SAT Grammar Strategy

Noun Agreement on the SAT

The Simple Rule That Earns You Easy Points

Master sentence structure, punctuation, and clarity with repeatable rules.

4 Min Read

Grammar Rule

Clarity Focus

4 Practice Qs

Identify the subject and verb, then make sure punctuation does not split them or add extra ideas.

Find the subject + verb first. That is the sentence core.
Only add commas around extra information, never inside the core.
Re-read the sentence without the modifier to test clarity.

Noun agreement errors rank among the most frequently tested grammar concepts on the SAT Reading and Writing section, yet most students have no idea how often they appear or how easy they are to overlook. Because a mismatched noun can still make a sentence sound "close enough" to be correct, your brain tends to glide right past the mistake without flagging it. The good news is that learning the pattern behind these errors turns them into some of the most reliable free points on the entire test.

The core idea is straightforward: when two nouns in a sentence refer to the same thing, they need to match in number. Singular with singular. Plural with plural. That one rule, applied consistently, can help you pick up 2–3 extra questions on test day. Let's break it down.

What Is Noun Agreement?

Noun agreement means that when two or more nouns in a sentence refer to the same entity or are logically connected, they must match in number. If one noun is singular, the noun it corresponds to should also be singular. If one is plural, its partner should be plural too.

You're probably already familiar with subject-verb agreement ("The dog runs" vs. "The dogs run"). Noun agreement is a different concept. It's about nouns matching other nouns, and the SAT tests it in its own specific way.

Consider this example:

Incorrect: "Each of the musicians tuned their instruments before the concert."
Correct: "Each of the musicians tuned their instrument before the concert."

"Each" tells us we're talking about one musician at a time. One musician tunes one instrument. The noun "instrument" needs to be singular to agree with "each." The word "their" is fine as a singular pronoun in modern usage, it's the noun "instruments" vs. "instrument" that creates the agreement error.

The error is often buried. The mismatched noun might be several words away from the noun it should agree with. Your eye skims past it.
It "sounds" fine. In casual speech, we say things like "Everyone grabbed their coats" without thinking twice. The SAT holds you to a stricter standard.
Students only check verbs. Most grammar prep focuses on subject-verb agreement, so students forget to check whether nouns agree with each other.

How This Appears on the SAT

On the SAT Reading and Writing section, noun agreement errors typically show up in three patterns:

Pattern 1, "Each/Every" sentences: A singular word like "each" or "every" is paired with a plural noun later in the sentence.
"Every student submitted their essays." → Should be "their essay."
Pattern 2, Comparisons: The two sides of a comparison use mismatched noun numbers.
"The duties of teachers are greater than a firefighter." → Should compare to "those of firefighters" or "a firefighter's."
Pattern 3, Predicate nouns: A plural subject is matched with a singular noun (or the reverse) after a linking verb.
"The biggest challenges are time." → Should be "The biggest challenge is time" or "The biggest challenges are time constraints."

When you see answer choices that differ only in singular vs. plural noun forms, that's your signal. Use this quick three-step check.

Find the reference noun. Look for the noun that sets the number, often after words like each, every, or in a comparison.
Match the paired noun. The second noun should agree in number with the reference noun.
Strip extras and confirm. Remove filler phrases and re-read the core sentence to verify the match.

Practice Noun Agreement with SAT-Style Questions

Let's put this into practice. These questions are designed to mirror what you'll actually see on the SAT. Start with the easier ones and work your way up.

Passage

Each of the volunteers was asked to submit a brief report summarizing their experiences during the weeklong community project.

easy

Which choice best maintains noun agreement in this sentence?

Passage

The committee members each cast a votes in favor of the revised budget proposal during Friday's session.

easy

Which choice corrects the noun agreement error in this sentence?

Passage

Researchers found that students who set specific goals were more likely to achieve them than a student who relied on general intentions.

medium

Which choice best maintains noun agreement throughout the sentence?

Passage

In many cultures, the role of elders extends beyond that of mere adviser; they serve as historians, mediators, and moral guides for their communities.

medium

Which choice maintains proper noun agreement in this sentence?

Key Takeaways for Noun Agreement

Nouns referring to the same entity must match in number. If one is singular, the other should be too. If one is plural, its counterpart must be plural.
Watch for "each," "every," and "a/an." These words signal singular, every noun connected to them should also be singular.
In comparisons, check both sides. The SAT loves to mismatch noun numbers across a comparison. Make sure plural is compared to plural, singular to singular.
When answer choices differ only in singular vs. plural forms, the question is almost certainly testing noun agreement. Find the reference noun, check its number, and match.

Conclusion: The Core Rule for Noun Agreement

Noun agreement is one of those grammar rules that, once you see it, you can't unsee it. Train yourself to check whether nouns match in number every time you spot "each," "every," or a comparison, and you'll turn what used to be tricky questions into confident, fast answers on test day.

Remember: Find the reference noun, check its number, and match. That's the whole strategy, and it's worth real points on the SAT.

About the Instructor

Thomas Meli

Founder, Deep Test Prep

"Viewing the SAT as a transformative rite of passage, my approach builds self-awareness, sharpens critical thinking, and fosters a love of learning that supports students far beyond test day."

With over 20 years of teaching and 500+ hours of training in compassionate communication, Thomas uses scientifically proven methods to help students target and achieve their SAT goals.