Exercises on Subject-Verb Agreement for Class 6 with Answers

Subject-verb agreement is one of the fundamental aspects of grammar that students need to master for effective communication. It refers to the grammatical rule that the subject and the verb in a sentence must agree in number and person. In simpler terms, a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. Understanding this concept is crucial for building strong writing and speaking skills.

In this blog post, we will walk you through a comprehensive guide on subject-verb agreement, specifically designed for class 6 students. We will start with a few basic explanations and examples, followed by multiple exercises to test your understanding. Additionally, we will provide answers at the end of the post so you can check your progress and improve your skills. Let’s dive in!

What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject-verb agreement is an essential grammatical rule that helps maintain consistency and clarity in writing. It ensures that the subject and the verb in a sentence match in terms of number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third).

For example:

• Singular subject: “The dog barks loudly.”
• Plural subject: “The dogs bark loudly.”

In the first sentence, “dog” is singular, so the verb “barks” is also singular. In the second sentence, “dogs” is plural, so the verb “bark” is plural as well.

Key Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

Before we jump into exercises, let’s review a few key rules of subject-verb agreement:

1. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.
   • Example 1: “She is playing the piano.”
   • Example 2: “They are playing the piano.”
2. When the subject is joined by “and,” it is usually considered plural.
   • Example: “The teacher and the students are in the classroom.”
3. When two subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closer to it.
   • Example 1: “Neither the teacher nor the students are present.”
   • Example 2: “Either the teacher or the student is absent.”
4. Indefinite pronouns like everyone, anyone, nobody, somebody, etc., are treated as singular subjects.
   • Example: “Everyone is invited to the party.”
5. Collective nouns like team, family, and group can take either singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group is acting as a unit or as individuals.
   • Example 1: “The team is playing well.” (acting as a unit)
   • Example 2: “The team are arguing among themselves.” (acting as individuals)
6. When the subject is a number or an amount, the verb depends on whether the number is considered singular or plural.
   • Example 1: “Five dollars is enough.”
   • Example 2: “Two thousand rupees are enough.”
7. When using words like each, either, or neither, the verb is usually singular.
   • Example: “Each of the students has completed the assignment.”

Exercises for Subject-Verb Agreement

Now that we’ve reviewed the rules, it’s time to put your knowledge to the test. Below are a series of exercises designed to help you practice subject-verb agreement.

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Verb

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb.

1. The boys (plays / play) football every day.
2. My mother (cook / cooks) delicious meals.
3. Neither the teacher nor the students (was / were) present.
4. The dog (chases / chase) the ball every morning.
5. Either Sarah or her friends (has / have) the answer.
6. The children (is / are) playing in the park.
7. The books on the shelf (is / are) very old.
8. Each of the students (has / have) a new notebook.
9. The team (is / are) practicing for the match.
10. The cookies (was / were) delicious yesterday.

Exercise 2: Correct the Mistakes

Each sentence below has an error in subject-verb agreement. Find and correct the error.

1. The teacher and the students was in the classroom.
2. The cat and the dog eats together every morning.
3. Neither the teacher nor the students was ready for the exam.
4. The children is playing in the garden.
5. Both the boy and the girl enjoys singing.
6. Each of the players have a different uniform.
7. The team were practicing for the tournament.
8. The family are going on a vacation.
9. The books on the table is very interesting.
10. The staff have completed their work.

Exercise 3: Fill in the Correct Verb Form

Complete each sentence with the correct verb form.

1. The teacher (ask / asks) a lot of questions every day.
2. The students (study / studies) in the library after school.
3. The dog (barks / bark) loudly at strangers.
4. Either John or his friends (is / are) going to the concert.
5. The children (plays / play) with their toys in the evening.
6. The family (go / goes) on a road trip every summer.
7. The team (is / are) celebrating their victory.
8. Neither the cat nor the dog (like / likes) the new food.
9. The group of friends (is / are) planning a trip to the mountains.
10. The teacher (teach / teaches) us how to write essays.

Exercise 4: Fill in the Correct Verb Based on the Subject

Choose the correct verb based on whether the subject is singular or plural.

1. The book (is / are) on the table.
2. The books (is / are) on the table.
3. Either the teacher or the student (was / were) absent.
4. Neither the teacher nor the students (was / were) available for the meeting.
5. The dog (is / are) barking loudly.
6. The dogs (is / are) barking loudly.
7. Each of the students (have / has) completed the assignment.
8. A few of the students (is / are) absent today.
9. The team (is / are) practicing for the match.
10. The teams (is / are) ready for the competition.

Exercise 5: Choose the Correct Verb for Indefinite Pronouns

Fill in the blanks with the correct verb form for the indefinite pronouns.

1. Everyone (is / are) excited about the concert.
2. Somebody (was / were) looking for you.
3. Each of the players (has / have) a different jersey.
4. Nobody (was / were) at the bus stop when I arrived.
5. Anybody (is / are) welcome to join the meeting.
6. Everyone (has / have) their own opinion.
7. Nobody (like / likes) the new policy.
8. Anybody (was / were) able to solve the puzzle.
9. Someone (is / are) knocking at the door.
10. Each of them (is / are) responsible for their actions.