As a professional, one of the most common grammar concerns I come across is the agreement of verbs with subjects. This is especially important for students in Class 8 as they are still honing their writing skills and need to understand the basics of grammar.
To put it simply, the verb in a sentence must agree with its subject in terms of number and person. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. Similarly, if the subject is in the first person (I), the verb must be in the first person. If the subject is in the third person (he, she, it), the verb must be in the third person.
For example, consider the following sentences:
Incorrect: The dogs runs in the park.
Correct: The dogs run in the park.
In the first sentence, the verb “runs” does not agree with the plural subject “dogs”. The correct verb form should be “run”.
Similarly:
Incorrect: She and I is going to the mall.
Correct: She and I are going to the mall.
In the first sentence, the verb “is” does not agree with the plural subject “She and I”, which requires a plural verb form “are.”
It is also important to note that in some cases, the subject may be singular but refer to a group of individuals. In such cases, the verb must still be plural. For instance:
Incorrect: The team is playing their best game.
Correct: The team are playing their best game.
In this sentence, the singular subject “team” refers to a group of players, so the verb form “are” is required instead of “is.”
In conclusion, the agreement of verbs with subjects is a fundamental aspect of grammar that Class 8 students must master. Always remember to ensure that the verb and subject agree in terms of number and person to avoid grammatical errors. This will not only help improve their writing skills but also boost their overall language proficiency.