Context
The Portuguese language has rules that govern the appropriate and formal use of the language, allowing clear and efficient communication. Among the most important is subject-verb agreement, which is the phenomenon in which the verb changes its form to establish a relationship of harmony with the subject of the sentence. In this project, we will explore the general rule and the special cases of subject-verb agreement.
The general rule of subject-verb agreement is simple, the verb must agree in number and person with the subject of the sentence. However, there are special cases that allow variations of this norm. For example, when the subject is compound, when the verb comes before the subject, among others. Understanding and correctly applying these rules will significantly improve students' writing skills and make their communication abilities more respected.
Subject-verb agreement, although frequently studied in Portuguese, also has practical applications in other disciplines. For example, in Writing or History, it is crucial to know how to correctly match the verb with the subject to produce well-written and clear texts. Furthermore, this skill is essential for effective communication in real-life situations, such as job interviews, presentations, meetings, among others.
Correctly agreeing verbs is not just a matter of grammar, but also of clarity and precision in communication. Notice how the same sentence can change meaning depending on the agreement used. Subject-verb agreement is also essential to avoid ambiguities in our communication, which could lead to misunderstandings.
To deepen knowledge on the subject, students can consult reliable educational materials, such as the book 'Gramática da Língua Portuguesa' by Evanildo Bechara, as well as educational websites like Brasil Escola (https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/concordancia-verbal.htm) and Só Português (https://www.soportugues.com.br/secoes/sintatica/sintatica32.php). Additionally, there are video lessons and exercises available on platforms like YouTube and Khan Academy to help them practice.
Practical Activity
Activity Title: 'Subject-Verb Agreement in Action'
Project Objective
To explore subject-verb agreement in practice, through the creation and presentation of a theater play written by the students themselves, based on historical facts. The goal will be not only to learn and correctly apply the grammatical rules, but also to develop writing skills, text interpretation, teamwork, and creativity.
Detailed Project Description
Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 members. Each group must choose a significant historical event and create a theater script, where subject-verb agreement will be rigorously applied. The play should have a duration of 15 to 20 minutes.
The story should be written creatively, but it must be factual and precise, using reliable research sources to present historical events accurately. Subject-verb agreement must be correctly applied throughout the text.
The project will last for two weeks, enough time to conduct the necessary research, write the script, rehearse, and present the play.
Required Materials
- History books and/or internet access for research
- Notebook for planning and script creation
- Various materials for set design, costumes, and props
- A camera to film the presentation
Detailed Step-by-Step Guide for Activity Execution
- Formation of work groups
- Selection of the historical event that will be the theme of the play
- Research on the chosen event, focusing mainly on dialogues and how people communicated at the time
- Script creation, with careful attention to the correct use of subject-verb agreement
- Role assignment and start of rehearsals
- Set design, costumes, and props creation
- Final rehearsals for adjustments
- Filming of the presentation
- Video presentation to the class
Project Deliverables
- Play script: with all subject-verb agreement rules highlighted and explained
- Video of the play presentation
- Final report: containing the Introduction (contextualization of the theme, relevance and real-world application, and project objective), the Development (theory behind subject-verb agreement, activity details, methodology used, and discussion of results), and the Conclusion (lessons learned, conclusions drawn about the project). The report should also include a Bibliography, with all references used in the project.
Students should carefully elaborate each part of the report, paying special attention to the Development section, where they should make a clear connection between subject-verb agreement, script writing, and play execution. The document should be written clearly, coherently, and precisely, following ABNT standards.
