Subject-verb agreement is an important concept in the English language. It refers to the correlation between a subject and the verb in a sentence, ensuring that they agree in number, person, and tense. For Grade 4 students, mastering subject-verb agreement is crucial to developing a strong foundation in their grammar skills. In this article, we will discuss subject-verb agreement and provide tips for Grade 4 students to improve their understanding.

What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject-verb agreement refers to the agreement between a subject and a verb in a sentence. It means that the subject`s number and the verb`s number must match. For example, if the subject is singular, the verb should be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb should be plural.

Examples:

– The boy plays soccer. (singular subject and verb)

– The boys play soccer. (plural subject and verb)

It`s important to note that subject-verb agreement also includes the person and tense of the subject and verb. Person refers to the speaker of a sentence, whether it`s in first person (I, we), second person (you), or third person (he, she, it, they). Tense refers to the time of the verb, whether it`s in past, present or future.

Examples:

– I am going to the store. (first person singular present tense)

– We were playing in the park yesterday. (first person plural past tense)

– She will be singing at the concert. (third person singular future tense)

Tips for Grade 4 Students

1. Identify the subject and the verb

The first step in subject-verb agreement is identifying the subject and the verb in a sentence. Encourage Grade 4 students to ask themselves „Who or what is doing the action?“ That will help them identify the subject. Once they identify the subject, they can look for the verb that agrees with the subject in number, person, and tense.

2. Pay attention to irregular verbs

Irregular verbs don`t follow the regular pattern of adding -s or -es for the third person singular. For example, the verb „go“ does not take an -s or -es in the third person singular.

Examples:

– He goes to school every day.

– She goes to the store on weekends.

Encourage Grade 4 students to memorize the irregular verbs to help them with subject-verb agreement.

3. Practice and review

Lastly, practice and review are essential to mastering subject-verb agreement. Give Grade 4 students exercises or worksheets that focus on subject-verb agreement. It`s also helpful to review the rules of subject-verb agreement regularly to ensure that they are understood and applied correctly.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an important concept in the English language. For Grade 4 students, mastering subject-verb agreement is necessary to build a strong foundation in their grammar skills. By following the tips outlined in this article, students can improve their understanding of subject-verb agreement, identify irregular verbs, and practice regularly to reinforce their knowledge.