Which aspect of language should the teacher review with English language learners to address errors such as incorrect verb forms and subject-verb agreement?

• A. Semantics
• B. Phonology
• C. Syntax
• D. Morphology

Answer: (C)

A primary focus here is how sentence structure governs verb forms and subject-verb agreement. When learners form sentences, the subject and verb must fit together in number and person, and the sentence’s arrangement supports that relationship. By reviewing syntax, you help students see how the subject determines the correct verb form and how the sentence is built to reflect that rule. For example, with a singular subject, English often requires a verb ending that marks third-person singular (he goes), whereas with plural subjects the base form is used (they go). This kind of guidance directly targets how sentences are constructed, which reduces errors in verb forms and agreement. Semantics deals with meaning, phonology with sounds, and morphology with word forms themselves, but addressing sentence structure is the most direct way to fix these errors.