6th grade · English Language Arts · Unit 4 of 12
Agreement
Subjects, verbs and pronouns match
What your child practices
Making verbs agree with their subjects (even with tricky phrases, “each,” “everyone” and “either…or”) and choosing pronouns that clearly match the nouns they replace.
Alaska content standards learning standard: L.6.1 · subject-verb and pronoun agreement
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- Find the real subject. Ignore phrases in between: “The box of crayons is…”
- Each, everyone and somebody are singular: “Everyone is ready.”
- With either…or, the verb agrees with the closer subject. Pronouns must match the nouns they replace.
Example: “The box of markers ___ on the shelf.” is or are? The subject is “box,” not “markers.” One box takes a singular verb. Answer: is
Agreement in Alaska
In the Alaska content standards, this is unit 4 of 12 in 6th grade English Language Arts, after Make Your Case and before Sentence Repair.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
- 6th grade guide for Alaska parents
- Printable 6th grade English Language Arts sheet
- Alaska report cards explained
Source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Which verb correctly completes the sentence?
The students in Mr. Diaz's class _____ a spelling test today.
- having
- is having
- have
- has
have
Hint: Ignore “in Mr. Diaz's class.” The subject is “students,” which is plural.
Question 2
Which sentence uses pronouns correctly?
- The team members packed its gear after the game.
- The team members packed their gear after the game.
- The team members packed there gear after the game.
- The team members packed they're gear after the game.
The team members packed their gear after the game.
Hint: “Members” is plural, so use the plural possessive “their.” (“There” is a place; “they're” means “they are.”)
Question 3
Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence?
The geese flew south because _____ needed warmer weather.
- it
- them
- they
- its
they
Hint: “Geese” is plural and is the subject of “needed”: they.
Question 4
Which verb correctly completes the sentence?
One of my friends _____ a pet snake.
- having
- has
- are having
- have
has
Hint: The subject is “one,” not “friends.” One has.
Question 5
Which verb correctly completes the sentence?
My sister _____ the piano every day.
- practicing
- practice
- practices
- are practicing
practices
Hint: “My sister” is one person, so the verb ends in -s: she practices.
Question 6
Which verb correctly completes the sentence?
Each of the players _____ a water bottle.
- has
- are having
- have
- having
has
Hint: “Each” is singular. Ignore “of the players.”