English Language Arts
Grade 6
15 min
To have: use the correct form
To have: use the correct form
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify the three main forms of the verb 'to have' (have, has, had).
Correctly apply 'have' with plural subjects and the pronouns 'I' and 'you' in present tense sentences.
Correctly apply 'has' with singular subjects and the pronouns 'he,' 'she,' and 'it' in present tense sentences.
Correctly apply 'had' for all subjects when referring to past tense actions or possessions.
Construct grammatically correct sentences using the appropriate form of 'to have' based on subject and tense.
Revise and edit their own writing to ensure correct subject-verb agreement with 'to have'.
Ever wonder why sometimes we say 'I have' but other times 'She...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
VerbA word that describes an action, state, or occurrence. 'To have' is a verb that shows possession or experience.She *runs* every morning. They *have* a new pet.
SubjectThe noun or pronoun that performs the action of the verb or is described by the verb. It tells 'who' or 'what' the sentence is about.*The students* have a test tomorrow. *He* has a great idea.
Subject-Verb AgreementThe rule that states the subject and the verb in a sentence must match in number (singular or plural). If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular; if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.The dog *barks*. The dogs *bark*.
Present TenseDescribes an action that is happening now, happens regularly, or is a general truth.I *have* a book. She *...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Present Tense Rule for 'Have' (Plural Subjects)
Use 'have' with plural subjects (we, they, students, books) and with the pronouns 'I' and 'you'.
This form is used when the subject is more than one, or when the subject is 'I' or 'you', to show possession or an experience happening now.
Present Tense Rule for 'Has' (Singular Subjects)
Use 'has' with singular subjects (he, she, it, a student, a book).
This form is used when the subject is only one (and not 'I' or 'you'), to show possession or an experience happening now.
Past Tense Rule for 'Had' (All Subjects)
Use 'had' with all subjects (singular or plural, including I, you, he, she, it, we, they) when...
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Challenging
In an analysis of an author's purpose, a student writes: 'The writer, who _______ many awards for her work, _______ a unique ability to create memorable characters.' Which form of 'to have' should be used in both blanks?
A.have, has
B.has, has
C.has, have
D.have, have
Challenging
A 6th grader is writing an argumentative essay and states: 'The protagonist *have* a moral duty to act.' Based on the tutorial's 'Common Pitfalls,' what is the most likely reason for this error?
A.The student incorrectly treated the singular subject 'protagonist' as if it were plural.
B.The student confused the past tense form 'had' with the present tense.
C.The student thought 'have' is the only correct form of the verb in formal writing.
D.The student forgot to identify the subject of the sentence.
Challenging
A student is drafting a claim for an argumentative essay: 'The school library needs more funding because the students currently has access to outdated books.' To strengthen the claim grammatically, which revision is necessary?
A.Change 'needs' to 'need'.
B.Change 'has' to 'have'.
C.Change 'has' to 'had'.
D.No revision is necessary.
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