Is or Are… Make the Right Choice!

Have a quick read of the following sentences:

My grandmother are the best cook in the world.
The neighbor’s three dogs is barking very loudly. 

Don’t they sound awful? This is because the words “is” and “are” have been used incorrectly! When subjects and verbs don’t agree, the result is a very unhappy sentence!

This set of 24 task cards has been designed by our team to help your students learn when to use “is” and “are” in a sentence so that the subject and verb agree. Students read each sentence, decide whether “is” or “are” should be used to make the subject and verb agree, then record their answer on the recording sheet. These sentences will become music to your ears once the right choice is made!

This set of is or are task cards downloads as a full-color PDF or editable Google Slides file. Both files contain:

• Instruction page
• 24 x task cards
• Student recording sheet
• Answer sheet

Multiple Uses for These Are or Is Task Cards

While these task cards make a great independent learning activity, they can be used in lots of other ways, too! Read on for some suggestions from our teacher team:

• Hot Potato – Pass a small object while music plays. When it stops, the student holding it answers a task card.
• Scoot! – Place task cards around the room and have students move from one to the next, answering the questions on the recording sheet.
• Whiteboard Races – Read a task card aloud, leaving out the verb, then have students write their answers on mini whiteboards as quickly as possible.

Download to Teach When to Use Is or Are

Use the Download button above to access your preferred version of this resource. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides template before accessing it.)

We recommend that you print these is versus are task cards on cardboard for increased durability. Place them together in a large envelope or ziplock bag for safekeeping.

This resource was created by Kirstin Sowers, a teacher in Illinois and a Teach Starter collaborator.

Complement This Is Versus Are Resource

Teach Starter has a wide selection of worksheets, activities and games to support your students in learning about subject-verb agreement. Click below to browse a selection of resources from our library.

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Was or Were? Subject Verb Agreement Task Cards

Download these was or were task cards, designed to help students confidently choose the correct verb form while improving their grammar skills.

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Has or Have? Subject Verb Agreement Task Cards

Download these has or have task cards, designed to help students confidently choose the correct verb form while improving their grammar skills.

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Does or Do? Subject Verb Agreement Task Cards

Download these does or do task cards, designed to help students confidently choose the correct verb form while improving their grammar skills.