A present-tense verb must agree with its subject in number. 'The child plays' has a singular subject; 'The children play' has a plural subject.
A phrase between the subject and verb can distract a writer: 'The box of pencils is on the table' is singular because box is the head of the subject phrase.
Find that head before choosing the verb.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
The box of pencils is heavy.
Moderate / Add a little
The children near the gate are waiting.
More detail for teachers and confident learners
A present-tense verb must agree with its subject in number. 'The child plays' has a singular subject; 'The children play' has a plural subject. A phrase between the subject and verb can distract a writer: 'The box of pencils is on the table' is singular because box is the head of the subject phrase. Find that head before choosing the verb. In a longer draft, check one sentence at a time and do not let the nearest noun automatically determine the verb form.
Work from meaning to form. Read the first model, identify what the words are doing, and compare it with the second model. Explain the difference aloud before using the pattern in a new sentence. When checking a draft, locate the relevant word or clause and test it in its full sentence; a rule used in isolation may miss the intended meaning.
At Stage 7, work across contemporary fiction, poetry, and non-fiction without assuming that one method fits every genre. Connect individual language choices to the text's developing meaning. In your own work, explain how the chosen structure serves the audience. Support a judgment with specific evidence and acknowledge a reasonable alternative where the text allows one.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
Optional extra unit worksheet
Practise the whole unit and receive a separate answer or model guide.
A main clause can express a complete sentence, while a subordinate clause depends on another clause. 'Although the path was muddy' leaves us waiting for the main idea.
Add 'we continued walking' to complete the sentence.
A subordinate clause can show time, reason, condition, or contrast.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
When the bell rang, the pupils left.
Moderate / Add a little
We continued although the path was muddy.
More detail for teachers and confident learners
A main clause can express a complete sentence, while a subordinate clause depends on another clause. 'Although the path was muddy' leaves us waiting for the main idea. Add 'we continued walking' to complete the sentence. A subordinate clause can show time, reason, condition, or contrast. If it comes first, a comma often marks its boundary. Compare the emphasis in 'Although it was late, we stayed' and 'We stayed although it was late'. Good control matters more than making every sentence complex.
Work from meaning to form. Read the first model, identify what the words are doing, and compare it with the second model. Explain the difference aloud before using the pattern in a new sentence. When checking a draft, locate the relevant word or clause and test it in its full sentence; a rule used in isolation may miss the intended meaning.
At Stage 7, work across contemporary fiction, poetry, and non-fiction without assuming that one method fits every genre. Connect individual language choices to the text's developing meaning. In your own work, explain how the chosen structure serves the audience. Support a judgment with specific evidence and acknowledge a reasonable alternative where the text allows one.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
Optional extra unit worksheet
Practise the whole unit and receive a separate answer or model guide.
An adverb can add information about a verb, adjective, another adverb, or a whole clause.
In 'She spoke quietly', quietly tells us how she spoke.
Adverbs may also tell us when, where, or how often.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
She spoke quietly.
Moderate / Add a little
Only Ravi borrowed the book.
More detail for teachers and confident learners
An adverb can add information about a verb, adjective, another adverb, or a whole clause. In 'She spoke quietly', quietly tells us how she spoke. Adverbs may also tell us when, where, or how often. Not every adverb ends in -ly: soon and often are adverbs, while friendly is usually an adjective. Place an adverb where its connection is clear. Compare 'Only Ravi borrowed the book' with 'Ravi borrowed only the book': the position of only changes the meaning.
Work from meaning to form. Read the first model, identify what the words are doing, and compare it with the second model. Explain the difference aloud before using the pattern in a new sentence. When checking a draft, locate the relevant word or clause and test it in its full sentence; a rule used in isolation may miss the intended meaning.
At Stage 7, work across contemporary fiction, poetry, and non-fiction without assuming that one method fits every genre. Connect individual language choices to the text's developing meaning. In your own work, explain how the chosen structure serves the audience. Support a judgment with specific evidence and acknowledge a reasonable alternative where the text allows one.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
Optional extra unit worksheet
Practise the whole unit and receive a separate answer or model guide.
The paid worksheet brings together all the lessons in this unit. A separate answer or model guide is included. Page count depends on the skills and activities.
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