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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.
  1. 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.
  2. Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The leaves on the old tree ___ turning red. (are / is) → 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. I ___ a little brother. (have / has) → havePrompt: 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.
  1. Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Neither the coach nor the players ___ the new rule. (like / likes) → likePrompt: Find all the subjects. Are they joined by 'and', or by 'or'/'nor'?
  2. Which sentence is correct? • Neither my parents nor my sister are liking horror films. • Neither my parents nor my sister likes horror films. • Neither my parents nor my sister like horror films. • Neither my parents nor my sister liking horror films. (Neither my parents nor my sister are liking horror films. / Neither my parents nor my sister likes horror films. / Neither my parents nor my sister like horror films. / Neither my parents nor my sister liking horror films.) → Neither my parents nor my sister likes horror films.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.
  1. Which sentence is correct? • My coach and mentor having helped me a lot. • My coach and mentor have helped me each. • My coach and mentor helps me a lot yesterday. • My coach and mentor has helped me a lot. (My coach and mentor having helped me a lot. / My coach and mentor have helped me each. / My coach and mentor helps me a lot yesterday. / My coach and mentor has helped me a lot.) → My coach and mentor has helped me a lot.Prompt: Find the subjects and the word joining them.
  2. Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Neither the coach nor the players ___ the new rule. (like / likes) → likePrompt: Find all the subjects. Are they joined by 'and', or by 'or'/'nor'?

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

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Subject–verb agreement with and, or and nor

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Each boy and girl ___ a name badge.

    • A. gets
    • B. get

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence is correct? • Every student and teacher are needing a pass. • Every student and teacher needing a pass. • Every student and teacher need a pass. • Every student and teacher needs a pass.

    • A. Every student and teacher are needing a pass.
    • B. Every student and teacher needing a pass.
    • C. Every student and teacher need a pass.
    • D. Every student and teacher needs a pass.

  3. Question 3

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Neither the coach nor the players ___ the new rule.

    • A. like
    • B. likes

  4. Question 4

    Which sentence is correct? • Either the bus or the trains was running late. • Either the bus or the trains is running late. • Either the bus or the trains runs late. • Either the bus or the trains are running late.

    • A. Either the bus or the trains was running late.
    • B. Either the bus or the trains is running late.
    • C. Either the bus or the trains runs late.
    • D. Either the bus or the trains are running late.

  5. Question 5

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Neither the teacher nor the students ___ ready for the fire drill.

    • A. is
    • B. are

  6. Question 6

    Which sentence is correct? • Salt and pepper are on the table. • Salt and pepper be on the table. • Salt and pepper is on the table. • Salt and pepper was on the table each.

    • A. Salt and pepper are on the table.
    • B. Salt and pepper be on the table.
    • C. Salt and pepper is on the table.
    • D. Salt and pepper was on the table each.

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Answer key: Subject–verb agreement with and, or and nor

  1. 1. A. gets

  2. 2. D. Every student and teacher needs a pass.

  3. 3. A. like

  4. 4. D. Either the bus or the trains are running late.

  5. 5. B. are

  6. 6. A. Salt and pepper are on the table.