Language Arts: Subject-Verb Agreement
Using verbs that match singular and plural subjects
Language Arts: Subject-Verb Agreement
Using verbs that match singular and plural subjects
Language Arts - Grade 4-5
- 1
Choose the correct verb: The dog (run, runs) across the yard every morning.
A singular subject usually matches a verb ending in s in the present tense.
The correct verb is runs. The subject dog is singular, so it takes the singular verb runs. - 2
Choose the correct verb: The birds (sings, sing) in the trees at sunrise.
The correct verb is sing. The subject birds is plural, so it takes the plural verb sing. - 3
Rewrite the sentence correctly: My friends plays soccer after school.
Look at whether the subject names one person or more than one.
The correct sentence is: My friends play soccer after school. The plural subject friends needs the verb play. - 4
Rewrite the sentence correctly: The teacher explain the homework clearly.
The correct sentence is: The teacher explains the homework clearly. The singular subject teacher needs the verb explains. - 5
Choose the correct verb: My brother and sister (enjoy, enjoys) board games.
A subject joined by and is usually plural.
The correct verb is enjoy. The subject brother and sister is plural because it names two people. - 6
Choose the correct verb: Each student (bring, brings) a pencil to class.
The correct verb is brings. The subject each student is singular, so it takes the singular verb brings. - 7
Fix the sentence: The apples in the basket was shiny and red.
Ignore the extra words in the basket and find the main subject.
The correct sentence is: The apples in the basket were shiny and red. The subject apples is plural, so it needs were. - 8
Choose the correct verb: A pack of wolves (howl, howls) at night.
The correct verb is howls. The subject is pack, which is singular, so it takes the singular verb howls. - 9
Choose the correct verb: The books on the shelf (belongs, belong) to the library.
The words on the shelf tell where the books are, but they do not change the subject.
The correct verb is belong. The subject books is plural, so it takes the plural verb belong. - 10
Rewrite the sentence correctly: There is many cookies on the plate.
The correct sentence is: There are many cookies on the plate. The subject cookies is plural, so it needs are. - 11
Choose the correct verb: Neither the cat nor the dogs (is, are) in the house.
With neither...nor, look at the subject closest to the verb.
The correct verb is are. The subject closest to the verb is dogs, which is plural, so the verb should be are. - 12
Choose the correct verb: Everyone in the class (want, wants) extra reading time.
The correct verb is wants. The subject everyone is singular, so it takes the singular verb wants. - 13
Fix the sentence: The news from my grandparents arrive every Friday.
Find the main subject first, then match the verb to it.
The correct sentence is: The news from my grandparents arrives every Friday. The subject news is treated as singular here, so it needs arrives. - 14
Write a sentence of your own using a plural subject and a matching verb.
Answers will vary. One correct example is: The players cheer after the game. The plural subject players matches the plural verb cheer. - 15
Explain why this sentence is correct: The baby cries when she is tired.
Name the subject and tell whether it is singular or plural.
This sentence is correct because the subject baby is singular, so it matches the singular verb cries. The helping verb is also matches the singular subject she.