The Life Starter
Sign up
Grade 3 · lesson 1 of 4

Match subject and present verb

Check both the given subject number and whether the task asks for run or be. Choose the matching form.

About 18 minutes, plus any extended practice

Download the grade pack

Supplied materials

  • Paper and pencil, or a browser text area. All named people/events/records are fictional learning inputs.
  • Worked case: Subject bird; use run. Blank: ___ sings, referent Ana, singular she. Verb: jumped. Speech: "Come here," Ana said.
  • Primary check: Subject birds; use run. Blank: I saw ___, referent Ana, singular she. Verb: jumps. Speech: ANA: Come here.

Learn the idea

In conventional present-tense sentences, a singular third-person subject uses runs while a plural subject uses run. Be has its own forms, is for singular and are for plural here.

Check both the given subject number and whether the task asks for run or be. Choose the matching form.

Example to read or listen to: Subject bird; use run. Blank: ___ sings, referent Ana, singular she. Verb: jumped. Speech: "Come here," Ana said. The answer is runs. The relevant input states: Subject bird; use run. This fits runs. In conventional present-tense sentences, a singular third-person subject uses runs while a plural subject uses run. Be has its own forms, is for singular and are for plural here. A nearby object does not control the subject’s verb.

  1. Read or listen to the worked example. Say what the reading or writing task asks you to find. An adult can help with unfamiliar words.
  2. Check both the given subject number and whether the task asks for run or be. Choose the matching form.
  3. Check the worked solution: runs. The relevant input states: Subject bird; use run. This fits runs. In conventional present-tense sentences, a singular third-person subject uses runs while a plural subject uses run. Be has its own forms, is for singular and are for plural here. A nearby object does not control the subject’s verb.
  4. Try the question and the practice questions. Point to the words that helped you choose before checking the feedback.
Worked example

See the method in action

Subject bird; use run. Blank: ___ sings, referent Ana, singular she. Verb: jumped. Speech: "Come here," Ana said. Solved: runs. The relevant input states: Subject bird; use run. This fits runs. In conventional present-tense sentences, a singular third-person subject uses runs while a plural subject uses run. Be has its own forms, is for singular and are for plural here. A nearby object does not control the subject’s verb. Check both the given subject number and whether the task asks for run or be. Choose the matching form.

Your turn

Check your reasoning

Your answer is temporary and is not saved to an account. Download your current answer before leaving or reloading. Written work on paper or in another app stays in your own file.

Helpful tips
  • The birds run; the bird runs.
  • A nearby object does not control the subject’s verb.
Subject birds; use run. Blank: I saw ___, referent Ana, singular she. Verb: jumps. Speech: ANA: Come here. Which verb form agrees with the supplied subject?

Feedback appears here after you check. This is practice, not a graded school assessment.

See the answer and explanation

run

The relevant input states: Subject birds; use run. This fits run. In conventional present-tense sentences, a singular third-person subject uses runs while a plural subject uses run. Be has its own forms, is for singular and are for plural here. A nearby object does not control the subject’s verb.

Take it further

Optional extra practice: Correct: The birds runs. Expected: The birds run. Add They are flying to show ongoing action. Write one prose dialogue line: "Look up," Jo said. Then turn it into a speaker-labeled script line without pretending the punctuation forms are identical. Practice this lesson’s skill as you complete the task. Use this idea to check your work: In conventional present-tense sentences, a singular third-person subject uses runs while a plural subject uses run. Be has its own forms, is for singular and are for plural here.

Nothing here is saved to an account or sent to a teacher. The answer download includes your current choice and any checked feedback. It does not include choices from the separate More practice section. Download that section separately.

More practice: try new cases

Choose an answer for each problem. Explain your method on paper, then use the feedback to decide what to revisit.

More practice: try new cases
1. Subject bird; use be. Blank: ___ sing, referent two friends. Verb: will jump. Form: Ana arrived, Ben waved. Which verb form agrees with the supplied subject?
Need a hint?
  • The birds run; the bird runs.
  • A nearby object does not control the subject’s verb.
2. Subject birds; use be. Blank: I saw ___, referent two friends. Verb: are jumping. Form: Ana watched the birds. Which verb form agrees with the supplied subject?
Need a hint?
  • The birds run; the bird runs.
  • A nearby object does not control the subject’s verb.
3. Subject children; use run. Blank: ___ are ready, two friends. Verb: ran. Speech: "Ready?" Jo asked. Which verb form agrees with the supplied subject?
Need a hint?
  • The birds run; the bird runs.
  • A nearby object does not control the subject’s verb.

Your choices are temporary. Feedback appears after you check all the answers.

Nothing here is saved to an account or sent to a teacher. Keep your own notes or download them before leaving. The score describes these questions; it does not certify subject mastery.

Check the subject sources

These LifeStarter passages, scenarios and exercises are authored for this Academy with AI assistance and review. External resources keep their publishers’ terms. A grade label suggests a starting level; it does not establish alignment with your school’s complete requirements.