Subject-Verb Agreement

Teacher Guidelines ▶ pages 1 – 2

Instructional Pages ▶ pages 3 – 5
Activity Page ▶ pages 6 - 7
Practice Page ▶ page 8
Grade Level: 1–3

Homework Page
Answer Key
▶
▶
page 9
page 10 - 11
 Classroom Procedure: Approximate Grade Level: 3 – 4
1. Display the following two sentences and then ask students Objectives:
to identify the errors:
The students will be able to ensure
a. The house were all painted the same color. subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent
b. She are my best friend, and she don’t like soda either. agreement.
c. One of the children are absent today. Common Core State Standards:
2. Allow for responses and discussion. Once the errors are
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.1.F
identified, ask students to correct the errors if possible.
How could the sentences be rewritten? None for Grade 4
3. Allow for responses and discussion. Ask students: What Class Sessions (45 minutes):
does it mean when a verb must agree with the subject?
At least 2 class sessions.
4. Allow for responses and discussion. Introduce Subject-
Verb Agreement to the class. Teaching Materials/Worksheets:
5. Distribute Subject-Verb Agreement content pages. Read Subject-Verb Agreement content pages
and review the information with the students. Save the (2), Activity pages (2), Practice page,
final question for the lesson closing. Use the additional Homework page
resources to enhance understanding, as well as give extra
practice if necessary. Student Supplies:
6. Distribute Activity pages. Read and review the instructions. handouts
Pair students. Allow students sufficient time to complete
the twenty sentences. Encourage students to be creative Prepare Ahead of Time:
with their made-up sentences. Pair students for activity. Copy handouts.
7. Once completed, the pairs of students share the sentences
Options for Lesson:
with the class aloud or with another pair of students.
8. Distribute Practice page. Check and review the students’ Students may work alone or in groups for
responses. the activity. Students create additional
sentences for the activity. Create ten
9. Distribute the Homework page. The next day, check and
groups, one rule per group, students
review the students’ responses.
create ten sentences for each rule.
10. In closing, ask students: Review each of the rules. Which Conduct a Subject-Verb Agreement
one do you believe will be the easiest to remember? Why? “Spelling Bee”, but students must say
Which one will be more difficult to remember? Why? a correct sentence using the given
11. Allow for responses and discussion. Every student should subjects/verbs. Use current reading
choose their easiest and most difficult. Ask students to content, students identify the correct
use the rule in a sentence. subject-verb agreement from sentences
used in the text. Students create
sentences with missing verbs, other
students write in the missing verb.

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 Teacher Notes
Students should know the subject of a sentence and the action of the subject, but they also need to understand
the subject-verb agreement, including when the subject is a pronoun. It is a very common mistake of students
in all grade levels. The lesson focuses on using the correct verb with the subject, including the hard-to-identify
subjects or subjects that seem to be plural but are singular. The lesson may be used with other related
language arts lessons related to sentences, verbs, and more.
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Additional Resources:
Content:

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/599/01/

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/sv_agr.htm

https://leo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/subverag.html

https://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/SubjectVerb.html

http://www.chompchomp.com/hotpotatoes/sva01.htm (interactive)

Worksheets:

http://www.k12reader.com/subject/grammar/word-usage/subject-verb-agreement/

https://www.education.com/worksheets/subject-verb-agreement/

http://www.littleworksheets.com/subjectverb.html

https://knowledge.thinkingstorm.com/Portals/0/Subject-Verb%20Agreement%20Worksheet.pdf

https://www.biglearners.com/worksheets/grade-3/english/grammar/subject-verb-agreement

Videos:

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/grammar/syntax-conventions-of-standard-english/subject-verb-agreement-and-pronoun-
antecedent-agreement/v/subject-verb-agreement-syntax-khan-academy (5 min)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKm98TVFTQ4 (4 min)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEVhUEq6P1w (5 min)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0emlVxINBUk (7 min)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrI127P42FE (5 min)

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Subject and Verb Agreement
Every sentence must have two parts: the subject and the verb. As you know, the subject is a part of a
sentence containing the person or thing performing the action in the sentence. The action in the sentence
is the verb. If there is no subject AND verb, then it is not a complete sentence.
Subjects can be singular, meaning one person or thing, or they can be plural, more than one person or thing.
In addition, the different verbs identifying the action can be referred to as singular or plural verbs.
When writing sentences containing the subject and verb, the subject must “agree” with the verb. It is called
subject-verb agreement. In addition to an agreement between plural and singular subjects and verbs, there
must be subject-verb agreement related to the tense of the verbs as well.

For example, can you easily recognize the errors in the following sentences?
The girl have spoken to me in school yesterday. The dog are chasing the cat down the street.
I talks to the girl at school yesterday. We was going to the movies and the mall after school.

The subjects and the verbs in each sentence do not “agree” with each other. The subject-verb agreement
is incorrect, and the sentences must be rewritten so the subjects and verbs match or agree.

The new sentences could be written in different ways as shown below:

The girl had spoken to me in school yester. The dogs are chasing the cat down the street.
I talked to the girl at school yesterday. I was going to the movies and the mall after school.

Do you recognize the changes? The subjects and

verbs agree and are now written correctly.
There are several rules you must follow to ensure
subject-verb agreement when writing sentences as
well as when you use a pronoun in a sentence. The
rules may seem a bit confusing, but the more writing
you do, the easier it will be to follow, and you will
become a much better writer.

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Subject-Verb Agreement Rules
You follow rules during the school day, and there are also rules for writing sentences. Besides punctuation
rules, spelling rules, and other language rules, some of the most important rules are related to the subject
verb agreement.

LISTED ARE 10 RULES FOR SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT: (THE SUBJECTS AND VERBS ARE UNDERLINED.)
A verb agrees with its subject in number.
Examples: The car stays in the garage. The flower smells good.
RULE 1: The subjects, car and flower, are singular so the verbs, stays and smells are singular
verbs. You may think with the added -s, they are plural verbs, but they are called singular
verbs because they agree with singular subjects.

The number of the subject, whether its plural or singular, is not changed by words
coming between the subject and the verb.
Examples: One of the eggs is broken. Three of the eggs are broken.
RULE 2:
In the first example, the subject is One, even though of the eggs comes between the
subject and the verb is, it is not a plural subject. In the second example, the subject of the
sentence is Three, so the plural verb are must be used.

Some subjects will always take a singular verb even though the meaning may seem
plural.
The following subjects always take singular verbs: each, either, neither, one, no one,
RULE 3: everyone, someone, anyone, nobody, somebody, anybody, everybody.
Incorrect: Someone in the game were hurt. Neither of the men are working.
Correct: Someone in the game was hurt. Neither of the men is working.

The following words may be singular or plural, depending on how they are used in
the sentence: some, any, all most.
RULE 4:
Singular Examples: Most of the news is good. All the pizza was gone.
Plural Examples: Most of the flowers were yellow. All the children were late.

Subjects joined by and are plural. Subjects joined by or or nor take a verb that
agrees with the last subject, the subject nearest the verb.
RULE 5:
Examples: Noah and Eva are leaving. Neither Noah nor Eva are leaving.
Neither Noah nor his friends are leaving. (Use are because friends is plural.)

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 Listed are 10 rules for subject-verb agreement: (The subjects and verbs are underlined.)

The words here and there are never subjects. In sentences that begin with one of
these two words, the subject usually appears later in the sentence.
RULE 6:
Examples: There were seven cookies in the jar. (were agrees with the subject cookies)
Here is the report you wanted. (is agrees with the subject report)

Collective nouns may be singular or plural, depending on use in the sentence.

Examples: The group was moving closer to finishing the project. (group is singular)
RULE 7: The group were asked to give an opinion on the project. (group in this
sentence is considered as separate individuals and is plural)
Some other collective nouns: class, club, team, herd, public, troop, army, audience

When using time, money, measurement, and weight, you will usually use singular
when the amount is considered one unit.
RULE 8: Incorrect: Five dollars are too much to ask. Ten days are not nearly enough time.
Correct: Five dollars is too much to ask. Ten days is not nearly enough time.
Sometimes the terms are used as plurals: There were thirty minutes to countdown.

Some nouns, while plural in form, are singular in meaning.

Examples: mumps, mathematics, measles, phonics, news, social studies, economics
RULE 9:
Incorrect: Physics are an easy subject.
Correct: Physics is an easy subject.

Don’t and Doesn’t must agree with the subject. Use doesn’t after he, she, & it.
RULE 10: Incorrect: Don’t he know how to swim. They doesn’t work well together.
Correct: Doesn’t he know how to swim. They don’t work well together.

You may believe there are too many rules, but as you practice writing and using the correct subject-verb
agreements, the rules will become easier to follow and understand. Begin to recognize them as you read
stories, articles, and other text as well. Effective writing includes using the correct punctuation, spelling,
subject-verb agreement, and much more.

Review each of the rules. Which one do you believe will be

the easiest to remember? Why? Which one will be more
difficult to remember? Why?

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 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

Work with your partner and correctly create two sentences using each of the rules. Use the content
pages and examples for help if necessary. Work cooperatively.

1. A verb agrees with its subject in number.

2. The number of the subject, whether its plural or singular, is not changed by words coming
between the subject and the verb.

3. Some subjects will always take a singular verb even though the meaning may seem plural.

4. The following words may be singular or plural, depending on how they are used in the sen-
tence: some, any, all most.

5. Subjects joined by and are plural. Subjects joined by or or nor take a verb that agrees with the
last subject, the subject nearest the verb.

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 Activity Name __________________________ Date _________

6. The words here and there are never subjects. In sentences that begin with one of these two
words, the subject usually appears later in the sentence.

7. Collective nouns may be singular or plural, depending on use in the sentence.

8. When using time, money, measurement, and weight, you will usually use singular when the
amount is considered one unit.

9. Some nouns, while plural in form, are singular in meaning.

10. Don’t and Doesn’t must agree with the subject. Use doesn’t after he, she, & it.

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 Practice Name __________________________ Date _________

Circle the correct verb in each of the sentences.

1. My friend (talk - talks) too much.

2. The lady with the brown hair (look - looks) like your mother.
3. The children in the pool (swim - swims) well.
4. My father (drive - drives) a cab.
5. The baseball players (run - runs) five laps every day.
6. Each of the boys (look - looks) good on skis.
7. Everybody (was - were) asked to remain quiet and still.
8. Neither of the women (is - are) here yet.
9. (Is - Are) each of the teachers ready to leave?
10. Several of the sheep (is - are) sick.
11. Noah and his parents (visit - visits) each other often.
12. Either the plates or the cups (are - is) in the dishwasher.
13. My brother and sister (need - needs) a ride to work.
14. There (is - are) a dog, cat, and a hamster in the garage.
15. Neither Mark nor his sisters (was - were) at the party.
16. Mumps (are - is) one of the most uncomfortable diseases.
17. One hundred dollars (is - are) not a lot of money to some people.
18. He (doesn’t - don’t) look very well today.
19. Fifteen minutes (is - are) is the amount of time it takes for me to walk to school.
20. It (doesn’t - don’t) seem so hot today.
21. Everybody (was - were) asked to share an answer.
22. In a marathon, few of the starters (finishes - finish) the race.
23. Thirty days (is- are) not enough time to complete the assignment.
24. All the workers (is - are) receiving their bonus.
25. In our yard (is - are) many pine trees.

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 Homework Name __________________________ Date _________

Use the word bank to fill in the blanks.

has are costs observes walk
delivers is cooks believes works
1. One of my friends _______________ in E.S.P.
2. The value of cars and motorcycles _______________ increased.
3. Interesting news _______________ what sells newspapers.
4. A half-pound of candies _______________ about one dollar.
5. The committee _______________ hard for better food in the cafeteria.
6. Either the workers or the boss _______________ the merchandise.
7. Nobody in the class _______________ the answer.
8. Each of the boys _______________ all the regulations.
9. He _______________ dinner for his family.
10. The girls _______________ to school every day.

Write a sentence correctly using each of the verbs and subjects.

11. are_______________________________________________________________________________
12. comes____________________________________________________________________________
13. doesn’t____________________________________________________________________________
14. pays______________________________________________________________________________
15. audience__________________________________________________________________________
16. each______________________________________________________________________________
17. somebody_________________________________________________________________________
18. everyone__________________________________________________________________________

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 Practice Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________

Circle the correct verb in each of the sentences.

1. My friend (talk - talks) too much.

2. The lady with the brown hair (look - looks) like your mother.
3. The children in the pool (swim - swims) well.
4. My father (drive - drives) a cab.
5. The baseball players (run - runs) five laps every day.
6. Each of the boys (look - looks) good on skis.
7. Everybody (was - were) asked to remain quiet and still.
8. Neither of the women (is - are) here yet.
9. (Is - Are) each of the teachers ready to leave?
10. Several of the sheep (is - are) sick.
11. Noah and his parents (visit - visits) each other often.
12. Either the plates or the cups (are - is) in the dishwasher.
13. My brother and sister (need - needs) a ride to work.
14. There (is - are) a dog, cat, and a hamster in the garage.
15. Neither Mark nor his sisters (was - were) at the party.
16. Mumps (are - is) one of the most uncomfortable diseases.
17. One hundred dollars (is - are) not a lot of money to some people.
18. He (doesn’t - don’t) look very well today.
19. Fifteen minutes (is - are) is the amount of time it takes for me to walk to school.
20. It (doesn’t - don’t) seem so hot today.
21. Everybody (was - were) asked to share an answer.
22. In a marathon, few of the starters (finishes - finish) the race.
23. Thirty days (is- are) not enough time to complete the assignment.
24. All the workers (is - are) receiving their bonus.
25. In our yard (is - are) many pine trees.

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 Homework Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________

Use the word bank to fill in the blanks.

has are costs observes walk
delivers is cooks believes works
1. One of my friends believes in E.S.P.
2. The value of cars and motorcycles has increased.
3. Interesting news is what sells newspapers.
4. A half-pound of candies costs about one dollar.
5. The committee works hard for better food in the cafeteria.
6. Either the workers or the boss delivers the merchandise.
7. Nobody in the class has the answer.
8. Each of the boys observes all the regulations.
9. He cooks dinner for his family.
10. The girls walk to school every day.

Write a sentence correctly using each of the verbs and subjects. (will vary)
11. are_______________________________________________________________________________
12. comes____________________________________________________________________________
13. doesn’t____________________________________________________________________________
14. pays______________________________________________________________________________
15. audience__________________________________________________________________________
16. each______________________________________________________________________________
17. somebody_________________________________________________________________________
18. everyone__________________________________________________________________________

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