NCERT Solutions Poorvi Chapter 3 (Subject–Verb Agreement)North, South, East, West — Let us learn
Book page 130 & 131 Updated on2026-09-05
Q1.
IV Read the following sentences from the text and underline the subject and the verb. 1. Amma and Appa are fast asleep. (When the subject of a sentence has two or more nouns or pronouns that are connected by 'and', we use a plural verb.)
Answer
Amma and Appaare fast asleep. — Subject: Amma and Appa; Verb: are
Why it happens: Two nouns joined by and make a compound subject, and a compound subject is plural. So the verb must be the plural form are, not is. Test it by replacing the subject with a pronoun: 'Amma and Appa' becomes 'they', and we say 'they are'.
Tip: There is one exception. When the two nouns name a single thing, the verb stays singular — 'Bread and butter is my usual breakfast.'
Q2.
IV 2. It's hot, dry, and there is sand everywhere. (In case the subject is 'it', the verb that follows is either 'is' or 'was' depending on the tense of the sentence.)
Answer
It's hot, dry, and thereissand everywhere. — First clause: subject It, verb 's (is). Second clause: verb is, subject sand.
Why it happens: The pronoun it is always singular, so it always takes is (present) or was (past). In the second clause the word there is only an introducing word, not the subject — the real subject is sand, an uncountable singular noun, so is is correct again.
Q3.
IV 3. There are so many hills here, and beaches too. (When we begin a sentence with 'there', the subject comes after the verb.)
Answer
Thereare so many hills here, and beaches too. — Verb: are; Subject: so many hills (and beaches).
Why it happens: In a 'there' sentence the order is turned round: there + verb + real subject. To decide between is and are, find the noun that comes after the verb. Here it is 'hills', which is plural, so the verb is are. Compare: 'There is a hill here' — singular subject, singular verb.
Check it yourself: Rewrite the sentence without 'there': 'So many hills are here.' The verb does not change — proof that 'hills' was the subject all along.
Q4.
V Choose the correct option from the words given in the brackets. 1. A pair of sunglasses _________ (is/are) essential when travelling to sunny destinations.
Answer
A pair of sunglasses is essential when travelling to sunny destinations.
Why it happens: The subject is pair, not sunglasses. 'Of sunglasses' is only a prepositional phrase describing the pair, and a phrase between the subject and the verb never changes the verb. One pair → singular → is.
Q5.
V 2. Either the tour guide or the tourists _________ (has/have) to arrive first at the meeting point.
Answer
Either the tour guide or the tourists have to arrive first at the meeting point.
Why it happens: With either… or the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it. The nearer subject here is 'the tourists', which is plural, so the verb is have. Reverse the two and the verb changes: 'Either the tourists or the tour guide has to arrive first.'
Q6.
V 3. The information on travel expenses _________ (is/are) useful for first-time travellers.
Answer
The information on travel expenses is useful for first-time travellers.
Why it happens: The subject is information, which is an uncountable noun in English and always takes a singular verb — there is no such word as 'informations'. The plural-looking 'expenses' belongs to the phrase in between and does not count.
Q7.
V 4. Neither the flight crew nor the pilot _________ (was/were) aware of the delay.
Answer
Neither the flight crew nor the pilot was aware of the delay.
Why it happens: The neither… nor rule is the same as either… or — agree with the nearer subject. 'The pilot' is singular, so the verb is was.
Q8.
V 5. The news about the heavy rains _________ (makes/make) many people reconsider their vacation plans.
Answer
The news about the heavy rains makes many people reconsider their vacation plans.
Why it happens:News ends in –s but is singular — it is one of those nouns that look plural and are not, like mathematics, physics, economics and measles. A singular subject takes the –s form of the present-tense verb: makes.
Q9.
V 6. A pair of binoculars _________ (is/are) useful for spotting wildlife on a safari.
Answer
A pair of binoculars is useful for spotting wildlife on a safari.
Why it happens: Same rule as sentence 1. Binoculars, like scissors, tongs, trousers and glasses, is a plural-only noun — but the moment you put a pair of in front of it, 'pair' becomes the subject and the verb turns singular.
Q10.
V 7. The hill stations in India _________ (remains/remain) a popular travel destination during winter.
Answer
The hill stations in India remain a popular travel destination during winter.
Why it happens: The subject is the hill stations — plural — so the verb takes no –s. Do not be misled by 'India' sitting next to the verb; it is inside the phrase 'in India', and a phrase between subject and verb never decides the agreement.
Q11.
V 8. Keeping accounts _________ (is/are) important for spending money wisely during travel.
Answer
Keeping accounts is important for spending money wisely during travel.
Why it happens: The subject is the gerund phrase keeping accounts — one activity, not many accounts. A gerund (–ing form used as a noun) is always singular: 'Swimming is good exercise', 'Reading storybooks is her hobby'.
Q12.
V 9. Either the ticket or the bus passes _________ (need/needs) to be used for travelling in the tourist bus.
Answer
Either the ticket or the bus passes need to be used for travelling in the tourist bus.
Why it happens: Nearer-subject rule again. The subject closer to the verb is 'the bus passes', which is plural, so the verb is need.
Q13.
V 10. Neither the passengers nor the taxi driver _________ (was/were) aware of the best route to the hotel.
Answer
Neither the passengers nor the taxi driver was aware of the best route to the hotel.
Neither + passengers (plural, far) + nor + taxi driver (singular, near) → verb agrees with the nearer one → was
Tip: For all four either/neither sentences in this exercise, cover everything up to the word or / nor. Whatever noun is left standing before the blank decides the verb.