Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord — Class 9 MCQs with Answers
Class 9 CBSE English · Chapter 24
60 practice questions · 20 Easy · 20 Medium · 20 Hard · Updated
Practise the most important Class 9 CBSE English questions from Chapter 24, "Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord". You get 6 timed quizzes made from 60 NCERT-based MCQs, with answers and explanations. The questions are split into 20 Easy, 20 Medium and 20 Hard. Warm up on the basics, then move on to the exam-level questions that top scorers in CBSE Board exams get right.
To score well in "Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord", focus on comprehension, grammar and writing skills. Each MCQ here is timed and uses exam-style marking (+4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 skipped). This helps you stay accurate when time is short, just as real papers need. Every question has a short explanation, so a wrong answer becomes a quick lesson. It is the fastest way to fix gaps before a test.
Use this chapter for focused revision. Start with the Easy set to check your basics on Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord, then move to Medium and Hard to practise applying them. Your accuracy, streaks and XP save automatically. This chapter also adds to your overall Class 9 English mastery score. 12 sample questions are solved in full below, with the answer and a worked explanation. Sign in free to start practising.
Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord — important questions & MCQs with answers (Class 9 English)
12 solved questions from this chapter's difficulty levels, each with its answer and explanation.
- Q1Easy
Fill in the blank: 'The children ___ playing in the courtyard.'
A.are✓ CorrectB.isC.wasD.has beenAnswer: A. are
Explanation: 'Children' is plural and takes a plural verb.
- Q2Easy
Fill in the blank: 'The information you gave me ___ very useful.'
A.areB.was✓ CorrectC.wereD.have beenAnswer: B. was
Explanation: 'Information' is uncountable and always singular.
- Q3Easy
Fill in the blank: 'Rahul and his cousins ___ visiting the fair today.'
A.isB.wasC.has beenD.are✓ CorrectAnswer: D. are
Explanation: Two subjects joined by 'and' form a plural subject.
- Q4Easy
Fill in the blank: 'My uncle ___ a small bookshop near the station.'
A.are runningB.have runC.runs✓ CorrectD.runAnswer: C. runs
Explanation: A singular subject takes a singular verb.
- Q5Easy
Fill in the blank: 'The luggage ___ been placed in the storeroom.'
A.areB.wereC.has✓ CorrectD.haveAnswer: C. has
Explanation: 'Luggage' is uncountable and takes a singular verb.
- Q6Medium
Fill in the blank: 'A number of villagers ___ gathered near the well.'
A.isB.wasC.have✓ CorrectD.hasAnswer: C. have
Explanation: 'A number of' means 'several' and takes a plural verb.
- Q7Medium
Fill in the blank: 'Not only the students but also the teacher ___ present.'
A.wereB.have beenC.areD.was✓ CorrectAnswer: D. was
Explanation: With 'not only ... but also' the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
- Q8Medium
Identify the error: 'The bouquet of roses were placed on the table.'
A.were should be was✓ CorrectB.bouquet should be bouquetsC.placed should be placingD.on should be atAnswer: A. were should be was
Explanation: The subject is 'bouquet', a singular noun.
- Q9Medium
Fill in the blank: 'The number of absentees ___ risen sharply this month.'
A.has✓ CorrectB.haveC.areD.wereAnswer: A. has
Explanation: 'The number of' is singular, unlike 'a number of'.
- Q10Hard
Fill in the blank: 'Not one of the many excuses offered ___ convincing.'
A.have beenB.areC.was✓ CorrectD.wereAnswer: C. was
Explanation: 'Not one' is emphatically singular.
- Q11Hard
Choose the sentence with correct concord.
A.Either of the two answers are acceptable, though neither is complete.B.Either of the two answers is acceptable, though neither is complete.✓ CorrectC.Either of the two answers are acceptable, though neither are complete.D.Either of the two answers is acceptable, though neither are complete.Answer: B. Either of the two answers is acceptable, though neither is complete.
Explanation: 'Either of' and 'neither' are both singular subjects.
- Q12Hard
Identify the error: 'The captain, along with his teammates, were felicitated.'
A.were should be was✓ CorrectB.along with should be andC.teammates should be teammateD.felicitated should be felicitatingAnswer: A. were should be was
Explanation: 'Along with' does not make the subject plural.
Key concepts: Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord (Class 9 English)
Concord means the verb must agree with its subject in number. Almost every question here is solved the same way — find the REAL subject, ignore the words sitting between it and the verb, and then apply the rule for that kind of subject.
- Find the real subject
- The head noun governs the verb, not the nearest noun: 'One of the windows WAS broken' — the subject is 'one'; 'The bunch of keys IS missing' — the subject is 'bunch'.
- Phrases that do not add a subject
- 'With', 'along with', 'as well as', 'together with' and 'besides' do not make a compound subject: 'The teacher, with all her students, IS leaving.'
- Indefinite pronouns
- 'Everyone', 'each', 'either', 'neither', 'somebody' and 'nobody' are singular however many people they cover: 'EVERYONE in the two teams HAS been given a jersey'; 'EACH of the singers WAS given ten minutes.'
- Uncountable nouns
- Information, luggage, furniture, poetry, advice, news and equipment are always singular: 'The information you gave me WAS very useful'; 'The furniture in these rooms IS quite old.'
- Nouns ending in -ics
- Names of subjects and activities such as athletics, mathematics, physics and economics are singular: 'Athletics IS taught in our school from Class 6.'
- Nouns that are always plural
- Spectacles, trousers, scissors and shorts take a plural verb unless preceded by 'a pair of': 'My spectacles ARE on the study table.'
- Amounts and distances
- A sum, distance or period treated as ONE quantity takes a singular verb: 'Twenty rupees IS too small a price'; 'Ten kilometres IS a long way to walk.'
- Plural-looking country names
- A country whose name is plural in form is singular in meaning: 'The Netherlands IS famous for its tulips.'
- Subjects joined by 'and'
- Two subjects joined by 'and' are plural: 'Rahul and his cousins ARE visiting the fair.' But two nouns naming ONE thing are singular: 'Bread and jam IS his usual breakfast.'
- One article, one person
- If a single article covers two roles, one person is meant and the verb is singular: 'The Headmaster and Manager of the school HAS arrived.'
- The proximity rule
- With 'either … or', 'neither … nor' and 'not only … but also', the verb agrees with the NEARER subject: 'Neither Meera nor her friends ARE interested'; 'Not only the students but also the teacher WAS present.'
- 'There' sentences
- In a sentence beginning with 'there', the verb agrees with the noun that FOLLOWS it: 'There WERE two reasons why the trip was cancelled.'
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Start this chapter free →Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord — FAQs
What are the key concepts in Class 9 English Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord?+
Concord means the verb must agree with its subject in number. Almost every question here is solved the same way — find the REAL subject, ignore the words sitting between it and the verb, and then apply the rule for that kind of subject. Key ideas include Find the real subject, Phrases that do not add a subject, Indefinite pronouns, Uncountable nouns, Nouns ending in -ics, Nouns that are always plural.
What does Class 9 English Chapter 24 (Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord) cover on XamBaaz?+
It has 60 NCERT-based MCQs on "Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord": 20 Easy, 20 Medium and 20 Hard. Together they make 6 timed quizzes, and you never get the same set twice. Every question has an instant explanation. They help you prepare for CBSE Board exams.
Are these "Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord" questions free to practise?+
Yes. Sign in with Google to practise "Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord" free. Full unlimited access is ₹999/year. One year from the day you pay. You stay in Class 9 till 31 March; on 1 April your account moves up to Class 10 and the rest of your year carries over. No chapter is charged separately.
How should I revise "Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord" for the exam?+
Start with the Easy quiz to check your basics, then try Medium and Hard to practise applying them. There are 6 timed quizzes on this chapter, so you can come back for a fresh set instead of one you have seen. Read each explanation, retry the questions you miss, and track your accuracy until it stays high.
Are these "Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord" MCQs available with answers?+
Yes. 12 sample questions are shown here in full, each with the correct option and a step-by-step "Why" explanation. Sign in free with Google to start practising, with instant scoring.
Is there negative marking in the "Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord" quizzes?+
Yes. The timed quizzes use exam-style marking: +4 for a right answer, −1 for a wrong one and 0 for a skip. MHT-CET and CBSE board papers have no negative marking. Our mocks for those are scored their way.
What are the important questions from Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord (Class 9 English)?+
The questions that matter most test Find the real subject, Phrases that do not add a subject, Indefinite pronouns, Uncountable nouns, Nouns ending in -ics, Nouns that are always plural. This page shows 12 solved important MCQs with answers and explanations. Sign in to practise all 60 questions on the chapter as timed quizzes.
Is there an online quiz for Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord?+
Yes — Class 9 English Grammar: Subject-Verb Concord has timed online quizzes at Easy, Medium and Hard levels, with instant scoring and a worked explanation on every question. The first quiz on the chapter is free.