As someone who has worked with ESL students, I know that one of the most challenging areas for them is verb agreement. In English, verbs must match the subject in number and person to ensure grammatical accuracy. This means that singular subjects require singular verbs, and plural subjects require plural verbs. Unfortunately, English is full of exceptions and irregularities that can make this a daunting task for ESL learners.

Here are some tips for ESL students to improve their verb agreement skills:

1. Identify the subject: Before choosing a verb, it’s crucial to identify the subject of the sentence. The subject is the person, place, or thing that performs the action.

Example: The dog (subject) chased (verb) the ball.

2. Determine the number: Is the subject singular or plural? If it’s singular, the verb should be in the singular form, and if it’s plural, the verb should be in the plural form.

Example: The dogs (subject, plural) chased (verb, plural) the ball.

3. Watch out for exceptions: English is full of exceptions that can trip up even native speakers. For example, when using the verb “to be,” the form changes depending on the subject.

Example: I am (singular), you are (singular or plural), he, she, it is (singular), we are (plural), they are (plural).

4. Practice, practice, practice: The best way to improve verb agreement skills is to practice. Try writing sentences with different subjects and verbs to get comfortable with the rules.

Example: The cat (singular) sleeps (singular). The cats (plural) sleep (plural).

In conclusion, verb agreement can be a challenging area for ESL students, but with practice and attention to detail, it’s possible to improve. Remember to identify the subject, determine its number, and watch out for exceptions to ensure grammatical accuracy. With these tips, ESL students can master verb agreement and become confident communicators in English.