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English lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 60 minutes

Subject–verb agreement with words in between

Grammar

CCSS L.6.1CCSS L.3.1.FEngland: KS3 English (Standard English)England: SAT Standard English Conventions (Form, Structure, and Sense)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Subject–verb agreement with words in between.

  • 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: the next skill in this area.

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

Warm-up · 6 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. They ___ football after school. (play / plays) → playPrompt: Who or what is doing the action? That is the subject.
  2. Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The children in my class ___ kind. (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. I ___ a little brother. (have / has) → havePrompt: Who or what is doing the action? That is the subject.

Hook · 6 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Subject–verb agreement with words in between. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 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 flowers in the vase ___ wilting.
  • Step 1: The verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun in a phrase that comes between them.
  • Step 2: The subject is 'flowers' (plural).
  • Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "The flowers in the vase are wilting."
  • Step 4: So the answer is: are
  • Answer: are
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 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 sound of the drums ___ through the streets. (echo / echoes) → echoesPrompt: Cover up the phrase between the subject and the verb (of…, in…, with…, along with…).
  2. Type the verb (from the brackets) that agrees with the subject. The pages of this book ___ (are/is) torn. → arePrompt: Ignore the phrase that comes between the subject and the verb.

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 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. My sister, as well as her friends, ___ going camping. (is / are) → isPrompt: Cover up the phrase between the subject and the verb (of…, in…, with…, along with…).
  2. Type the verb (from the brackets) that agrees with the subject. The members of the choir ___ (sing/sings) every Sunday. → singPrompt: Ignore the phrase that comes between the subject and the verb.

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

  • 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 words in between

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The flowers in the vase ___ wilting.

    • A. are
    • B. is
  2. Question 2

    Type the verb (from the brackets) that agrees with the subject. Each of the puppies ___ (has/have) a collar.

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    Type the verb (from the brackets) that agrees with the subject. A bag of apples ___ (costs/cost) two pounds.

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. A list of rules ___ on the door.

    • A. hangs
    • B. hang
  5. Question 5

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The keys to the shed ___ missing.

    • A. is
    • B. are
  6. Question 6

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The quality of the photos ___ amazing.

    • A. is
    • B. are
  7. Question 7

    Type the verb (from the brackets) that agrees with the subject. The price of the shoes ___ (was/were) too high.

    Answer

  8. Question 8

    Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. My sister, as well as her friends, ___ going camping.

    • A. are
    • B. is

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Answer key: Subject–verb agreement with words in between

  1. 1. A. are

  2. 2. has

  3. 3. costs

  4. 4. A. hangs

  5. 5. B. are

  6. 6. A. is

  7. 7. was

  8. 8. B. is