English Language Arts
Grade 7
15 min
To be: use the correct present tense form
To be: use the correct present tense form
What you'll learn
- Identify phrases and clauses within sentences with 80% accuracy.
- Explain the key differences between a phrase and a clause, including the presence or absence of a subject and verb, using at least two examples.
- Apply the knowledge of phrases and clauses to correctly classify 10 out of 12 novel sentence fragments as either a phrase or a clause.
- Analyze complex sentences and separate them into independent and dependent clauses, correctly identifying each clause type in at least 3 out of 4 examples.
Tutorial Preview
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the three present tense forms of the verb 'to be' (am, is, are).
Determine the correct present tense form of 'to be' based on subject-verb agreement.
Apply 'am,' 'is,' or 'are' correctly in sentences with singular and plural subjects.
Distinguish between singular and plural subjects to ensure proper verb conjugation.
Construct grammatically correct sentences using the appropriate present tense forms of 'to be'.
Edit and revise sentences to correct errors in the present tense usage of 'to be'.
Ever wonder why we say 'I am' but 'they are'? 🤔 Let's unravel the mystery of the verb 'to be'!
In this lesson, you'll learn how to correctly use t...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
VerbA word that describes an action, state, or occurrence. 'To be' is a special verb that describes a state of being.She *runs* (action). He *is* happy (state of being).
SubjectThe noun or pronoun in a sentence that performs the action or is described by the verb.*The cat* is sleeping. *They* are reading.
Subject-Verb AgreementThe grammatical rule that states a verb must match its subject in number (singular or plural).The dog *barks* (singular subject, singular verb). The dogs *bark* (plural subject, plural verb).
Present TenseA verb tense that describes actions or states happening now, habitually, or that are generally true.I *am* a student. The sun *is* bright.
Singular SubjectA subject that refers to one person, place, thing, or idea.He, she, it, a book...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Rule 1: 'Am' for First Person Singular
Use 'am' only with the first-person singular pronoun 'I'.
This form is unique to 'I' and indicates a state of being for the speaker.
Rule 2: 'Is' for Third Person Singular
Use 'is' with all singular subjects, including third-person singular pronouns (he, she, it) and singular nouns.
This form is used when the subject is one person, place, thing, or idea (excluding 'I' and 'you').
Rule 3: 'Are' for Plural and Second Person
Use 'are' with all plural subjects (we, they, plural nouns) and with the pronoun 'you' (whether singular or plural).
This form is used when the subject is more than one, or when addressing someone direc...
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Challenging
Choose the correct verb: 'The protagonist, along with his loyal companions, ___ on a quest to find the hidden treasure.'
A.is
B.are
C.am
D.be
Challenging
Read the paragraph. Identify the sentence that needs to be revised. (1) My favorite author is J.R.R. Tolkien. (2) The worlds he creates is incredibly detailed. (3) The characters are complex, and the plots are engaging. (4) I am always excited to read his books.
A.Sentence 1 should be 'My favorite author are J.R.R. Tolkien.'
B.Sentence 2 should be 'The worlds he creates are incredibly detailed.'
C.Sentence 3 should be 'The characters is complex, and the plots is engaging.'
D.Sentence 4 should be 'I is always excited to read his books.'
Challenging
According to the rules of subject-verb agreement, why is 'are' the correct verb in the sentence 'You are a talented analyst,' even when 'you' refers to a single person?
A.Because 'analyst' is a plural noun.
B.Because the sentence is in the past tense.
C.Because the pronoun 'you' is always treated as a plural subject for verb agreement purposes.
D.Because 'you' can refer to a group, so 'are' is used for consistency.
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To be: use the correct present tense form is a Grade 7 English Language Arts lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in To be: use the correct present tense form?
You'll be able to: Identify phrases and clauses within sentences with 80% accuracy; Explain the key differences between a phrase and a clause, including the presence or absence of a subject and verb, using at least two examples; Apply the….
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This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.