π Understanding Singular Subject-Verb Agreement
When we talk about singular subject-verb agreement, we're making sure that a single person, animal, place, or thing (the subject) works correctly with its action word (the verb).
- π€ What is a Singular Subject? A singular subject is one person, one animal, one place, or one thing. Examples: dog, cat, boy, girl, school, book.
- βοΈ The Rule: For most verbs in the present tense, when your subject is singular, you add an -s or -es to the end of the verb.
- π― Example 1: The dog runs fast. (One dog, so 'runs' with an -s)
- π Example 2: My sister reads a book. (One sister, so 'reads' with an -s)
- π Example 3: The house looks big. (One house, so 'looks' with an -s)
π Exploring Plural Subject-Verb Agreement
Plural subject-verb agreement means that when you have more than one person, animal, place, or thing (a plural subject), its action word (the verb) needs to match.
- π₯ What is a Plural Subject? A plural subject is more than one person, animal, place, or thing. Examples: dogs, cats, boys, girls, schools, books.
- π οΈ The Rule: For most verbs in the present tense, when your subject is plural, you do not add an -s or -es to the end of the verb. The verb stays in its base form.
- πββοΈ Example 1: The dogs run fast. (More than one dog, so 'run' without an -s)
- π Example 2: My sisters read books. (More than one sister, so 'read' without an -s)
- π« Example 3: The houses look big. (More than one house, so 'look' without an -s)
π Singular vs. Plural: A Side-by-Side Comparison
Let's look at how singular and plural subjects change the verb:
| Feature | Singular Subject-Verb Agreement | Plural Subject-Verb Agreement |
|---|
| Subject Count | One person, animal, place, or thing. | More than one person, animal, place, or thing. |
| Verb Ending (Present Tense) | Usually adds -s or -es to the verb. | Usually no -s/-es; verb stays in its base form. |
| Example Subject | She, He, It, The cat, A student | They, We, You, The cats, Students |
| Example Sentence | She eats an apple.
The cat sleeps. | They eat apples.
The cats sleep. |
| Common Verbs | is, has, does, goes, watches | are, have, do, go, watch |
π‘ Key Takeaways for Grade 3 Learners
- π§ Count Carefully: Always check if your subject is one (singular) or more than one (plural).
- β Singular = Add 's': If the subject is singular, the verb usually gets an 's' at the end (e.g., he walks).
- β Plural = No 's': If the subject is plural, the verb usually does NOT get an 's' (e.g., they walk).
- π Practice Makes Perfect: The more you read and write, the more natural subject-verb agreement will feel!
- π You Got This! Don't worry if it's tricky at first. Keep practicing, and you'll become a pro!