Subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of writing correct and effective English. It refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb of a sentence in terms of their number and person. A singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject requires a plural verb. However, this concept can be challenging for learners of English as a second language. Therefore, instructors or teachers need to set clear and concise lesson objectives for subject-verb agreement to help learners understand and apply the concept effectively. In this article, we will discuss some of the primary objectives that instructors should consider when teaching subject-verb agreement.
1. Define the concept of subject-verb agreement
The first objective when teaching subject-verb agreement is to ensure that learners understand the meaning of the concept. Instructors should clearly define what subject-verb agreement is and why it is essential in English grammar. They should explain how the subject and the verb of a sentence must agree in terms of their number and person. Additionally, instructors should provide several examples of correct and incorrect subject-verb agreement to illustrate the concept.
2. Identify the subject and verb in a sentence
The second objective should be to help learners identify the subject and the verb in a sentence. Learners need to know how to recognize the subject of a sentence and distinguish it from other parts of speech such as objects and complements. Once the learner has identified the subject, they can then determine the verb that agrees with the subject in terms of number and person.
3. Understand the rules of subject-verb agreement
The third objective should be to teach learners the rules of subject-verb agreement. Instructors should explain the various rules that apply to different types of subjects, such as singular, plural, compound, and collective nouns. They should also highlight the rules that apply to irregular verbs. Additionally, instructors should provide learners with practice exercises that allow them to apply the rules they have learned.
4. Avoid common errors
The fourth objective should be to help learners avoid common errors in subject-verb agreement. Instructors should highlight some of the most common errors that learners make, such as subject-verb disagreement in compound subjects or verb confusion in sentences that contain prepositional phrases. They should provide learners with practice exercises that focus on these common errors to help them avoid making them in the future.
5. Apply subject-verb agreement in writing
The fifth objective is to help learners apply subject-verb agreement in their writing. Instructors should provide learners with writing assignments that allow them to practice using the concept in different contexts. They should also provide feedback on the learners` writing to help them identify and correct errors in subject-verb agreement.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a fundamental concept in English grammar that requires clear and concise lesson objectives to teach effectively. Instructors should aim to ensure that learners understand the concept, can identify the subject and verb, know the rules, avoid common errors, and apply the concept in their writing. By achieving these objectives, learners will master subject-verb agreement and write correct and effective English.
