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.
Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 6.2.1.3 · verb tense and pronouns in sentences
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 Minnesota
In the Minnesota K-12 Academic 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.
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 pronoun correctly completes the sentence?
When the bike got a flat tire, Leo fixed _____ before school.
- its
- it
- them
- they
it
Hint: The pronoun stands for “the bike,” which is one thing: it.
Question 2
Which verb correctly completes the sentence?
There _____ three apples left in the bowl.
- is
- has
- are
- was
are
Hint: When a sentence starts with “There,” the subject comes after the verb. “Apples” is plural.
Question 3
Which verb correctly completes the sentence?
Both of the puppies _____ asleep on the rug.
- has
- is
- are
- was
are
Hint: “Both” always means two, so it's plural.
Question 4
Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence?
Ravi and Amir forgot _____ lunches at home.
- its
- their
- there
- they're
their
Hint: “Ravi and Amir” is plural, and the lunches belong to them: their.
Question 5
Which verb correctly completes the sentence?
The leaves on the maple tree _____ turning red.
- has
- was
- are
- is
are
Hint: Ignore “on the maple tree.” The subject is “leaves,” which is plural.
Question 6
Which verb correctly completes the sentence?
One of my friends _____ a pet snake.
- are having
- having
- have
- has
has
Hint: The subject is “one,” not “friends.” One has.