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English lesson plan · 9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 30 minutes

Agreement with tricky subjects (SAT/ACT)

Grammar

CCSS L.9-10.1England: SAT Standard English ConventionsEngland: ACT EnglishEngland: GCSE English Language (SPaG)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Agreement with tricky subjects (SAT/ACT).

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Subject–verb agreement

Leads to: SAT/ACT Standard English Conventions (mixed); Agreement when the verb comes first (There are…, Here comes…)

Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Subject–verb agreement). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The flowers ___ lovely. (smell / smells) → smellPrompt: Who or what is doing the action? That is the subject.
  2. Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. There ___ two apples in the bowl. (is / are) → arePrompt: Find the main subject. Ignore words like 'of the…' or 'with the…' that come after it.
  3. Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. There ___ a spider in the bath! (is / are) → isPrompt: Find the main subject. Ignore words like 'of the…' or 'with the…' that come after it.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Agreement with tricky subjects (SAT/ACT). Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The data from both experiments ___ that the theory holds.
  • Step 1: The verb agrees with the head noun of the subject, wherever it is in the sentence.
  • Step 2: In formal and scientific writing 'data' is plural (datum is the singular).
  • Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "The data from both experiments suggest that the theory holds."
  • Step 4: So the answer is: suggest
  • Answer: suggest
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Either the manager or her assistants ___ responsible. (are / is) → arePrompt: Find the head noun of the subject. Cross out prepositional phrases (of…, from…, in…).
  2. Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The list of items on the shelves ___ been updated. (has / have) → hasPrompt: Find the head noun of the subject. Cross out prepositional phrases (of…, from…, in…).

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Along the riverbank ___ a row of willow trees. (stands / stand) → standsPrompt: Find the head noun of the subject. Cross out prepositional phrases (of…, from…, in…).
  2. Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Not one of the volunteers ___ late. (was / were) → wasPrompt: Find the head noun of the subject. Cross out prepositional phrases (of…, from…, in…).

Watch out for

  • Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
  • Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Subject–verb agreement.
  • Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: SAT/ACT Standard English Conventions (mixed); Agreement when the verb comes first (There are…, Here comes…).
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-9.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Agreement with tricky subjects (SAT/ACT)

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Either the manager or her assistants ___ responsible.

    • A. are
    • B. is

  2. Question 2

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The data from both experiments ___ that the theory holds.

    • A. suggest
    • B. suggests

  3. Question 3

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The results of the long-running study ___ surprising.

    • A. were
    • B. was

  4. Question 4

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Everyone in the three classes ___ invited.

    • A. was
    • B. were

  5. Question 5

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The list of items on the shelves ___ been updated.

    • A. have
    • B. has

  6. Question 6

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The collection of old coins ___ worth thousands.

    • A. are
    • B. is

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Answer key: Agreement with tricky subjects (SAT/ACT)

  1. 1. A. are

  2. 2. A. suggest

  3. 3. A. were

  4. 4. A. was

  5. 5. B. has

  6. 6. B. is