Grammar 1.4.

1a

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.
Add –s to the verb when the noun in the subject is singular, unless the subject is
the pronoun I.
Do not add –s to the verb when the noun in the subject is plural.

singular noun add –s plural noun do not add –s

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A man walks up a hill. Two men walk up a hill.

Grade 3 | Grammar Minilessons Sentences • Subject-Verb Agreement

 Grammar 1.4.1b

Subject-Verb Agreement
Identify the correct present-tense verb in parentheses.

1 Some climbers (pick, picks) flowers along the path.

2 The friends (gather, gathers) rocks near the beach.

3 Rosa (place, places) her backpack on her desk.

4 Kasha and Leo (wave, waves) to the people marching in the parade.

5 Summer break (seem, seems) far away.

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Grade 3 | Grammar Minilessons Sentences • Subject-Verb Agreement

 Grammar 1.4.2a

Adding –s or –es to Verbs

Some verbs end with –es instead of –s. Add –es to verbs that end with –s, –sh, –ch,
–x, or –z 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.

Singular Subject Plural Subject

Nina rushes along the path. The girls rush along the path.

Marco hurries toward home. The boys hurry toward home.

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Grade 3 | Grammar Minilessons Sentences • Subject-Verb Agreement

 Grammar 1.4.2b

Adding –s or –es to Verbs

The subject of each sentence is blue. Choose the correct form of the verb in
parentheses to complete each sentence.

1 Our mom (teach, teaches) us how to hike safely.

2 These containers (latch, latches) onto my bike.

3 My dog (finish, finishes) his dinner before I do.

4 The snake (hiss, hisses) when it senses danger.

5 The girl (carry, carries) her supplies into school.

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Grade 3 | Grammar Minilessons Sentences • Subject-Verb Agreement

 Grammar 1.4.3a

Singular and Plural Subjects

Verbs in the present tense have two forms. When the subject is singular, add –s or
–es to the verb.
When the subject is plural, do not add –s or –es to the verb.

singular subject add –s

Snow falls on Mount Everest.
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plural subject do not add –s

Mountain climbers fall if they are not careful.

Grade 3 | Grammar Minilessons Sentences • Subject-Verb Agreement

 Grammar 1.4.3b

Singular and Plural Subjects

The subject of each sentence is blue. Identify the form of the verb in parentheses
that correctly completes each sentence.

1 Brave guides (lead, leads) climbers up Mount Everest.

2 Evergreens (rise, rises) high into the clouds in the forest.

3 Snow (cover, covers) some of the coldest parts of the world.

4 The teams (want, wants) to win the final game and trophy.

5 Students (help, helps) clean up the playground.

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Grade 3 | Grammar Minilessons Sentences • Subject-Verb Agreement

 Grammar 1.4.5

Connect to Writing: Using Correct

Subject-Verb Agreement
In your writing, pay attention to the endings of the verbs you use. The correct form
to use depends on what the subject of the sentence is. Always check the spelling of
each verb ending.

Singular Subject Plural Subject

The hiker climbs the mountain. The hikers climb the mountain.
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The man watches an eagle. The men watch an eagle.

The eagle carries a fish in its talons. Eagles carry fish in their talons.

Grade 3 | Grammar Minilessons Sentences • Subject-Verb Agreement