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English lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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. It ___ a lot in April. (rains / rain) → rainsPrompt: Who or what is doing the action? That is the subject.
  2. Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Neither the cat nor the dog ___ hungry. (is / are) → isPrompt: 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. She ___ to school every day. (walk / walks) → walksPrompt: Who or what is doing the action? That is the subject.

Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 10 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. The cat and the dog ___ in the garden. (is / are) → arePrompt: Find all the subjects. Are they joined by 'and', or by 'or'/'nor'?
  2. Which sentence is correct? • Neither my parents nor my sister likes 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 like horror films. (Neither my parents nor my sister likes 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 like horror films.) → Neither my parents nor my sister likes horror films.Prompt: Find the subjects and the word joining them.

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 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. Pens or pencils ___ fine for the quiz. (is / are) → arePrompt: Find all the subjects. Are they joined by 'and', or by 'or'/'nor'?
  2. Which sentence is correct? • 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 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.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

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Subject–verb agreement with and, or and nor

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. My aunt and uncle ___ a bakery in town.

    • A. run
    • B. runs

  2. Question 2

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

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

  3. Question 3

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Maya and her brother ___ to school together.

    • A. walk
    • B. walks

  4. Question 4

    Which sentence is correct? • My coach and mentor has helped me a lot. • My coach and mentor having helped me a lot. • My coach and mentor helps me a lot yesterday. • My coach and mentor have helped me each.

    • A. My coach and mentor has helped me a lot.
    • B. My coach and mentor having helped me a lot.
    • C. My coach and mentor helps me a lot yesterday.
    • D. My coach and mentor have helped me each.

  5. Question 5

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Not only the actors but also the director ___ nervous.

    • A. was
    • B. were

  6. Question 6

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

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

  7. Question 7

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. Rain and wind ___ expected tonight.

    • A. is
    • B. are

  8. Question 8

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

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

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

  1. 1. A. run

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

  3. 3. A. walk

  4. 4. A. My coach and mentor has helped me a lot.

  5. 5. A. was

  6. 6. B. Either the bus or the trains are running late.

  7. 7. B. are

  8. 8. A. Either the bus or the trains are running late.