Name Grammar

1.4.1

Subject-Verb Agreement

A verb that tells about an action that is happening now is in the present
tense. Verbs in the present tense have two forms. The correct form to use
depends on the subject of the sentence.

Except for I, add –s to the verb when the noun in the subject is singular.
Do not add –s to the verb when the noun in the subject is plural.

My dog Pepper barks at the dogs next door.

The dogs next door bark when they see Pepper coming.

> Underline the correct present-tense verb in parentheses. Then write each
sentence correctly.

1.    People (walk, walks) along the boardwalk at night.

2.    Andrew (write, writes) to his sister in college.

3.    I (love, loves) banana splits with whipped cream.

4.    The cats (eat, eats) all the food in the bowl.

5.    The hawk (land, lands) on the highest branch.

> Revisit your piece of writing. Edit the draft to make sure all subject-verb
agreement is used correctly.

Grade 3 • Subject-Verb Agreement Printable

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Name Grammar
1.4.2

Adding –s or –es to Verbs

Some verbs end with –es instead of –s. Add –es to verbs that end with s,
sh, ch, or x when they are used with a singular noun in the subject. Do not
add –es when the noun in the subject is plural.

Some verbs end with a consonant and y. Change the y to i, and add –es
when you use this kind of verb with a singular noun.

The boy reaches for another cookie.

Greta hurries to catch the bus.

The verb reach adds –es. The verb hurry changes the y to i and adds –es.

> Underline the correct present-tense verb in parentheses. Then write each
sentence correctly.

1.    Helena (asks, askes) her sister for help with her math homework.

2.    Nate’s dog (watchs, watches) him through the window.

3.    Kathryn (worrys, worries) that she will be late to school.

4.    Nigel (rushs, rushes) to be first in line.

5.    Mr. Singh (fixs, fixes) the wheel on Ina’s scooter.

> Revisit your piece of writing. Edit the draft to make sure all verbs are
written correctly.

Grade 3 • Subject-Verb Agreement Printable

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Name Grammar
1.4.3

Singular and Plural Subjects

> Write the correct form of the verb in parentheses to complete each
sentence.

1.    Debbie her dog in the bathtub. (wash)

2.    Joshua the cake batter. (mix)

3.    I my cat play with her toy mouse. (watch)

4.    Frankie and her brother brownies after school. (bake)

5.    Tim the horse after he rides her. (brush)

6.    Holden for his name to be called. (wait)

7.    My dad our Little League team. (coach)

8.    Raquel and I along the seashore. (walk)

9.    Mia the ball thrown to her. (catch)

10.    The bus passengers into the amusement park. (carry)

> Revisit your piece of writing. Edit the draft to make sure all singular and
plural subjects are used correctly.

Grade 3 • Subject-Verb Agreement Printable

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Name Grammar
1.4.5

Connect to Writing: Using Correct

Subject-Verb Agreement
> Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.
Read the following paragraph about Komodo dragons. Look for any revisions that should
be made. Then answer the questions that follow.

(1) The largest lizard in the world is the Komodo dragon.

(2) Komodo dragons lives on four islands of Indonesia. (3) They use their
tongue in order to find prey by smell. (4) Komodo dragons weighs up to
200 pounds. (5) They can run up to 13 miles an hour.

1. What change should be made to sentence 2?

A. Change lives to live.

B. Change islands to island.
C. Change Komodo to Komodos.
D. Make no change.

2. What change should be made to sentence 4?

A. Change pounds to pound.

B. Change dragons to dragon.
C. Change weighs to weigh.
D. Make no change.

> What is an animal that you would like to learn more about? Write two or three
sentences about what you would like to learn.

Grade 3 • Subject-Verb Agreement Printable

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.