Let's face it. When it comes to exciting grammar topics, subject-verb agreement probably isn't at the top of anyone's list.
In fact, if you asked me to describe subject-verb agreement in one word, I'd probably say boring. (There, I said it!)
But here's the thing: Subject-verb agreement is an important grammar skill that students need to master. And considering how often subject-verb agreement errors show up in writing—even among adults—it's definitely a skill worth spending time on.
So, how can we make teaching subject-verb agreement a little more interesting?
One of my favorite approaches is to turn students into members of the Grammar Patrol! 🚨 Instead of simply memorizing grammar rules and completing worksheets, students become grammar detectives who are on a mission to find and fix sentences that have broken the laws of subject-verb agreement. It's a simple twist, but it can make a big difference in how students approach grammar practice!
1. Start with a Grammar Crime Scene
One fun way to introduce subject-verb agreement is to display a few sentences that contain obvious grammar mistakes.
For example:
- The dogs barks at the mail carrier.
- My friends is coming over after school.
- The teacher give us homework every Friday.
Tell students that these sentences have committed grammar crimes and that it's their job to investigate! Have students identify the subject and verb in each sentence, explain why they don't agree, and rewrite the sentence correctly. You can even encourage students to explain which grammar law was broken.
This activity is a great way to introduce or review the basic rule that singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs.
And because students are looking for errors rather than just listening to explanations, they're actively thinking about how the rules work.
2. Teach Students to Look for Tricky Subjects
Once students understand the basics of subject-verb agreement, it's time to introduce some of the trickier situations. For example, consider this sentence:
- The box of pencils is on the desk.
Some students might mistakenly choose are because the word pencils is plural. However, the actual subject of the sentence is box, which is singular.
This is where the Grammar Patrol approach comes in handy! Challenge students to find the real subject of each sentence before deciding whether the verb is correct. You might even have them circle the subject, underline the verb, and highlight any words that could distract them from identifying the correct subject. This helps students develop a habit of looking carefully at sentence structure instead of simply choosing a verb that sounds right.
3. Challenge Students with More Advanced Grammar Crimes
After students have mastered the basics, you can introduce some more challenging subject-verb agreement rules. For example:
Indefinite pronouns
- Everybody wants to participate.
- Several are missing from the collection.
Collective nouns
- The team is ready for the game.
- The family is planning a vacation.
Sentences beginning with here or there
- There are three books on the table.
- Here is the assignment you requested.
Portion expressions
- Some of the cookies are missing.
- Some of the milk is gone.
These types of sentences are especially useful because they require students to think beyond the most basic subject-verb agreement rules. You can turn these examples into a Grammar Patrol challenge by mixing correct and incorrect sentences together. Students must determine which sentences have broken a grammar law and which ones are innocent!
4. Get Students Moving with a Grammar Patrol Activity
Who says grammar practice has to happen entirely at students' desks? Try posting sentences around your classroom and having students move from one "crime scene" to another. Some sentences should contain subject-verb agreement errors, while others should be grammatically correct.
As students visit each station, they can record:
- Whether a grammar crime has been committed
- Which subject and verb are involved
- How to correct the sentence, if necessary
You could also have students work with partners (police officers often work with partners, after all!) They can discuss their findings before recording their answers. This activity gets students moving, encourages collaboration, and provides plenty of opportunities to practice identifying and correcting subject-verb agreement errors.
5. Reinforce the Rules with a Subject-Verb Agreement Craftivity
After students have practiced identifying grammar crimes, why not give them a creative way to reinforce what they've learned? A craftivity can be a fun follow-up activity that gives students another opportunity to apply their grammar knowledge.
Ready to Put Your Students on Grammar Patrol?
If you love the idea of turning your students into grammar detectives but don't have time to create all the materials yourself, I've got you covered! I've created two Subject-Verb Agreement PowerPoint/Google Slides lessons that help students learn and practice these important grammar skills.
My first lesson focuses on the basics, including identifying subjects, understanding how subjects and verbs agree in number, and working with verb contractions.
My second lesson tackles the trickier rules, including indefinite pronouns, collective nouns, noncount nouns, portion expressions, and other situations that can make subject-verb agreement confusing.
I also have a Subject-Verb Agreement Craftivity that provides another way for students to practice and reinforce their learning.
These ready-to-use resources can help you spend less time preparing grammar lessons and more time helping students become confident grammar detectives! Click on these links to take a closer look at them!
Subject-Verb Agreement Basics Lesson
Advanced Subject-Verb Agreement Lesson
Subject-Verb Agreement Craftivity
I just created worksheet packets, as well. (After all, you can never have too much practice when it comes to subject-verb agreement!)
Subject-Verb Agreement Worksheets: 6 Worksheets for Practicing Basic SVA Rules
Subject-Verb Agreement Worksheets: 9 Worksheets for Practicing Advanced SVA Rules
Final Thoughts
Subject-verb agreement might never win an award for being the most exciting grammar topic, but that doesn't mean teaching it has to be dull!
By turning grammar practice into a detective-style challenge, giving students opportunities to find and correct errors, and mixing in some creative activities, you can make this important skill a little more enjoyable.
And who knows? Your students might even start noticing subject-verb agreement mistakes outside the classroom.
After all, once you're a member of the Grammar Patrol, grammar crimes are hard to ignore! 🚨
~ Deb
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