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Subject/Verb Agreement

OK, here's an example of a worksheet from our reading program. Let me know if any of you think you'd understand this if you didn't speak "standard English." Or if you think an 8-year old can follow this without getting bored and hitting the person next to them.

A singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a
plural verb. Sometimes the verb changes its form depending on whether the
subject is singular or plural.

Rule: If the subject is singular, the present tense form of the verb usually ends in -s or -es

Example: He saves his money in a cookie jar.

Rule: If the subject is plural, do not add anything to the verb to form the present tense.

Example: They invest money for a living.

Rule: If the verb ends with a consonant and y, change the y to i and add -es to create the present tense.

Example: hurry + es = hurries

Rule: In the present tense the irregular verbs be and have change forms to agree with their subjects.

Example: Danny is responsible with money, but his friends are not. Danny has $10 but his friends have only $1.

No problem, right? Totally holds their attention.

(Oh, and by the way, they think 'singular' is spelled wrong - to them, it's a phone company!)
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Anonymous said…
Hmmm.... the linguist in me can't help but notice that they have completely neglected "I" and "you". Probably because they don't fit the neat little rules they came up with.
12:19 PM
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