Subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of language that every child must learn in their early years. The correct use of subject-verb agreement makes communication clear and effective. However, many children often struggle with this concept, especially in grade 5. To help your child improve their subject-verb agreement skills, we have compiled some exercises that can be beneficial.

1. Simple Sentences

The first step to mastering subject-verb agreement is understanding the relationship between a subject and a verb. Start with simple sentences that contain one subject and one verb. Ask your child to identify the subject and verb in each sentence and make sure they match in number. For example, “The boy runs” is correct, but “The boy run” is incorrect.

2. Singular and Plural Nouns

The next exercise involves practicing with singular and plural nouns. Give your child a list of nouns and ask them to create sentences using singular and plural nouns. For example, “The cat eats” (singular noun) and “The cats eat” (plural noun). This exercise will help your child understand how the subject and verb must agree in number.

3. Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs can be tricky, but it`s important to know how to use them correctly. Some common irregular verbs include “be,” “have,” and “do.” Give your child a list of irregular verbs and ask them to use them correctly in sentences. For example, “She has a dog” and “They are going to the store.”

4. Verb Tenses

The next exercise involves understanding different verb tenses. Give your child a list of verbs and ask them to use them in different tenses. For example, “run” can be used in the past tense (“She ran”), present tense (“He runs”), and future tense (“They will run”).

5. Compound Subjects

Lastly, your child must understand how to use subject-verb agreement with compound subjects. Give your child sentences with compound subjects and ask them to choose the correct verb that agrees in number with the subject(s). For example, “The dog and the cat play” (plural subject) versus “The dog or the cat plays” (singular subject).

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of language that every child must master. These exercises can help your child improve their subject-verb agreement skills and build a solid foundation for future language development. Continued practice and reinforcement will allow your child to communicate effectively and confidently.