6.10.D.iv
The Standard
prepositions and prepositional phrases and their influence on subject-verb agreement
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading · The student uses the writing process recursively to compose multiple texts that are legible and uses appropriate conventions.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students identify prepositional phrases and locate the true subject outside those phrases. They choose a verb that agrees with the subject and correct errors while revising.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students correctly identify the subject even when a prepositional phrase separates it from the verb. They edit sentences such as “The stack of papers is missing” and explain why the singular verb is correct.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may match the verb with the nearest noun instead of the sentence subject. They may also mistake the object of a preposition for the subject.
How to Assess It
- Give this exit ticket: “The basket of apples (sits, sit) on the table.” Students circle the verb and underline the subject.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Build sentences with noun, prepositional phrase, and verb cards, then remove the phrase to check subject and verb agreement.
Ask students to explain why “The dogs in the yard bark” uses “bark” instead of “barks.”
Play Subject Hunt by having pairs cross out prepositional phrases and race to circle the true subject and correct verb.
Edit five sentences from a mock school announcement, checking verbs when phrases such as “of students” or “near the doors” appear.
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