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Hello, little grammar stars! Today, we're going to learn a very important rule that makes our sentences sound just right. It's called Subject-Verb Agreement. It sounds like a big term, but it simply means that the subject (the naming part of the sentence) and the verb (the action or being word) must agree or match each other, like best friends holding hands! Let's find out how to make our words good friends!

A helpful illustration for 'Subject-Verb Agreement for Class 4'. The image features students learning how to match subjects (S) and verbs (V) correctly with simple explanations and exercises.

Subject-Verb Agreement for Class 4 | Rules, Examples & Exercises

Definition of Subject-Verb Agreement for Class 4

Subject-Verb Agreement means that the subject of a sentence and the verb in that sentence must match or agree in number. This sounds a bit like a puzzle, but it's quite simple!

It means:

  • If the subject is singular (meaning one person, place, animal, or thing), the verb usually takes a special form (often ending in -s or -es in the simple present tense).
  • If the subject is plural (meaning more than one person, place, animal, or thing), the verb usually takes its base form (without -s or -es in the simple present tense).

Think of it like this: if you have one friend (singular subject), they do things in a singular way. If you have many friends (plural subject), they do things in a plural way!

Example:

  • The cat (one cat - singular subject) sleeps (singular verb with -s).
  • The cats (many cats - plural subject) sleep (plural verb - base form).

Making the subject and verb agree makes our sentences sound correct and clear!

Basic Rules for Making Subjects and Verbs Agree

Let's learn some easy rules to make our subjects and verbs good friends!

1. One Subject, Special Verb! (Singular Subject - Singular Verb)

When the subject of a sentence is singular (meaning just one person, place, animal, or thing), the verb in the Simple Present Tense usually ends with an -s or -es.

Examples:

Singular SubjectVerb (+s/es)Full Sentence
The dogbarksThe dog barks loudly.
ShesingsShe sings beautifully.
A birdfliesA bird flies in the sky. (fly → flies)
My teacherteachesMy teacher teaches us English. (teach → teaches)
ItrainsIt rains in July.

Remember the spelling rules for adding -s or -es (like for verbs ending in -o, -ch, -sh, -ss, -x, -z, or consonant + y).

2. Many Subjects, Simple Verb! (Plural Subject - Plural Verb)

When the subject of a sentence is plural (meaning more than one person, place, animal, or thing), the verb in the Simple Present Tense usually stays in its base form (the main verb without -s or -es).

Examples:

Plural SubjectVerb (Base Form)Full Sentence
The dogsbarkThe dogs bark loudly.
TheysingThey sing beautifully.
BirdsflyBirds fly in the sky.
Our teachersteachOur teachers teach us English.
WeplayWe play in the evening.

3. Special Friends: 'I' and 'You'

The pronouns I and You are special! Even though they refer to one person (when 'you' is singular), they usually take the base form of the verb in the Simple Present Tense, just like plural subjects.

Examples:

  • I play football. (NOT I plays)
  • You sing very well. (NOT You sings)
  • I like ice cream.
  • You read many books.

Making Friends with 'Be' Verbs (Am, Is, Are, Was, Were)

The verb 'to be' has special forms that must agree with the subject.

A. Using Am, Is, Are (Present Time)

In the Simple Present Tense, the 'be' verbs are am, is, are.

Subject'Be' VerbExample Sentence
IamI am happy.
He, She, It, Singular Noun (e.g., The boy)isHe is tall. The boy is clever.
You, We, They, Plural Nouns (e.g., The girls)areYou are kind. The girls are playing.

B. Using Was, Were (Past Time)

In the Simple Past Tense, the 'be' verbs are was, were.

Subject'Be' Verb (Past)Example Sentence
I, He, She, It, Singular Noun (e.g., The cat)wasI was tired. The cat was sleepy.
You, We, They, Plural Nouns (e.g., The children)wereYou were at the park. The children were noisy.

Making Friends with 'Have' Verbs (Has, Have)

The verb 'to have' also has special forms in the Simple Present Tense: has, have. These words show possession (owning something) or are used as helping verbs.

Subject'Have' VerbExample Sentence (Possession)
I, You, We, They, Plural Nouns (e.g., The boys)haveI have a red ball. The boys have many toys.
He, She, It, Singular Noun (e.g., The girl)hasShe has a new doll. The girl has long hair.

Let's Remember How Words Agree!

  • Singular Subject (one) + Singular Verb (usually ends in -s or -es).
    • Example: The bird sings.
  • Plural Subject (many) + Plural Verb (base form).
    • Example: The birds sing.
  • I / You + Plural Verb (base form).
    • Example: I sing. You sing.
  • Am/Is/Are: I am. He/She/It/Singular Noun is. You/We/They/Plural Noun are.
  • Was/Were: I/He/She/It/Singular Noun was. You/We/They/Plural Noun were.
  • Has/Have: I/You/We/They/Plural Noun have. He/She/It/Singular Noun has.

Exercises on Subject-Verb Agreement for Class 4

This collection of subject verb agreement exercises for class 4 with answers is perfect for mastering one of the most important grammar rules. These worksheets are designed for CBSE and ICSE students to practice and learn through various fun activities.

Exercise on Subject Verb Agreement: Choose the Correct Verb!

This first exercise is a great way to start. The goal is to choose the correct verb for class 4 sentences. Remember the main rule: singular subjects need singular verbs, and plural subjects need plural verbs!

Circle the correct verb in the brackets that agrees with the subject.

  1. The cat (sleep / sleeps) on the mat.
  2. We (play / plays) in the park every evening.
  3. She (like / likes) to eat apples.
  4. The stars (shine / shines) brightly at night.
  5. I (read / reads) a storybook before bed.
  6. He (watch / watches) cartoons on Sunday.
  7. My friends (come / comes) to my house to play.
  8. A little puppy (wag / wags) its tail.
  9. The sun (rise / rises) in the east.
  10. Birds (build / builds) nests in trees.
  11. An elephant (love / loves) to eat bananas.
  12. They (go / goes) to school by bus.
  13. My teacher (speak / speaks) very politely.
  14. The children (make / makes) a lot of noise.
  15. It (rain / rains) a lot in the monsoon.

Exercise 2: Fill in with Am, Is, or Are

This is, am, are worksheet for class 4 with answers helps you practice the present tense 'be' verbs. This fill-in-the-blanks exercise is a key part of learning subject-verb agreement.

Fill in the blanks with the correct 'be' verb: am, is, or are.

  1. I ____________ feeling happy today.
  2. She ____________ my best friend.
  3. The flowers ____________ beautiful.
  4. We ____________ going to the zoo.
  5. He ____________ a good cricket player.
  6. You ____________ very kind.
  7. It ____________ a sunny day.
  8. The books ____________ on the table.
  9. My father ____________ a doctor.
  10. They ____________ my cousins.
  11. This ____________ my new pencil.
  12. The dog ____________ barking at the stranger.
  13. I ____________ eight years old.
  14. Rahul and Priya ____________ siblings.
  15. An apple a day ____________ good for health.

Exercise 3: Fill in with Was or Were

Let's practice the past tense! This was, were worksheet for class 4 will help you match singular and plural subjects with their correct past tense verbs. It's an important exercise for Class 4 students.

Fill in the blanks with the correct past 'be' verb: was or were.

  1. Yesterday, I ____________ at home.
  2. The children ____________ playing in the garden last evening.
  3. She ____________ very tired after the party.
  4. We ____________ excited about the school trip.
  5. The little kitten ____________ lost.
  6. You ____________ not present in class yesterday.
  7. It ____________ a cold night.
  8. The birds ____________ chirping in the morning.
  9. He ____________ happy to see his grandparents.
  10. They ____________ good friends in their childhood.
  11. The movie ____________ very interesting.
  12. My shoes ____________ dirty after the rain.
  13. I ____________ reading a book when she called.
  14. There ____________ many people at the concert.
  15. The cake ____________ delicious.

Exercise 4: Fill in with Has or Have

This has, have worksheet for Class 4 with answers focuses on showing possession. Remember, singular subjects like 'he' or 'she' use 'has', while plural subjects like 'they' or 'we' use 'have'. Let's practice!

Fill in the blanks with the correct 'have' verb: has or have.

  1. She ____________ a new red bicycle.
  2. I ____________ many storybooks.
  3. They ____________ finished their lunch.
  4. He ____________ a pet dog named Tommy.
  5. We ____________ a big playground in our school.
  6. The elephant ____________ big ears.
  7. You ____________ a beautiful smile.
  8. It ____________ a long tail.
  9. A car ____________ four wheels.
  10. My friends ____________ many toys.
  11. The school ____________ a large library.
  12. I ____________ a blue pen and a black pencil.
  13. He ____________ a cold.
  14. All the students ____________ completed their homework.
  15. This book ____________ many pictures.

Quizzes on Subject Verb Agreement for Class 4

Ready for a challenge? Take our subject verb agreement quiz online to test your skills. These MCQs are a great way for Class 4 students to prepare for exams.

Pick the Matching Verb!

This subject verb agreement mcq test for class 4 is a great way to check your knowledge. Choose the verb from the options that correctly matches the subject in each sentence.

Choose the verb that agrees with the subject.

  1. My mother ________ delicious food.
    (a) cook (b) cooks (c) cooking
  2. The stars ________ at night.
    (a) twinkle (b) twinkles (c) is twinkling
  3. I ________ a student of Class 4.
    (a) is (b) are (c) am
  4. He ________ a new pencil box.
    (a) have (b) has (c) having
  5. We ________ going to a party.
    (a) is (b) are (c) am
  6. The birds ________ in the sky.
    (a) fly (b) flies (c) is flying
  7. My friends ________ to the park every evening.
    (a) go (b) goes (c) is going
  8. The cat ________ on the mat.
    (a) sleep (b) sleeps (c) are sleeping
  9. The teacher ________ us new things.
    (a) teach (b) teaches (c) is teaching
  10. A bunch of keys ________ on the table.
    (a) is (b) are (c) have

True or False on Subject Verb Agreement

How well do you know the rules of subject verb agreement for class 4? This quiz tests your understanding of the basic principles. Read each statement and decide if it is true or false!

Read these sentences about subject-verb agreement. Are they True or False?

  1. If the subject is "She", the verb usually ends in -s in Simple Present. (True / False)
  2. If the subject is "They", the verb usually ends in -s in Simple Present. (True / False)
  3. "I" uses the verb "is". (True / False)
  4. "You" uses the verb "are". (True / False)
  5. A plural subject needs a plural verb. (True / False)
  6. Words like 'each,' 'every,' and 'everyone' are singular and take a singular verb. (True / False)
  7. When two singular subjects are joined by 'and', the verb is usually plural. (True / False)
  8. When two subjects are joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it. (True / False)
  9. The word 'news' is plural because it ends in -s. (True / False)
  10. The title of a book, even if it has plural words, is considered singular. (True / False)

More MCQs on Subject Verb Agreement

Ready for a challenge? This quiz includes more difficult mcq questions with answers on subject verb agreement. It covers tricky subjects and is perfect for students looking to master the topic for their ICSE or CBSE exams.

Choose the correct verb to complete the sentences.

  1. The children ________ in the garden.
    (a) is playing (b) are playing (c) plays
  2. Either my shoes or your coat ________ always on the floor.
    (a) is (b) are (c) be
  3. One of my sisters ________ going on a trip to France.
    (a) is (b) are (c) be
  4. The man with all the birds ________ on my street.
    (a) live (b) lives (c) is living
  5. The movie, including all the previews, ________ about two hours to watch.
    (a) take (b) takes (c) are taking
  6. The players, as well as the captain, ________ to win.
    (a) want (b) wants (c) is wanting
  7. Every one of those books ________ fiction.
    (a) is (b) are (c) be
  8. Nobody ________ the trouble I've seen.
    (a) know (b) knows (c) have known
  9. Mathematics ________ an easy subject for some people.
    (a) is (b) are (c) be
  10. There ________ fifteen candies in that bag. Now there ________ only one left!
    (a) was, is (b) were, is (c) were, are

FAQs on Subject Verb Agreement for Class 4

Q1: Why do subjects and verbs have to agree? Why can't I just use any verb?

Making subjects and verbs agree is like making sure puzzle pieces fit together! It helps our sentences sound correct and makes it easy for people to understand what we mean. If they don't match, the sentence can sound a bit funny or confusing, like saying "The cats sleeps" instead of "The cats sleep."

Q2: What if the subject is a group of people like 'team' or 'family'? Is it singular or plural?

That's a good question! Words like 'team', 'family', 'class', or 'group' are called collective nouns. Usually, when we think of the group as one whole unit, we use a singular verb.
Example: "My family is going on a trip." (The family is going as one unit).
Sometimes, if we are thinking about the members of the group doing things individually, people might use a plural verb, but for Class 4, thinking of them as one unit with a singular verb is a good start!

Q3: Does subject-verb agreement apply to past tense too?

Yes, it does, especially with the 'be' verbs! We learned that in the past tense, we use was with singular subjects (I, he, she, it, one cat) and were with plural subjects (we, they, many cats) and 'you'.
For most other action verbs in the simple past tense, the good news is that the verb form is usually the same for all subjects (e.g., I played, he played, they played). So, it's a bit simpler there!

Worksheet on Subject Verb Agreement for Class 4

Here are some fun worksheet ideas to practice Subject-Verb Agreement:

  • Verb Match-Up: Draw two columns. Column A has subjects (e.g., The girl, Dogs, I, He). Column B has verbs (e.g., run, runs, am, is). Children draw lines to match the subject with its correct verb.
  • Sentence Fixers: Write sentences with incorrect subject-verb agreement (e.g., "The birds sings." "I is happy."). Children find the mistake and rewrite the sentence correctly.
  • "Is or Are?" / "Was or Were?" / "Has or Have?" Challenge: Sentences with blanks where students have to choose the correct form of 'be' or 'have' verbs.
  • Picture Sentences: Show pictures (e.g., one boy eating, two cats sleeping). Students write a sentence about each picture, making sure the subject and verb agree.
  • Subject-Verb Agreement Story: Write a short story with blanks for verbs. Students fill in the correct present tense verb forms based on the subjects.
  • "I Spy" Agreement Game: Say "I spy with my little eye something that (is/are)..." or "something that (run/runs)..." and students have to guess, focusing on the verb form.
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