Session 07  ·  Student Handout  ·  Form & Agreement · Standard English Conventions

Subject–Verb Agreement

Find the true subject and the verb follows. The SAT hides the subject behind prepositional phrases, inversions, and tricky nouns — strip the clutter and the right verb is obvious.

Form & Agreement Phase Form & Agreement Session 07 of 10
01 Find the True Subject
Cross out the interrupters
The verb agrees with the subject, never with the nearest noun. Cross out prepositional phrases and modifiers, then test: The box of old photographs is heavy. The subject is box (singular), not photographs.
02 The Classic Traps
Inversion (there is/are, here comes)

The subject comes after the verb: There are three reasons…

Collective nouns

team, committee, jury, group are usually singular: The committee has decided.

Compound subjects

Joined by and → plural. Joined by or/nor → agree with the nearer subject.

03 Indefinite Pronouns
Memorise the singulars
Always singular: each, every, either, neither, one, anyone, everyone, someone, nobody, much. Each of the students was tested. — the subject is each, not students. Always plural: both, few, many, several.
Ready to practice?

14 questions for this session — 4 guided (label the structure first), 6 on the clock, and 4 in home practice. Every timed score feeds your sub-skill Error Log.

Open Session 07 Exercises →