English Language Arts
Grade 7
15 min
Identify and correct verb agreement with compound subjects
Identify and correct verb agreement with compound subjects
What you'll learn
- Identify instances of subject-verb agreement errors involving compound subjects in complex sentences with 80% accuracy on a formative assessment.
- Apply rules of subject-verb agreement to correct sentences containing compound subjects joined by "and," "or," and "nor," achieving a score of 7/10 on a practice worksheet.
- Explain the influence of intervening phrases and clauses on subject-verb agreement in sentences with compound subjects, demonstrating understanding through written explanations that meet rubric criteria for clarity and accuracy.
- Revise a multi-paragraph essay to ensure accurate subject-verb agreement with compound subjects, as measured by a reduction in errors to no more than one per paragraph.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define 'compound subject' and 'verb agreement' accurately.
Identify compound subjects in various sentence structures.
Determine the correct verb form for compound subjects joined by 'and'.
Determine the correct verb form for compound subjects joined by 'or' or 'nor'.
Determine the correct verb form for compound subjects joined by 'either...or' or 'neither...nor'.
Correct sentences where verbs do not agree with their compound subjects.
Apply subject-verb agreement rules to improve clarity and correctness in their own writing.
Ever noticed how sometimes a sentence just *sounds* wrong? 🤔 It might be a verb disagreeing with its subject!
In this lesson, you'll learn how to make sure...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
SubjectThe noun or pronoun that performs the action or is described in a sentence.The *student* reads a book. (*Student* is the subject.)
VerbA word that describes an action, state, or occurrence. It tells what the subject is doing or being.The student *reads* a book. (*Reads* is the verb.)
AgreementWhen the subject and verb in a sentence match in number (singular or plural). A singular subject needs a singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb.The *dog runs*. (Singular subject, singular verb.) The *dogs run*. (Plural subject, plural verb.)
Compound SubjectTwo or more subjects joined by a conjunction (like 'and', 'or', 'nor') that share the same verb.*My brother and his friend* are playing. (*My brother and his friend* is th...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Rule 1: Compound Subjects Joined by 'And'
When two or more subjects are joined by the conjunction 'and', the compound subject is considered plural, and the verb must be plural.
This rule applies when 'and' connects two distinct subjects, making them act as a group. For example, 'The cat and the dog *are* friends.'
Rule 2: Compound Subjects Joined by 'Or' or 'Nor'
When two or more subjects are joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb agrees with the subject that is closest to it.
This rule is crucial when subjects have different numbers (singular/plural). You look at the subject immediately preceding the verb to determine if the verb should be singular or plural. For example, 'Neither the students n...
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Challenging
Read the passage: '(1) My brother and I often disagree. (2) For example, neither he nor I likes doing the dishes. (3) Our chores and our homework takes up all our time. (4) Either our parents or our older sister checks our work.' Which sentence contains a subject-verb agreement error?
A.Sentence 1
B.Sentence 2
C.Sentence 3
D.Sentence 4
Challenging
Which sentence correctly combines these two ideas using a compound subject and proper agreement? Idea 1: The lead guitarist is popular. Idea 2: The other band members are popular.
A.The lead guitarist or the other band members is popular.
B.The lead guitarist and the other band members is popular.
C.The lead guitarist, along with the other band members, are popular.
D.The lead guitarist and the other band members are popular.
Challenging
In the sentence 'Neither the eyewitnesses' detailed descriptions nor the chief detective's single theory ___ the jury,' which verb form is correct and why?
A.'convince' is correct because 'descriptions' is plural.
B.'convinces' is correct because the verb must agree with 'theory,' the closer singular subject.
C.'convince' is correct because there are multiple subjects, making the overall idea plural.
D.'convinces' is correct because 'neither' is always singular.
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What grade level is "Identify and correct verb agreement with compound subjects"?
Identify and correct verb agreement with compound subjects is a Grade 7 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Identify and correct verb agreement with compound subjects?
You'll be able to: Identify instances of subject-verb agreement errors involving compound subjects in complex sentences with 80% accuracy on a formative assessment; Apply rules of subject-verb agreement to correct sentences containing compound….
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How many practice questions are included with Identify and correct verb agreement with compound subjects?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.