb Agreement are part of English Workbook Class 10 Solutions. Here we have given CBSE Class 10 English Workbook Solutions Unit 3 Subject – Verb Agreement.

CBSE Class 10 English Workbook Solutions Unit 3 Subject – Verb Agreement

In this unit you will learn about the relationship between a subject and its verb. We need to work on this, because students often make mistakes in identifying whether the subject noun is singular or plural. As a result, mistakes are made in the use of verbs to go with words like jeans, scissors, politics etc. This unit deals with these areas.

A. Subject – Singular, Plural or Uncountable

A. 1.
Read the following dialogue. First, underline the word or words that represent the subject in each sentence of the dialogue. Then circle the verbs that each subject refers to. (One has been done for you as an example)
Answer:

A.2.
A subject can be

A.3.
List the subjects from the dialogues in A1 under the following headings. One has been done as an example

A.4.
Work in pairs and decide whether the following are countable singular (cs), countable plural (cp) or uncountable (uc). Write the symbols under each circle. One has been done as an example.

A.5.
Some nouns look as if they are plural, but are in fact singular.
Economics is an important subject at Senior Secondary level.

Some other school and university subjects work in the same way. Guess which subjects these are from the clues.

Work in pairs and complete the following spider diagrams, a, b and c. All the words will be related to the word in the centre. Some clues are given.

All the above nouns look like plurals (i.e. they end in s.) But they are, in fact, singular nouns.

Now, complete the sentence :
For these nouns we use a singular verb.

A.6.
Fill in the blanks with appropriate verbs to complete this biography of Rickety Ron.

Rickety ron

Rickety Ron is a student of statistics, which for many years …….has been his favourite subject. Ron has always loved playing with numbers. Dramatics ……. is his life but every time he takes a role for stage acting, he’s mysteriously down with mumps. Mumps ……. has ……. always been his undoing ! Ron is no good at games and opts for the least exerting sports of all. So, for him, it’s skittles, darts and cards. Cards is ……. his favourite, though ! He loves aerobics too. Aerobics, to him, ……. is ……. both relaxation and entertainment.

A.7.
Work in pairs. Take turns to ask and answer the following.


Answers.

1. for cutting the hairs of animals.
2. I don’t have, at present
3. are made of steel
4. will this trousers cost… It will… ?560.
5. very costly … they, indeed, are
6. They, … used for lifting heavy objects.
7. goggles made by Ray Ban … are made by a French Company
8. slacks are not allowed in school
9. are scissors used for … Scissors
10. I am sorry … are not with me, at the moment.

Now complete the following sentence.
All the nouns in the above sentences take the plural verb.

B. Verbs – singular or plural

Look at the following two sentences. Which one is correct?

(a) The jury were divided in their opinion.
(b) The jury was unanimous in their decision.

Jury is a collective noun. Whenever there is a sense of unity, we use singular verb with collective nouns; but when it is used in the sense of separation, we use plural verb with them, so both are correct in different situations.

Here are some more such words.

If you use plural verbs, you will always be correct, but if you use a singular noun, you may be wrong. So – to be safe – use plural verbs with these nouns.

B.1.
Work in pairs. Write five questions using some of the nouns given in B. above.
When you have finished writing them, ask another pair of students to answer your questions.
Answers:
Activity meant for at class level. The five questions are given below :

1. Do you think the staff agree to these proposals ?
2. How are the audience going to react to this price rise ?
3. What have the council decided about the water problem ?
4. How do you think are the public receiving this increase in petrol prices ?
5. How do the crew react to our anchoring in the mid-sea ?

B.2.
Tick the correct form of the verb in the following sentences :

1. Summons ✓ was/were sent for his arrest.
2. The media has/✓ have become more responsible nowadays.
3. This news were/ ✓ was broadcast from All India Radio.
4. Politics ✓ is /are not meant for students.
5. To an outsider the economics of this company seem/✓ seems to be in a shambles. (Hint: economics here refers to the company’s financial status)
6. The staff is/✓ are happy with their working environment.
7. Skittles ✓ is/are a popular game in India these days.
8. Harsh’s spectacles was/✓were lost on his journey to Manipal.
9. Mathematics ✓ is/are a compulsory subject for under-graduation in most of the science and commerce streams.
10. The public ✓ was/were jubilant when Sachin Tendulkar scored his 50th century.

B.3.
Will the following take a plural or a singular verb ? Why ?
The United States of America, 500 rupees, a number of people, the Arabian Nights, a couple of friends, half of us, the majority of the members of the committee, a gang of robbers, a herd of cattle.
Answer:
All of these, except the Arabian Nights, a gang of robbers and a herd of cattle, will take a plural verb because the persons or things they are referring to are in plural. If a singular verb is used, it will spoil the sense of the sentence in each case.

B.4.
Circle the subject and connect it with a verb which follows it

C. Subject – Verb Agreement – Summary.

Read the following sentences. Each of them contains one error. Correct the error and complete the statements that are marked *:

1. One of my friends have gone to Canada.
2. Every one of the managers have applied for leave today in protest against the management.
3. Neither of the boxers were able to score a decisive victory:

Statement *: Subjects containing ‘one of’, ‘each of’, ‘every one of’ and ‘neither of’ are followed by singular verbs.

4. Tobacco and alcohol is injurious to health.
5. He and I was at Patna University together.
6. Oil and water does not mix.

Statement * : Two or more Singular Nouns connected by ‘and’ are normally followed ‘ by a plural verb.

7. Age and experience bring wisdom to man.
8. Slow and steady win the race.
9. Bread and Butter are what the poor want.

Statement *: When two Singular Nouns connected by ‘and’ express one idea, they : ; are followed by a singular verb. ;

10. My uncle and guardian want me to start my own business,
11. The Collector and District Magistrate are away.
12. The notable patriot and orator are no more.
13. The industrialist and the politician has been invited to the function.

Statement *: When two Singular Nouns are connected by ‘and’ and a determiner is used before only one noun, they are followed by a plural verb. If the two nouns refer to two different things/ persons, the determiner should be repeated and the verb should be used in the plural

14. Neither Raju nor Sheela have come first in the race.
15. No scholarship or reward were given to the student who stood first in the examination.
16. Either China or Malaysia have the chance to win the world cup in badminton.

Statement *: When Singular Subjects are connected by ‘or’, ‘neither ……… nor’ and ‘either ………. or’, they are followed by a singular verb.

17. Neither he nor I has any objection to your plan.
18. Either you or Rashmi have to own the responsibility for the mishap.

Statement *: When the subjects connected by ‘or’ or ‘nor’ are of different persons, the verb should agree in person with the subject second to it.

Answers:

1. One of my friends has gone to Canada.
2. Every one of the managers has applied for leave today in protest against the management.
3. Neither of the boxers was able to score a decisive victory.
4. Tobacco and alcohol are injurious to health.
5. He and I were at Patna University together.
6. Oil and water do not mix.
7. Age and experience brings wisdom to man.
8. Slow and steady wins the race.
9. Bread and Butter is what the poor want.
10. My uncle and guardian wants me to start my own business.
11. The Collector and District Magistrate is away.
12. The notable patriot and orator is no more.
13. The industrialist and the politician have been invited to the function.
14. Neither Raju nor Sheela has come first in the race.
15. No scholarship or reward was given to the student who stood first in the examination.
16. Either China or Malaysia has the chance to win the world cup in badminton.
17. Neither he nor I have any objection to your plan.
18. Either you or Rashmi has to own the responsibility for the mishap.

We hope the NCERT English Workbook Class 10 Solutions Unit 3 Subject – Verb Agreement help you. If you have any query regarding CBSE Class 10 English Workbook Solutions Unit 3 Subject – Verb Agreement, drop a comment below and we will get back to you at the earliest.