English lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 30 minutes
Subject–verb agreement with and, or and nor
Grammar
CCSS L.6.1CCSS L.3.1.FEngland: KS3 English (Standard English)England: ACT English
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Subject–verb agreement with and, or and nor.
- 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: Agreement with everyone, each, both, some, none…
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.
- Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The baby ___ when she is hungry. (cries / cry) → criesPrompt: Who or what is doing the action? That is the subject.
- Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Each of the boys ___ a packed lunch. (has / have) → hasPrompt: Find the main subject. Ignore words like 'of the…' or 'with the…' that come after it.
- Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Ali and Ben ___ in the same class. (are / is) → arePrompt: Who or what is doing the action? That is the subject.
Hook · 3 min
- Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
- Share the objective: Subject–verb agreement with and, or and nor. 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. Neither the coach nor the players ___ the new rule.
- Step 1: Subjects joined by 'and' are usually plural. With or, either…or, neither…nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
- Step 2: The nearer subject is 'the players' (plural).
- Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "Neither the coach nor the players like the new rule."
- Step 4: So the answer is: like
- Answer: like
- 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.
- Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. A pen or a pencil ___ fine for the quiz. (is / are) → isPrompt: Find all the subjects. Are they joined by 'and', or by 'or'/'nor'?
- Which sentence is correct? • The keys or the phone be in my bag. • The keys or the phone are in my bag. • The keys or the phone were in my bag. • The keys or the phone is in my bag. (The keys or the phone be in my bag. / The keys or the phone are in my bag. / The keys or the phone were in my bag. / The keys or the phone is in my bag.) → The keys or the phone is in my bag.Prompt: Find the subjects and the word joining them.
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.
- Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. My best friend and neighbour ___ coming round later. (is / are) → isPrompt: Find all the subjects. Are they joined by 'and', or by 'or'/'nor'?
- Which sentence is correct? • The keys or the phone are in my bag. • The keys or the phone be in my bag. • The keys or the phone is in my bag. • The keys or the phone were in my bag. (The keys or the phone are in my bag. / The keys or the phone be in my bag. / The keys or the phone is in my bag. / The keys or the phone were in my bag.) → The keys or the phone is in my bag.Prompt: Find the subjects and the word joining them.
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: Agreement with everyone, each, both, some, none….
- 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-6.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder