English Language Arts
Grade 3
15 min
Use the correct subject or verb – with compound subjects
Use the correct subject or verb – with compound subjects
What you'll learn
- Identify the subjects and verbs in a sentence with a compound subject with 80% accuracy.
- Choose the correct verb (is or are, was or were) to agree with a compound subject in 4 out of 5 sentences.
- Explain why a specific verb choice is correct when used with a compound subject, using grammatical terms like 'plural' or 'singular' in at least 2 sentences.
- Create 3 sentences using compound subjects and verbs that agree in number, as verified by a peer.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the compound subject in a sentence.
Explain that a compound subject joined by 'and' is plural.
Choose the correct plural verb (e.g., are, were, run) for a compound subject joined by 'and'.
Differentiate between a singular subject and a compound subject.
Use comparative adverbs to describe the action in a sentence without changing the subject-verb agreement.
Write a complete sentence with a compound subject, a matching verb, and a comparative adverb.
Does a cat and a dog 'plays' or 'play' together? Let's figure out how to make sentence teams work perfectly! 🐈+🐕=❓
In this lesson, we will learn about 'compound subjects,' which are like having more than one star in your sentence. We will lear...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
SubjectThe person, place, or thing doing the action in a sentence. It's the 'who' or 'what'.In 'The girl reads a book,' the subject is 'The girl'.
VerbThe action word (like run, jump, think) or a 'being' word (like is, are, was, were).In 'The girl reads a book,' the verb is 'reads'.
Compound SubjectTwo or more subjects in one sentence joined by a word like 'and'. They do the action together.In 'The girl and her brother read a book,' the compound subject is 'The girl and her brother'.
PluralA word that means more than one of something.Cats, dogs, they, we.
Subject-Verb AgreementThe rule that the subject and verb in a sentence must match. A singular subject needs a...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The 'And' Makes It Plural Rule
Subject + and + Subject = Plural Verb
When you connect two or more subjects with the word 'and', they become a plural team. You must use a plural verb with them. Plural action verbs usually don't have an 's' on the end (e.g., run, play, sing).
The Adverb is Extra Information Rule
Adverbs describe the verb, but they do not change the subject-verb agreement.
You can add a comparative adverb like 'more quickly' or 'louder' to a sentence, but you still have to follow the 'And' rule. The adverb just gives more detail about the action.
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Challenging
Which sentence correctly uses a compound subject, a plural verb, AND a comparative adverb?
A.The turtle and the snail moves more slowly.
B.The turtle and the snail move more slowly.
C.The turtle and snail is moving more slowly.
D.The turtle and the snail move more slow.
Challenging
Read the sentence: 'The dogs and the cat, who play more gently now, are good friends.' Why is the verb 'are' correct?
A.It is correct because the phrase 'who play more gently now' makes the subject plural.
B.It is correct because the compound subject 'The dogs and the cat' is plural, and the words in the middle are just extra information.
C.It is incorrect; the verb should be 'is' to match 'cat'.
D.It is incorrect; the verb should be 'play' instead of 'are'.
Challenging
Complete the sentence correctly: 'The pilot and ___ ___ the plane more skillfully than the trainee.'
A.the copilot, flies
B.the copilot, is flying
C.the copilot, fly
D.the copilots, flies
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Use the correct subject or verb – with compound subjects"?
Use the correct subject or verb – with compound subjects is a Grade 3 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Use the correct subject or verb – with compound subjects?
You'll be able to: Identify the subjects and verbs in a sentence with a compound subject with 80% accuracy; Choose the correct verb (is or are, was or were) to agree with a compound subject in 4 out of 5 sentences; Explain why a specific verb….
Is "Use the correct subject or verb – with compound subjects" free to practice?
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How many practice questions are included with Use the correct subject or verb – with compound subjects?
This lesson includes 27 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.