English Language Arts
Grade 5
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 at least 8 out of 10 instances of incorrect compound and joint possessive nouns in provided sentences.
- Correctly rewrite 7 out of 10 sentences containing errors in compound or joint possessive nouns, demonstrating accurate use of apostrophes.
- Explain the difference between compound and joint possession, providing original examples of each with 100% accuracy.
- Apply the rules of compound and joint possession to construct 5 complex sentences, each demonstrating a different scenario of possessive relationships with no grammatical errors.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify a compound subject in a sentence.
Differentiate between singular and plural verbs.
Apply the 'and' rule for compound subjects, selecting the correct plural verb.
Apply the 'or/nor' rule, matching the verb to the subject closest to it.
Construct sentences using compound subjects with correct subject-verb agreement.
Edit sentences to correct errors in subject-verb agreement with compound subjects.
If a robot and a dinosaur team up to write a story, what kind of verb do they need? 🤖🦖 Let's find out how to make subjects and verbs work together as a team!
Today, we're learning about a special kind of subject called a 'compound subject,' which is when two or more subjects are in the same sentence. Knowing how...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
SubjectThe person, place, thing, or idea that is doing or being something in a sentence. It's the 'who' or 'what' the sentence is about.In 'The dog barks loudly,' the subject is 'The dog'.
VerbA word that shows an action (like run, jump) or a state of being (like is, are, was, were).In 'She reads a book,' the verb is 'reads'.
Subject-Verb AgreementA grammar rule that says the subject and verb in a sentence must match in number. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.Correct: 'The cat sleeps.' (singular subject, singular verb). Incorrect: 'The cat sleep.'
Compound SubjectTwo or more subjects joined by a conjunction (lik...
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Key Rules & Conventions
The 'And' Rule
Subject + and + Subject = Plural Verb
When two or more subjects are joined by the word 'and', they are treated as a plural subject. Therefore, you must use a plural verb.
The 'Or/Nor' Rule (Proximity Rule)
Subject + or/nor + Subject = Verb Agrees with Closest Subject
When two subjects are joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb must agree in number with the subject that is closest to it in the sentence.
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Challenging
Read the sentence: 'Neither the coach nor the players is ready for the game.' What is the error and which rule explains it?
A.The verb 'is' is singular, but the closest subject 'players' is plural, which violates the 'Or/Nor' Rule.
B.The verb 'is' is singular, but compound subjects with 'nor' are always plural, which violates the 'And' Rule.
C.The conjunction 'nor' should be 'and' because there are two subjects.
D.The subject 'coach' is singular, so the verb should be singular; the sentence is correct.
Challenging
How can you best combine these two sentences into one using a compound subject? 'The librarian helps the students. The teachers help the students.'
A.The librarian and the teachers helps the students.
B.The librarian and the teachers help the students.
C.The librarian or the teachers helps the students.
D.The librarian, along with the teachers, helps the students.
Challenging
A student wrote: 'The leader or the team members brings the snacks.' This is incorrect because the student most likely...
A.thought 'team members' was a singular noun.
B.applied the 'And' Rule, making the verb plural.
C.matched the verb to the first subject ('leader') instead of the closest one ('team members').
D.confused the verb 'brings' with the verb 'bring'.
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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 5 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 at least 8 out of 10 instances of incorrect compound and joint possessive nouns in provided sentences; Correctly rewrite 7 out of 10 sentences containing errors in compound or joint possessive nouns, demonstrating….
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 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.