Pronoun–Verb Agreement
The Spark
Concept
Subject–verb agreement means the verb must match its subject in number and person. When the subject is a pronoun — I, you, he, she, it, we, they — a specific verb form is needed. Common errors include they was, she don't and we was.
Activity
Say each pair and ask your child which is correct: He run / He runs. They was / They were. Discuss what makes one sound wrong.
Check
After the worksheet, ask your child to edit a paragraph from their own writing, circling every pronoun and checking its verb agrees.
Choose the Correct Verb — Round 1
Circle the verb form that agrees with the subject pronoun.
She ___ to school every day.
They ___ finished their lunch.
He ___ not know the answer.
We ___ going to the beach tomorrow.
It ___ raining since this morning.
Choose the Correct Verb — Round 2
Circle the verb form that agrees with the subject pronoun.
I ___ going to the shops.
She ___ finished her homework.
They ___ playing in the garden.
He ___ not understand the question.
We ___ excited about the trip.
It ___ raining for three hours.
Fix the Errors — Round 1
Each sentence has a pronoun–verb agreement error. Rewrite the sentence correctly.
1. They was at the park all afternoon. Correct:
2. She don't like broccoli. Correct:
3. He have a pet lizard named Spike. Correct:
4. We was late for the movie. Correct:
Sort: Singular or Plural Pronoun?
Sort each pronoun into 'Singular' or 'Plural'.
Verb 'Do' / 'Does' — Choose Correctly
Circle the correct form of 'do' or 'does' for each pronoun.
She ___ her homework every afternoon.
They ___ not agree.
He ___ the washing up after dinner.
We ___ our best each day.
It ___ not matter.
I ___ not know the answer.
Pronoun–Verb Agreement: Write Your Own Sentences
Write one correct sentence for each pronoun. The sentence must show clear pronoun–verb agreement.
I ...
She ...
He ...
We ...
They ...
It ...
Error Hospital — Find and Fix
Read the paragraph. Find every pronoun–verb agreement error and rewrite the paragraph correctly below.
ERROR PARAGRAPH: My sister and I loves going to the beach. She always run into the water first. I am more careful and checks the waves before going in. We was there last Saturday and the waves was enormous. They was crashing so loudly that we couldn't hear each other speak. Corrected paragraph:
Perfect Tense: Has or Have?
Circle the correct form of 'has' or 'have' to form the perfect tense.
She ___ already eaten.
They ___ gone to the museum.
I ___ finished my work.
He ___ won the competition.
We ___ never seen the ocean.
It ___ been a long day.
Write a Paragraph About Your Day
Write a short paragraph (5–6 sentences) about a typical day. Use at least five different subject pronouns — I, you, he, she, we, they. Underline each pronoun and circle the matching verb.
My paragraph:
Grammar in the Wild — Week 1
Hunt for pronoun–verb agreement patterns in everyday language.
- 1Listen for pronoun–verb agreement errors in TV shows, conversations or books. Jot down any you hear.
- 2Write five sentences about your family members using a different pronoun each time.
- 3Find a paragraph in a library book and underline every pronoun — then verify each verb is correct.
Fix the Errors — Round 2
Each sentence has a pronoun–verb agreement error. Rewrite it correctly.
1. It have been a difficult week. Correct:
2. You is coming to the party, aren't you? Correct:
3. She don't understand fractions. Correct:
4. We was supposed to bring our own lunch. Correct:
5. They has decided to build a cubby house. Correct:
6. He were the only one who knew the answer. Correct:
Sort: Correct or Incorrect Agreement?
Sort each sentence into 'Correct agreement' or 'Incorrect agreement'.
Pronoun–Verb Agreement in Questions
Write four questions — one for each pronoun given. Make sure the verb agrees.
A question with 'she' as subject:
A question with 'they' as subject:
A question with 'he' as subject:
A question with 'it' as subject:
Negative Sentences: Choose Correctly
Circle the correct negative form.
She ___ eat meat.
They ___ finished yet.
He ___ understand.
We ___ agree.
It ___ matter.
Standard or Non-standard English?
Sort each sentence into 'Standard English' or 'Non-standard English'.
Proofread Your Own Writing
Take a piece of writing you have done recently. Read through it and underline every pronoun. For each one, check the verb agrees. List any errors you find and their corrections below.
Source text (title or description):
Errors I found and corrections:
Total errors found:
Agreement in Longer Sentences
Circle the correct verb. Watch out — the subject and verb may be separated by other words.
The team of students ___ working very hard.
My friend, along with her cousins, ___ coming to the party.
The box of chocolates ___ disappeared overnight.
The dogs in the park ___ barking at the birds.
Everyone in the class ___ finished the test.
Error Hospital — Paragraph Level
Read the paragraph. Find every pronoun–verb agreement error and rewrite the paragraph correctly.
PARAGRAPH: Last weekend my friends and I goes to the science museum. It were fantastic. She — that is my friend Maya — have never seen the dinosaur exhibition before. We was there for three hours and doesn't want to leave. Even the security guard, who usually don't smile, were laughing at the interactive volcano display. Corrected paragraph:
Grammar in the Wild — Week 2
Continue hunting for pronoun–verb agreement in the texts and conversations around you.
- 1Write ten sentences about your favourite sports team or hobby — vary the pronouns and tenses.
- 2Watch a TV programme and note three sentences where the presenter uses clear pronoun–verb agreement.
- 3Create a mini quiz: write five sentences with errors and five without. Test a family member.
Write a Narrative Using All Six Pronouns
Write a short narrative (8–10 sentences) that includes all six subject pronouns: I, you, he, she, we, they. Each pronoun must be used with a correctly agreeing verb. Underline each pronoun–verb pair.
My narrative:
Indefinite Pronoun Agreement
Circle the correct verb for each indefinite pronoun subject.
Everyone ___ welcome.
Nobody ___ the answer.
Each student ___ a pen.
Someone ___ left their bag in the hall.
Anything ___ better than nothing.
Write a Formal Letter Using Correct Agreement
Write a short formal letter (6–8 sentences) to a community organisation asking for information about one of their programmes. Use at least four different pronouns and ensure all verbs agree. Include a greeting and a closing.
My formal letter:
Sort Sentences by Tense
Sort each sentence into the correct tense column.
Error Analysis: Explain the Error
For each incorrect sentence, explain what the agreement error is and why it is wrong. Then write the correct form.
'He don't play sport.' Explanation: Correct form:
'They was the last team to finish.' Explanation: Correct form:
'I are going to the library.' Explanation: Correct form:
'She have three cats.' Explanation: Correct form:
Pronoun–Verb Agreement: Explain a Rule to a Younger Student
Imagine you are explaining pronoun–verb agreement to a Year 2 student. Write a simple explanation (4–5 sentences) using examples that a younger child would understand.
My explanation:
Grammar Detective — Advanced Hunt
Go on an advanced grammar detective hunt through a non-fiction text.
- 1Find a newspaper article and identify every pronoun–verb pair. Are they all correct?
- 2Write a 10-sentence paragraph about a topic from your curriculum using every pronoun at least once.
- 3Create a matching card game: pronouns on one card, correct present tense verb forms on another. Shuffle and match.
- 4Make up a silly story where you deliberately use ONLY 'she' and 'he' — and make all verbs agree!
Write a Dialogue Using Correct Agreement Throughout
Write a dialogue between three characters (give them names) of 10–12 lines. Every pronoun must have a correctly agreeing verb. Include questions, negatives and at least two different tenses.
My dialogue:
Edit a Passage for Agreement Errors
The passage below contains five pronoun–verb agreement errors. Find them all, explain each error, and write the corrected version.
PASSAGE: My grandmother have always been my greatest inspiration. She were the first woman in her family to attend university. Every evening she sits at the kitchen table and she read to me from her favourite books. She say that stories is the most important things a person can collect. I thinks she is right. Errors found (list each one):
Corrected passage:
Self-Assessment: What I Know About Pronoun–Verb Agreement
Write a clear explanation of pronoun–verb agreement in your own words. Include: the basic rule, three examples of common errors and their corrections, and one advanced rule.
My self-assessment:
Final Review — Choose Correctly
Read each sentence and circle the option with correct pronoun–verb agreement.
She ___ three awards this year.
Everybody ___ a seat for the assembly.
The news ___ quite alarming.
It is the students who ___ kept this school running.
They ___ worked hard on this project.
Nobody ___ the answer.
Write an Argument Paragraph With Perfect Agreement
Write a paragraph (6–8 sentences) arguing for or against a school rule that you feel strongly about. Use at least four different pronouns and ensure every pronoun–verb pair is correct. This is your best, most polished work.
My argument paragraph:
Grammar Portfolio: Pronoun–Verb Agreement
Compile a grammar portfolio showing your mastery of pronoun–verb agreement.
- 1Write a one-page story using all six subject pronouns correctly across multiple tenses.
- 2Create a reference card for each type of tricky agreement: indefinite pronouns, collective nouns, complex sentences.
- 3Find three examples of pronoun–verb agreement in a non-fiction text and explain in writing why each is correct.
- 4Write a letter to your future self about what you have learned — using perfect pronoun–verb agreement throughout.
- 5Teach the basic rule to a younger sibling or cousin, using examples you create yourself.
Agreement with 'Or' and 'Nor'
When subjects are joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb agrees with the nearest subject. Circle the correct verb.
Either she or her brothers ___ going.
Neither the students nor the teacher ___ sure.
Either the cat or the dog ___ the culprit.
Neither she nor I ___ finished.
Either he or you ___ right.
Write a Paragraph Using Compound Subjects
Write a paragraph (5–6 sentences) using at least three compound subjects (joined by 'and' or 'or'). Ensure each compound subject has the correct verb agreement.
My paragraph:
Error Hunt: A Student's Draft
Read this student's draft. Find and list all pronoun–verb agreement errors, then rewrite the corrected version.
DRAFT: Me and my sister loves going to the markets on weekends. She always wants to look at the craft stalls but I prefers the food stalls. We was there last Sunday and they was packed with people. A woman who were selling handmade jewellery shown us her work. She have been making jewellery for twenty years and each piece are unique. Errors found:
Corrected draft:
Sort by Subject Type
Sort each subject into its type — singular pronoun, plural pronoun, collective noun, or compound subject.
Relative Clauses: Agreement
Circle the correct verb in the relative clause.
She is one of those students who always ___ their homework.
He is the only student who ___ finished early.
These are the books that ___ on the shelf.
She is the teacher who ___ made the biggest difference.
They are the ones who ___ always on time.
Write Instructions Using Multiple Pronouns
Write a set of instructions for a younger sibling explaining how to make their bed in the morning. Use at least three different pronouns (I, you, they, she, he) and ensure all verbs agree. Aim for 6–8 steps.
My instructions:
Analyse Agreement in a Published Text
Choose a paragraph from any published non-fiction book. Copy it out. Underline every subject–verb pair. Write a brief analysis confirming that all agreement is correct, or identifying any unusual cases.
Source and paragraph:
My analysis:
Sort Errors by Type
Sort each incorrect sentence by the type of agreement error it contains.
Write a Grammar Explanation: Pronoun–Verb Agreement
Write a clear, complete explanation of pronoun–verb agreement suitable for a grammar guide aimed at Year 4 students. Include: the basic rule, a reference chart (pronouns with their verb forms), three common errors and corrections, and one advanced rule. Aim for 10–12 sentences.
My grammar guide entry:
Final Agreement Round
Circle the correct verb in each sentence.
The committee ___ made its decision.
None of the windows ___ broken.
Fifty kilometres ___ a long distance to cycle.
She is one of the students who ___ always on time.
The news ___ shocking.
Either the teacher or the students ___ mistaken.
Write Your Best Paragraph — Perfect Agreement
Write the best, most carefully crafted paragraph you can manage. It can be on any topic. Use at least six different pronouns and ensure every pronoun–verb pair is correct across multiple tenses. Proofread using a pronoun sweep before finishing.
My paragraph:
Pronoun–Verb Agreement: Mastery Project
Create a comprehensive reference resource on pronoun–verb agreement that you could keep and use in future writing.
- 1Create an anchor chart with all six pronouns and their correct present, past and perfect tense verb forms.
- 2Write a one-page mini guide: 'Pronoun–Verb Agreement — Everything You Need to Know' with examples.
- 3Compile a list of the ten trickiest agreement scenarios you encountered in this worksheet, with the correct forms.
- 4Teach a ten-minute 'grammar lesson' to a family member using examples you created yourself.
- 5Write a story of at least 15 sentences using all six pronouns and three different tenses — then proofread it thoroughly.
Subjunctive Mood — Introduction
In formal writing, the subjunctive uses 'were' with all pronouns (not was). Circle the correct formal option.
If I ___ taller, I would play basketball.
If she ___ the queen, she would change many things.
I wish he ___ here to see this.
If they ___ ready, we could leave.
Sort: Verb Form to Tense
Sort each verb phrase into the correct tense column.
Write a Speech Using All Pronouns
Write a short motivational speech (8–10 sentences) to your class. Use every subject pronoun (I, you, he, she, we, they, it) at least once. Every verb must agree correctly with its pronoun.
My speech:
Compare Standard and Non-standard Agreement
Write a paragraph explaining the difference between standard and non-standard pronoun–verb agreement. Use three specific examples to illustrate your explanation. Discuss when each is appropriate.
My explanation:
Proofread and Edit: Final Practice
Below is a draft paragraph containing several pronoun–verb agreement errors. Rewrite it with all errors corrected. Then count and list every error you fixed.
DRAFT: She are my closest friend and we has known each other since kindergarten. Every weekend we goes on an adventure somewhere in our neighbourhood. Last Saturday she suggest we climb the big fig tree in the park. It were windy but we was both brave enough to climb to the top. When we looked out, we could see our whole street stretching away like a map below us. They — the people below — didn't even noticed us. Corrected paragraph:
Errors I fixed (list each one):
Final Agreement Check
Circle the correct verb in each sentence to show mastery of pronoun–verb agreement.
She ___ the competition three years in a row.
They ___ not yet decided on a name.
Everyone in the class ___ a part to play.
Neither he nor she ___ willing to apologise.
The team ___ arrived at the venue.
It ___ been a very long year.
Write a Diary Entry Using Correct Agreement
Write a diary entry of 8–10 sentences recounting what happened in your day. Use at least five different pronouns and at least two different tenses. Proofread your entry before finishing.
My diary entry:
Grammar Mastery: Final Home Activity
Complete a full grammar mastery project on pronoun–verb agreement.
- 1Write a 20-sentence story using a different pronoun–verb combination in every sentence.
- 2Create a 'Grammar Errors' scrapbook: collect real examples of agreement errors (from newspapers, social media, signs) and correct them.
- 3Write a letter to a fictional publisher pitching a grammar guide for Year 4 students — include the three most important rules about pronoun–verb agreement.
- 4Teach the rule to a grandparent or older relative — explaining in your own words is the ultimate test of understanding.
Pronoun–Verb Agreement: My Biggest Breakthrough
Write a short reflection (4–5 sentences) on the most important thing you have learned about pronoun–verb agreement in this unit. What was the hardest concept? What are you most confident about now?
My reflection: