Plural and Singular Verbs

Plural and Singular Verbs exercise

• What is a verb?

  Hints

  A verb does not describe a person or thing.

  Knowing this, which choices can you eliminate?

  A verb tells us what someone or something is doing.

  Here are some examples of verbs:

  run, jump, write

  Verbs can be both singular and plural.

  Solution

  A verb is an action word.

  Verbs tell you what people, animals and things are doing in the story.

• What happens on the farm?

  Hints

  Identify who each sentence is about.

  The first sentence is about the dogs.

  Is the word dogs singular or plural?

  Singular means one. Plural means many.

  The word dogs is plural.

  So, the verb run must also be plural.

  Solution

  Plural (green):

  • The dogs run in the yard.
  • The carrots grow in the dirt.

  These verbs are plural because dogs and carrots are plural.

  Singular (blue):

  • The bird eats a worm.
  • A boy milks the cow.

  These verbs are singular because bird and boy are singular.

• What are the animals doing?

  Hints

  The cat is singular. Which verbs in the list are singular?

  Remember: singular verbs have an s at the end. Plural verbs do not.

  Read the sentences aloud to check your work.

  Solution

  The cat:

  • eats.
  • sleeps.
  • hides.

  The dogs:

  • jump.
  • play.
  • drink.

  The cat is singular. So, the verb must be singular. The dogs is plural. So, the verb must be plural.

• What are they doing?

  Hints

  First, pick the verb from the word bank that matches the picture.

  Then, find out who the sentence is about.

  Is it about one animal (singular) or more than one (plural)?

  Choose the singular verb if the sentence is only about one animal.

  Remember: singular verbs have an s at the end.

  The word 'fish' can be singular or plural.

  Look at the number of fish in the image to help!

  Solution

  The fish swim in the tank.

  • Plural. There are multiple fish in the tank.

  The frog sits on the pad.

  • Singular. There is only one frog.

  The friends climb on the wall.

  • Plural. There are two friends on the wall.

  Ernie reads a book.

  • Singular. There is only one sloth, Ernie, in the picture.

• Complete the sentences.

  Hints

  Start by finding out who or what is doing the action in the story.

  Remember, it can be a person or a thing.

  In the first sentence, the cars are driving.

  Is the word cars singular or plural?

  The word cars is plural. Can you find a plural verb in the word bank?

  Remember: singular verbs have an s at the end. Plural verbs do not.

  Solution

  1.The cars drive fast. This verb is plural.

  • The first sentence is plural because cars is plural.

  2.Mum tells a story. This verb is singular.

  • The second sentence is singular because mum is singular.

• Correct Koko's homework.

  Hints

  First, read the sentence aloud. Identify who or what the sentence is about.

  If the person or thing is singular, the verb must also be singular.

  If the person or thing is plural, the verb must also be plural.

  Singular verbs have an s at the end.

  Solution

  All errors are highlighted in red in the image above.

  The correct answers are:

  1. The kids cook apple pie.
  2. Grandma slices the cake.
  3. The witches dance at night.
  4. The bird sings in the morning.
  5. A cup falls off the table.
  6. The stars shine in the sky.
  7. He plays video games.
  8. They jump in the pool.

  Remember: singular verbs have an s at the end. Plural verbs do not.