SAT Grammar: Subject-Verb Agreement

Master the most tested grammar rule on the SAT Reading & Writing section

Subject-verb agreement accounts for approximately 14% of all SAT Reading and Writing questions, making it one of the most frequently tested grammar conventions. Mastering this single rule can significantly boost your score on test day.

What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Definition: Subject-verb agreement is a Standard English convention requiring that subjects and verbs agree in number. Singular subjects must pair with singular verbs, and plural subjects must pair with plural verbs.

Core Formula:

Singular Subject + Singular Verb = ✓

Plural Subject + Plural Verb = ✓

The Basic Rule

❌ Incorrect:

The celebrity chef cook lobster and foie gras.

✓ Correct:

The celebrity chef cooks lobster and foie gras.

Explanation: "Chef" is singular (one person), so the verb must be singular ("cooks").

❌ Incorrect:

The gymnasts performs incredible feats of strength.

✓ Correct:

The gymnasts perform incredible feats of strength.

Explanation: "Gymnasts" is plural (multiple people), so the verb must be plural ("perform").

📝 Remember:

In present and present perfect tenses, third-person singular verbs end in "s" (he/she/it walks), while third-person plural verbs do not (they walk).

Common SAT Traps & Pitfalls

The SAT rarely tests basic subject-verb agreement. Instead, questions are deliberately designed to be deceptive. Understanding these common traps is essential for success.

Trap #1: Interrupting Phrases

The SAT frequently places phrases between the subject and verb to obscure the true subject. These interrupting phrases include:

Prepositional phrases (of, for, in, with, about, etc.)
Non-essential clauses (surrounded by commas)
Appositives (descriptive phrases between commas)

🎯 Strategy:

Cross out interrupting phrases mentally or on your test. The subject never appears inside a prepositional phrase.

Example with Prepositional Phrase:

Changes for the new and improved SAT is going to be implemented.

✓ Changes are going to be implemented.

The subject is "Changes" (plural), not "SAT" (singular).

Example with Non-Essential Clause:

My math teacher, who yells at all the students, give too much homework.

✓ My math teacher gives too much homework.

The subject is "teacher" (singular), not "students" (plural).

Trap #2: Inverted Sentences

Sometimes the SAT flips normal sentence structure, placing the verb before the subject. This makes it harder to identify the true subject.

🎯 Strategy:

Mentally rearrange inverted sentences into standard subject-verb order to spot errors easily.

Example:

On my forehead resides five unsightly pimples.

Rearranged: Five unsightly pimples resides on my forehead.

✓ On my forehead reside five unsightly pimples.

The subject is "pimples" (plural), not "forehead" (singular).

Trap #3: Compound Subjects

Rule: Two singular nouns joined by "and" create a plural subject requiring a plural verb.

Formula:

Singular Noun + "and" + Singular Noun = Plural Subject → Plural Verb

Example:

Under my bed exists a pen and a receipt.

✓ Under my bed exist a pen and a receipt.

The subject is "a pen and a receipt" (compound/plural).

Trap #4: Collective Nouns

Rule: Collective nouns (team, committee, band, company, family) are treated as singular on the SAT, even though they refer to groups of people.

Common Collective Nouns:

team, committee, band, company, family, jury, audience, staff, faculty

Example:

After losing, the basketball team have decided to fire its coach.

✓ After losing, the basketball team has decided to fire its coach.

The subject is "team" (one team, singular collective noun).

Trap #5: Special Singular Subjects

Certain words that may seem plural are actually always singular on the SAT:

"Each" – refers to items individually (each → singular)
"Every" – means "every one" (every → singular)
Gerunds (-ing verbs used as nouns) – always singular
Indefinite pronouns – everyone, someone, anyone, no one (all singular)

Example with "Each":

Each of the members of the team are athletic.

✓ Each is athletic.

Example with "Every":

Every person in each of my classes are intelligent.

✓ Every person is intelligent.

Example with Gerund:

Remembering the names of all the Kardashians are easy.

✓ Remembering is easy.

Fully Worked SAT-Style Examples

Practice with these realistic SAT questions. Each example includes a detailed step-by-step solution.

Example 1

The collection of ancient artifacts discovered in the tomb ______ insight into daily life in ancient Egypt.

A) provide

B) provides

C) are providing

D) have provided

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the verb.
The underlined portion contains different verb forms: provide/provides/are providing/have provided.

Step 2: Find the subject.
Cross out prepositional phrases: "of ancient artifacts" and "in the tomb."
The subject is "collection" (singular).

Step 3: Check agreement.
The subject "collection" is singular and requires a singular verb.

Step 4: Eliminate wrong answers.
• A) provide – plural verb ❌
• B) provides – singular verb ✓
• C) are providing – plural verb ❌
• D) have provided – plural verb ❌

Answer: B – "provides" is the only singular verb that agrees with the singular subject "collection."

Example 2

Beneath the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa ______ vast oceans of liquid water that may harbor life.

A) lies

B) lie

C) lying

D) has lain

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Recognize inverted structure.
This sentence has inverted word order—the verb comes before the subject.

Step 2: Find the true subject.
"Beneath the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa" is a prepositional phrase.
What lies/lie? "Vast oceans" – this is the subject (plural).

Step 3: Mentally rearrange.
Rearranged: "Vast oceans of liquid water ______ beneath the surface."

Step 4: Match subject to verb.
The subject "oceans" is plural and requires a plural verb.

Answer: B – "lie" is the plural form that agrees with "oceans."

Example 3

The committee, after reviewing dozens of applications from highly qualified candidates, ______ announced its final decision.

A) have

B) has

C) having

D) were

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the subject.
The subject is "committee" – a collective noun.

Step 2: Cross out interrupting phrase.
The phrase "after reviewing dozens of applications from highly qualified candidates" is a non-essential interrupting phrase surrounded by commas.

Step 3: Apply collective noun rule.
Collective nouns (committee, team, band) are singular on the SAT.

Step 4: Select singular verb.
The singular subject "committee" requires a singular helping verb.

Answer: B – "has" is singular and matches the collective noun "committee."

Example 4

Each of the paintings displayed in the museum ______ a unique perspective on Impressionist techniques.

A) offer

B) offers

C) are offering

D) have offered

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the subject.
The subject is "Each" – a special singular pronoun.

Step 2: Eliminate prepositional phrases.
"Of the paintings" and "in the museum" are prepositional phrases that can be crossed out.

Step 3: Apply "Each" rule.
"Each" always takes a singular verb because it refers to items individually (each one).

Step 4: Choose the singular verb.
The trap is that "paintings" (plural) appears near the verb, but it's not the subject.

Answer: B – "offers" is the singular verb that agrees with "Each."

Example 5

The scientist and the engineer ______ collaborating on a groundbreaking renewable energy project.

A) is

B) was

C) are

D) has been

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify compound subject.
The subject is "The scientist and the engineer" – two separate people joined by "and."

Step 2: Apply compound subject rule.
Two singular nouns joined by "and" create a plural subject.

Step 3: Determine correct verb form.
A plural subject requires a plural verb.

Step 4: Evaluate options.
• A) is – singular ❌
• B) was – singular ❌
• C) are – plural ✓
• D) has been – singular ❌

Answer: C – "are" is the plural form needed for the compound subject.

Example 6

Learning multiple programming languages simultaneously ______ students develop stronger problem-solving skills.

A) help

B) helps

C) helping

D) have helped

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the subject.
The subject is "Learning" – a gerund (verb ending in -ing used as a noun).

Step 2: Cross out descriptive phrases.
"Multiple programming languages" and "simultaneously" describe what is being learned, but they're not the subject.

Step 3: Apply gerund rule.
Gerunds used as subjects are always singular, even if the object is plural (languages).

Step 4: Select singular verb.
The trap: "languages" (plural) appears near the verb, but "Learning" (singular) is the true subject.

Answer: B – "helps" is the singular verb that matches the gerund subject "Learning."

Example 7

Istanbul, the most populous of all European cities, ______ founded in the first millennium BCE.

A) were

B) was

C) are

D) have been

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Find the subject.
The subject is "Istanbul" – a single city.

Step 2: Identify the trap.
The phrase "the most populous of all European cities" is an appositive (descriptive phrase between commas) that can be removed.

Step 3: Cross out the appositive.
Simplified: "Istanbul ______ founded in the first millennium BCE."
The trap: "cities" (plural) is near the verb, but it's not the subject.

Step 4: Match with singular verb.
Istanbul (one city) requires a singular past tense verb.

Answer: B – "was" is the singular past tense form that agrees with "Istanbul."

Example 8

The rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies ______ raising important ethical questions about privacy and autonomy.

A) are

B) is

C) were

D) have been

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the subject.
The subject is "development" (singular noun).

Step 2: Recognize prepositional phrase.
"Of artificial intelligence technologies" is a prepositional phrase describing what kind of development.

Step 3: Apply the rule.
Cross out the prepositional phrase: "The rapid development ______ raising..."
The trap: "technologies" (plural) appears right before the verb, but it's inside a prepositional phrase.

Step 4: Choose singular verb.
"Development" is singular, so it needs a singular verb.

Answer: B – "is" is the singular present tense form that agrees with "development."

Example 9

Neither the students nor the teacher ______ prepared for the sudden fire drill that interrupted class.

A) were

B) was

C) are

D) is

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the construction.
This sentence uses "neither...nor" construction.

Step 2: Apply "neither...nor" rule.
When subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the closest subject.

Step 3: Find the closest subject.
"The teacher" is singular and is closest to the verb.

Step 4: Match to closest subject.
Even though "students" is plural, the verb must agree with "teacher" (singular) because it's closer to the verb.

Answer: B – "was" is singular and agrees with the closest subject "teacher."

Example 10

Everyone in the orchestra, from the violinists to the percussionists, ______ required to attend the mandatory rehearsal.

A) are

B) is

C) were

D) have been

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the subject.
The subject is "Everyone" – an indefinite pronoun.

Step 2: Cross out interrupting phrases.
"In the orchestra" is a prepositional phrase.
"From the violinists to the percussionists" is additional descriptive information between commas.

Step 3: Apply indefinite pronoun rule.
Indefinite pronouns (everyone, someone, anyone, no one, each, every) are always singular.

Step 4: Select singular verb.
The trap: "violinists" and "percussionists" (both plural) appear near the verb, but "Everyone" is the subject.

Answer: B – "is" is the singular verb that agrees with the indefinite pronoun "Everyone."

Example 11

Among the most impressive achievements of ancient engineering ______ the Roman aqueducts, which transported water across vast distances.

A) was

B) were

C) is

D) are

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Recognize inverted structure.
The sentence begins with a prepositional phrase, and the verb comes before the subject.

Step 2: Find the true subject.
"Among the most impressive achievements of ancient engineering" is all prepositional phrases.
What were impressive? "The Roman aqueducts" – this is the subject (plural).

Step 3: Rearrange mentally.
"The Roman aqueducts ______ among the most impressive achievements..."

Step 4: Determine tense and number.
"Aqueducts" is plural and the context is historical (past tense).

Answer: B – "were" is the plural past tense form that agrees with "aqueducts."

Example 12

The audience, captivated by the performer's dramatic interpretation of Shakespeare, ______ erupted into thunderous applause.

A) have

B) has

C) having

D) are

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the subject.
The subject is "audience" – a collective noun.

Step 2: Cross out interrupting clause.
The phrase "captivated by the performer's dramatic interpretation of Shakespeare" is a long non-essential clause between commas.

Step 3: Simplify the sentence.
"The audience ______ erupted into thunderous applause."

Step 4: Apply collective noun rule.
Collective nouns like "audience" are singular on the SAT. The verb "erupted" is already in place and is singular (past tense).

Answer: B – "has" is the singular helping verb that agrees with the collective noun "audience."

Example 13

Analyzing complex datasets and identifying meaningful patterns ______ essential skills for modern data scientists.

A) is

B) are

C) was

D) has been

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the subject type.
The subject consists of two gerunds (analyzing, identifying) joined by "and."

Step 2: Apply compound subject rule.
Two subjects joined by "and" form a compound subject, which is plural.

Step 3: Don't be fooled by gerunds.
While a single gerund is singular, two gerunds joined by "and" are plural.

Step 4: Choose plural verb.
The compound subject requires a plural verb form.

Answer: B – "are" is the plural form that agrees with the compound gerund subject.

Example 14

The results of the comprehensive five-year study on climate change ______ published in a leading scientific journal.

A) was

B) were

C) is

D) has

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Find the subject.
The subject is "results" (plural noun).

Step 2: Eliminate prepositional phrases.
"Of the comprehensive five-year study" and "on climate change" are both prepositional phrases.

Step 3: Identify the trap.
The trap: "study" (singular) appears right before the verb, but it's inside a prepositional phrase.
Simplified: "The results ______ published..."

Step 4: Match with plural verb.
"Results" is plural and the context is past tense (publication already occurred).

Answer: B – "were" is the plural past tense form that agrees with "results."

Example 15

Every one of the participants in the national debate competition ______ demonstrated exceptional critical thinking abilities.

A) have

B) has

C) having

D) are

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the subject.
The subject is "Every one" – note that this is two words, not "everyone."

Step 2: Cross out prepositional phrases.
"Of the participants" and "in the national debate competition" are prepositional phrases.

Step 3: Apply "every" rule.
"Every" (like "each") is always singular because it refers to items individually.

Step 4: Don't be fooled by plurals.
The trap: "participants" (plural) appears near the verb, but "Every one" is the subject.

Answer: B – "has" is the singular helping verb that agrees with "Every one."

Top Test-Day Strategies

1. Circle & Underline

Circle the subject, underline the verb. This simple visual technique forces you to identify both elements before checking agreement.

2. Cross Out Phrases

Mentally or physically cross out prepositional phrases and non-essential clauses. The subject never hides inside these phrases.

3. Flip Inversions

When the verb comes before the subject, mentally rearrange into normal subject-verb order to spot errors more easily.

4. Trust Rules, Not Ears

The SAT deliberately creates sentences that sound right but are grammatically wrong. Always apply the rules rather than relying on what "sounds correct."

5. Watch for Traps

Look for plural nouns placed directly before singular verbs (or vice versa). This is the SAT's favorite misdirection technique.

6. Know Special Cases

Memorize that collective nouns, "each," "every," and gerunds are singular. These special cases appear frequently on the test.

Quick Reference Chart

Subject Type	Number	Example
Single noun	Singular	The student studies daily.
Plural noun	Plural	The students study daily.
Compound (with "and")	Plural	The teacher and student discuss the topic.
Joined by "or/nor"	Agrees with closest	Neither the students nor the teacher was ready.
Collective noun	Singular	The team plays on Saturday.
Each/Every	Singular	Each student receives feedback.
Gerund (single)	Singular	Swimming is excellent exercise.
Indefinite pronouns	Singular	Everyone knows the answer.

Key Takeaways

Subject-verb agreement is the most frequently tested grammar rule on the SAT (approximately 14% of questions)
Always identify the true subject by crossing out prepositional phrases and interrupting clauses
The subject never appears inside a prepositional phrase (of, for, in, with, about, etc.)
Collective nouns (team, committee, band) are treated as singular on the SAT
"Each," "every," and gerunds are always singular subjects
Two subjects joined by "and" create a plural compound subject
With "or/nor" constructions, the verb agrees with the closest subject
In inverted sentences, mentally rearrange to standard subject-verb order
Trust the grammatical rules rather than what "sounds right" to your ear

Master these rules and strategies, and you'll confidently tackle every subject-verb agreement question on test day. Remember: systematic approach beats intuition!