SAT Reading & Writing: Subject-Verb Agreement
52+ practice questions in Praczo
The concept, explained
- 1
The verb must match the number of its subject — singular subjects take singular verbs ("the team is"), plural subjects take plural verbs ("the teams are").
- 2
Cross out any prepositional phrase or clause between the subject and verb before deciding: "The results of the study [were/was] surprising" — cross out "of the study," and the subject is clearly "results" (plural → were).
- 3
Indefinite pronouns are almost always singular: everyone, someone, anyone, nobody, each, either, neither all take singular verbs.
- 4
In sentences where the verb comes before the subject ("There are three reasons..."), identify the true subject first. "There" is never the subject.
- 5
When two subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it: "Neither the coach nor the players were ready."
- ✗ Agreeing with the nearest noun instead of the actual subject: "The box of chocolates are..." — "chocolates" is not the subject; "box" is (singular → is).
- ✗ Treating collective nouns (team, committee, group, audience) as plural. In American English they take singular verbs: "The committee has reached a decision."
SAT-style practice
The committee, along with several outside consultants, _____ reviewing the new policy before it takes effect next month.
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