Learning English as a second language (ESL) can be a very hard undertaking. Speaking English well requires diligent practice and a willingness to keep trying even when making mistakes. Help your students feel confident about making subjects and verbs agree by regularly using review exercises.

Crossword Puzzle
For beginning ESL students who need extra work with subject and verb agreement, make a crossword puzzle so they get extra exposure to verbs, especially “to be” forms. Students should fill in the correct verb in a numbered sentence. The odd-numbered sentence verbs could be the down words in the crossword puzzle, and the even-numbered sentence verbs could be the across words. With this exercise, students can self-check their subject-verb agreements.

Matching Game
Write the first half of a sentence containing the subject on one index card, and write the second half starting with the verb on another index card. Have at least one card per student. Hand out the cards randomly to students, and let them walk around reading them aloud until they find their match. Have one color for subject cards and another color for verb cards to make it simpler to find the match. To avoid confusion, use only sentences that have specific subjects that clearly go with their verbs.

Song Lyrics
For intermediate students, bring to class examples of song lyrics that do not use correct subject-verb agreement. James Taylor's “Rainy Day Man” works well for this exercise. See if students can quickly pick out the wrong subject and verb agreements in the song. List the sentences that use wrong agreement on the board and then correct them. Discuss with your ESL students other examples of improper grammar.

Copy Editing
Try to record a candid conversation with your students without them knowing. Use wrong grammar occasionally, and include some wrong subject-verb agreements. As a class activity, transcribe the conversation onto the board. Mark all the subjects and verbs and check that they agree. This exercise will improve ESL students' listening skills as well as their understanding of subject-verb agreement.

Family Story
Have students write a paragraph about a fictional family. Encourage them to use singular and plural pronouns. They can write about the family's habits, likes, dislikes, routines and so on. Tie in any vocabulary work the class is doing. When finished, have them go back and underline each subject and verb. Make a list of the most popular ones on the board, and have a group discussion on what sounds natural to use and which cases are the hardest to remember.