Subject-Verb Agreement on the SAT
The Easiest Points You Might Be Missing
Master sentence structure, punctuation, and clarity with repeatable rules.
Guard the Sentence Core
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.
Why Subject-Verb Agreement Matters on the SAT
Few grammar concepts appear on the SAT Reading and Writing section as often as subject-verb agreement, and few offer points that are as gettable once you know what to look for. A straightforward mismatch like "The dog run fast" would be obvious, and you would catch it instantly. The SAT, however, almost never presents it that simply; instead, the test buries the subject under layers of prepositional phrases, relative clauses, and other distractions so that you lose track of what the verb is supposed to match.
This is the core subject-verb agreement guide, it covers the foundational patterns and strategies you need to handle most agreement questions on test day. For inverted sentences, correlative conjunctions, and other advanced traps, check out our Subject-Verb Agreement (Advanced) post.
Once you learn to cut through the clutter and find the true subject, these questions become reliable free points. This post will show you exactly how the SAT disguises agreement errors, give you a repeatable strategy for solving them, and let you practice on realistic questions so you walk into test day ready.
What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?
The rule itself is straightforward: a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. That's it. You already apply this rule correctly thousands of times a day without thinking about it.
- Singular: "The student studies every night."
- Plural: "The students study every night."
So if the rule is that simple, why does the SAT test it so often? Because the difficulty isn't the rule, it's finding the subject. The SAT places words, phrases, and entire clauses between the subject and the verb to make you match the verb to the wrong noun. Your job is to ignore the noise and find the real subject.
The SAT's Favorite Tricks
- "The collection of rare stamps is valuable."
The subject is "collection" (singular), not "stamps." Cross out "of rare stamps" and the answer is clear. - "The results of the experiment were surprising."
The subject is "results" (plural), not "experiment."
Trick 2: Inverted Sentence Order
Sometimes the SAT flips the sentence so the verb comes before the subject. Your brain expects subject-then-verb order, so this can throw you off.
- "Among the ruins stand two ancient columns."
Flip it: "Two ancient columns stand among the ruins." The subject is "columns" (plural).
Trick 3: Interrupting Clauses and Appositives
Relative clauses (starting with who, which, that) and appositives (extra descriptions set off by commas) can separate the subject from the verb by many words.
- "The professor, who has published dozens of papers on climate science,
teaches introductory biology."
The subject is "professor" (singular). Everything between the commas is extra information.
Your Go-To Strategy: Cross Out and Find
Here's a simple, repeatable method that works every time:
- Cross out every prepositional phrase between the subject and the verb. Look for words like of, in, with, for, among, between, through, by and mentally bracket everything from the preposition to the end of the phrase.
- Cross out interrupting clauses and appositives, anything between commas, dashes, or parentheses that adds extra information.
- Find the true subject. What's left? That noun is your subject.
- Check the number. Is the subject singular or plural? Match the verb accordingly.
This takes seconds once you've practiced it, and it eliminates the guesswork entirely.
Quick Reference: Always-Singular Words
Memorize these, the SAT loves them because they feel plural but are grammatically singular:
- Each, "Each of the contestants has a different strategy."
- Every, "Every one of those books belongs on the shelf."
- Everyone / Everybody, "Everyone in the three classes is invited."
- Nobody / No one, "Nobody knows the answer."
- Neither / Either (when used alone), "Neither is correct."
Also remember: with "neither...nor" and "either...or" constructions, the verb agrees with the nearest subject. This is a favorite SAT curveball.
Practice Subject-Verb Agreement with SAT-Style Questions
Now let's put the strategy to work. These questions mirror the style and difficulty of what you'll see on test day. For each one, try crossing out the prepositional phrases first, then choose your answer.
Which choice correctly completes the sentence with proper subject-verb agreement?
Which choice correctly completes the sentence?
Which choice maintains correct subject-verb agreement?
Which choice correctly completes the sentence?
Which choice is correct?
Key Takeaways for Subject-Verb Agreement
- Cross out prepositional phrases between the subject and verb, they are the SAT's favorite distraction tool. Words like of, in, with, among signal phrases you should mentally bracket and ignore.
- Find the true subject before choosing the verb. The noun closest to the verb is often not the subject. Strip away the extras and what remains is your subject-verb pair.
- Watch for inverted sentences. If the sentence feels unusual, flip it into standard subject-verb order. The real subject is often hiding after the verb.
- Memorize the always-singular words: each, every, everyone, nobody, neither, either. The SAT uses these because they feel plural but aren't.
Conclusion: The Core Rule for Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is one of the highest-frequency, lowest-difficulty concepts on the SAT Reading and Writing section. The test makers aren't checking whether you know that subjects and verbs should agree, they're checking whether you can find the subject when it's buried under distracting phrases. Practice the "cross out and find" strategy until it becomes automatic, and you'll turn these questions into some of the most reliable points on your score report.
Remember: Cross out the clutter, find the true subject, match the verb. Do that, and agreement questions become easy points, every single time.
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