Subject-Verb Basics

Grade: 7

Duration: 60 minutes

Class Size: 25 students

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Standards Alignment

Common Core State Standards – English Language Arts (ELA)

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.7.1.A
  Explain the function of phrases and clauses in general and their function in specific sentences.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.7.1.B
  Choose among simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences to signal differing relationships among ideas.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.7.1.C
  Place phrases and clauses within a sentence, recognizing and correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.7.1.D
  Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb voice and mood.*

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Define singular and plural subjects and verbs.
2. Identify the subject and verb in simple sentences.
3. Apply the rule of subject-verb agreement in singular and plural contexts.
4. Recognize common pitfalls related to subject-verb agreement in writing.

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Materials Needed

• Whiteboard and markers
• Projector or document camera
• Printed sentence strips (25 sets) with mixed singular/plural subjects and verbs
• “Subject-Verb Agreement Chart” handouts
• Interactive notebooks or writing journals
• Colored sticky notes (2 colors) per student
• Exit ticket slips

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Lesson Agenda

Time	Activity	Description	Purpose
0-5 min	Hook: Sentence Detective Game	Write 3 sentences on the board with subject-verb errors. Call on volunteers as “Detectives” to find the mistake in each sentence.	Engage students and activate prior knowledge.
5-15 min	Mini-Lecture & Modeling	Explain singular and plural subjects and verbs using the “Subject-Verb Agreement Chart.” Use examples with students volunteering to identify subjects and verbs. Write sentences on the board, underline subjects in blue, verbs in red.	Introduce foundational rules with clear visual aids.
15-25 min	Guided Practice – Interactive Sentence Sorting	Distribute sentence strips. In pairs, students sort sentences by singular/plural subjects and then decide if the verb agrees. Teacher circulates.	Provide hands-on practice, reinforce rules collaboratively.
25-35 min	Class Discussion – Common Pitfalls	Project sentences with tricky subject-verb agreement (e.g., intervening prepositional phrases, collective nouns). Discuss as a class why the verb agrees with the subject, not nearby words.	Address common misconceptions proactively.
35-50 min	Independent Practice – Write Your Own Sentences	Students write 5 original sentences correctly applying subject-verb agreement. Highlight one singular and one plural subject-verb pair in each sentence. Peer review in small groups.	Develop writing skills and reinforce correctness through peer feedback.
50-58 min	Exit Ticket: Quick Check	Each student writes one sentence on a slip that demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement. Collect slips.	Formative assessment for understanding.
58-60 min	Wrap-Up and Preview Next Lesson	Recap main points aloud. Brief intro to Lesson 2: Compound subjects and verbs.	Set expectations and provide closure.

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Detailed Activity Descriptions and Teacher Tips

1. Sentence Detective Game (0-5 min)

• Sentences to use, e.g.:
  • The dogs barks loudly every morning.
  • A group of students are waiting outside.
  • My friend and I is going to the park.
• Give each volunteer a “magnifying glass” prop (optional) for engagement.
• Encourage class to explain why something is wrong, emphasizing correct subject-verb pairs.

2. Mini-Lecture & Modeling (5-15 min)

• Use the “Subject-Verb Agreement Chart”:

  Subject Type	Verb Form	Example
  Singular subject	Singular verb	The cat runs fast.
  Plural subject	Plural verb	The cats run fast.

• Underline the subject(s) and verb(s) in sentences on the board using designated colors.
• Reinforce rule: Subject and verb must agree in number.

3. Guided Practice – Sentence Sorting (15-25 min)

• Sentence examples on strips, such as:
  • The bird sings. (singular)
  • The birds sing. (plural)
  • The team wins the game. (singular collective)
  • The players win the game. (plural)
• Pairs discuss and place slips under “Singular” or “Plural” heading on their desk.
• Then decide if the verb is correct and fix errors as needed.
• Teacher monitors pairs, providing feedback, scaffolding where needed.

4. Class Discussion – Common Pitfalls (25-35 min)

• Show sentences that might confuse students, e.g.:
  • The bouquet of flowers smells/smell lovely.
  • Neither of the answers is/are correct.
  • The jury has/have reached a verdict.
• Ask: “Which word is really the subject? Why is the verb this form?”
• Use this discussion to clarify exceptions and tricky constructions aligned with CCSS.L.7.1.A.

5. Independent Practice – Write Your Own Sentences (35-50 min)

• Model one sentence first, e.g., The cat and dog are friends. (plural subject)
• Students create 5 sentences with at least one singular and one plural subject-verb pair.
• In small groups (3-4 students), share and correct any disagreements on agreement.
• Encourage richer vocabulary or more complex sentence structures.

6. Exit Ticket: Quick Check (50-58 min)

• Question prompt: Write one complete sentence that shows proper subject-verb agreement.
• Collect and quickly scan to gauge understanding to inform Lesson 2 planning.

7. Wrap-Up and Preview (58-60 min)

• Summarize the importance of subject-verb agreement with a quick verbal quiz (e.g., “Is this sentence correct? Why or why not?”).
• Tell students next lesson will explore agreement with compound subjects.

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Differentiation Strategies

• For students needing support:
  • Provide sentence frames during independent writing.
  • Use visual icons for singular/plural to support English Language Learners (ELLs).
• For advanced students:
  • Challenge them to write sentences with compound or complex subjects correctly applying agreement rules.
  • Introduce irregular verbs and tricky subjects.

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Assessment and Feedback

• Formative: Observation during activities, sentence sorting accuracy, peer group corrections, exit ticket sentences.
• Teacher feedback will be immediate during pair/group work and via written comments on exit tickets.

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Extensions and Homework Idea

• Assign a journal entry describing a favorite animal or sports team, requiring at least 5 sentences with correct subject-verb agreement.

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This plan leverages interactive, student-centered learning aligned with Common Core standards to build foundational grammar skills crucial for middle school ELA success. The varied activities scaffold learning thoughtfully, ensuring engagement for all learners.