A Complete Guide to SAT Verb Questions: Subject-Verb Agreement
If you are aiming for a top score on the Digital SAT, mastering the grammar questions on the Reading and Writing section is non-negotiable. These questions follow predictable patterns. With the right strategy, you can turn them into a reliable source of points. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about subject-verb agreement, the most frequently tested verb concept on the SAT.
Subject-verb agreement questions test whether you can match a verb to its true subject when the SAT hides that subject behind prepositional phrases, clauses, or inverted word order. This guide breaks down the five most common traps and gives you a repeatable strategy for every version of the question.
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What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-verb agreement means the verb must match the subject in number. A singular subject takes a singular verb. A plural subject takes a plural verb. This sounds simple, but the SAT uses specific traps to make it harder than it looks.
Example:
The group of students are meeting today.
The group of students is meeting today.
The subject is "group" (singular), not "students." The phrase "of students" is a prepositional phrase that does not change the subject's number.
Common SAT Traps in Subject-Verb Agreement
The SAT uses several predictable traps to trick you. Learn these patterns, and you will spot them instantly.
Trap 1: Prepositional Phrases Between Subject and Verb
The most common trap. A prepositional phrase (starting with "of," "in," "for," "with," "to," "by," "at," "from") sits between the subject and verb. The noun inside the phrase is often a different number than the subject. Cross out the phrase to find the real subject.
Example:
The box of chocolates are on the table.
The box of chocolates is on the table.
Subject: "box" (singular). Cross out "of chocolates."
Trap 2: Indefinite Pronouns
Some indefinite pronouns are always singular. Others are always plural. Memorize these lists.
Always Singular: each, every, either, neither, anyone, anybody, anything, someone, somebody, something, everyone, everybody, everything, no one, nobody, nothing, much, one
Always Plural: several, few, both, many, others
Khan doesn't cover the hard verb questions that actually show up on test day. Start with free lesson notes and Targeted Practice, no card needed.
Start 1-day free trial →Depends on the Noun: all, any, most, none, some (look at the noun that follows "of")
Example:
Each of the students are required to submit a form.
Each of the students is required to submit a form.
"Each" is always singular. Cross out "of the students."
Trap 3: Compound Subjects
When two subjects are joined by "and," the subject is plural. When joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
Examples:
The teacher and the student are in the room. (Plural)
Either the teacher or the students are responsible. (Verb agrees with "students," the closest subject)
Either the students or the teacher is responsible. (Verb agrees with "teacher," the closest subject)
Trap 4: Collective Nouns
Collective nouns (team, group, committee, family, audience, class, government, staff, public) are singular in American English. They act as one unit.
Example:
The team are playing well.
The team is playing well.
Trap 5: Subject After the Verb
Sometimes the subject comes after the verb. This happens in sentences starting with "there is," "there are," "here is," "here are," or questions. Find the subject by asking "what?" after the verb.
Example:
There is several reasons for the delay.
There are several reasons for the delay.
Subject: "reasons" (plural). Verb must be "are."
Advanced Subject-Verb Agreement Rules
These rules appear less often but are critical for high-difficulty questions.
Rule 1: Relative Clauses (Who, Which, That)
The verb in a relative clause agrees with the noun the clause modifies. This noun is the antecedent.
Example:
The scientist who studies the data is respected.
The scientists who study the data are respected.
"Who" refers to "scientist" (singular) or "scientists" (plural).
Rule 2: Amounts and Measurements
When the subject is an amount, measurement, or unit (time, money, distance, weight), treat it as singular.
Example:
Ten dollars is too much for that coffee.
Five miles is a long walk.
Rule 3: "The Number of" vs. "A Number of"
"The number of" is singular. "A number of" is plural.
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Examples:
The number of students is increasing.
A number of students are protesting.
Rule 4: Gerunds and Infinitives as Subjects
When a gerund (verb + ing) or infinitive (to + verb) is the subject, it is singular.
Example:
Running every day is good for health.
To run every day is a challenge.
Your 3-Step Strategy for Subject-Verb Agreement Questions
Use this strategy on every verb question. It will save you time and prevent mistakes.
- Find the verb.
Look at the underlined word or phrase. Identify the verb in the sentence.
- Find the subject.
Ask "who" or "what" is doing the action. Cross out any prepositional phrases between the subject and verb.
- Check agreement.
Does the subject match the verb in number? If not, pick the answer choice that fixes it.
Tutor Tip: On the Digital SAT, you can use the "cross out" feature in Bluebook to mark prepositional phrases. This helps you see the subject clearly. Practice this skill on official College Board practice tests.
How to Solve Verb Questions (Subject Verb Agreement) for the New Digital SAT | TTA Guide
This guide covers the core of subject-verb agreement. For a complete review of all verb rules tested on the Digital SAT, including verb tense, verb form, and verb mood, see our full guide on verb questions. The College Board tests these rules consistently across both modules of the Reading and Writing section.
Subject-verb agreement is only one of the grammar rules the Digital SAT keeps testing. Our cheat sheet of SAT grammar rules beyond subject-verb agreement covers the others, including semicolons, colons, dashes, and comma use.
Practice Questions
Apply what you have learned. Try these sample questions. Identify the subject and check agreement.
Question 1:
The collection of rare stamps are / is worth a fortune.
Subject: "collection" (singular). Correct verb: "is."
Question 2:
Neither the teacher nor the students is / are ready for the test.
Subject closest to verb: "students" (plural). Correct verb: "are."
Question 3:
Everyone in the advanced classes have / has completed the assignment.
Subject: "Everyone" (singular). Correct verb: "has."
Final Tips for Test Day
- Read the entire sentence before looking at the answer choices.
- Cross out prepositional phrases immediately.
- Memorize the lists of singular and plural indefinite pronouns.
- Remember that collective nouns are singular in American English.
- Use official Digital SAT practice tests from College Board to build speed and accuracy.
- Review your mistakes. Understand why the correct answer works.
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Start Your Prep TodayThe Two Main Types of SAT Verb Questions
The Digital SAT focuses on two key concepts when it comes to verbs. Understanding the difference is the first step to getting these questions right every time.
- Subject-Verb Agreement: This rule answers the question, "Is the subject singular or plural, and does the verb match?" This is the most common type.
- Verb Tense: This rule answers the question, "When is the action happening (past, present, future)?" This is tested less frequently but is still important.
This guide focuses on mastering subject-verb agreement, the key to solving the vast majority of verb questions you will face. For a complete breakdown of tense rules, see our guide: How to Solve Verb Questions (Subject Verb Agreement) for the New Digital SAT | TTA Guide.
A third type, verb form, asks whether the word in the blank can be a main verb at all. See SAT verb forms: the rules and practice questions.
The Golden Rule of Subject-Verb Agreement
The core principle is simple: singular subjects need singular verbs, and plural subjects need plural verbs. The challenge is that the SAT hides the true subject of the sentence to confuse you.
A crucial point for third-person verbs (he/she/it/they):
- Singular verbs often end in -s (e.g., he walks, the car drives).
- Plural verbs typically do not end in -s (e.g., they walk, the cars drive).
This is the opposite of how nouns work, which can cause confusion. Just remember: a singular subject often goes with a singular verb that has an -s. For more on this pattern, see How to Solve Verb Questions (Subject Verb Agreement) for the New Digital SAT | TTA Guide.
The crystals of the geode sparkle in the sunlight.
In this sentence, the subject is "crystals" (plural). Therefore, it needs the plural verb "sparkle." The singular noun "geode" is part of a distracting phrase ("of the geode"). The verb "sparkles" would be incorrect.
How the SAT Hides the Subject: Common Structures
The SAT uses several common structures to make subject-verb agreement tricky. Learn to recognize these hiding spots, and you will never be fooled again. This is a core part of How to Solve Verb Questions (Subject Verb Agreement) for the New Digital SAT | TTA Guide.
1. Subject - Prepositional Phrase - Verb
This is the most common trap. A prepositional phrase (starting with words like of, in, on, for, from, with, to) is placed between the subject and the verb to distract you.
For the phrases to bracket, inverted sentences and the a number of rule, see prepositions on the SAT.
The impact of artificial intelligence on various industries are becoming increasingly apparent.
The impact of artificial intelligence on various industries is becoming increasingly apparent.
(The subject is "impact," which is singular, so it needs the singular verb "is.")
2. Subject - Non-Essential Clause - Verb
A non-essential clause, often set off by commas, is inserted between the subject and the verb. Your strategy is to cross it out mentally and ignore it.
Quantum computing, which promises to revolutionize data processing, are still in its early stages.
Quantum computing, which promises to revolutionize data processing, is still in its early stages.
(The subject is "Quantum computing," a singular concept, so it needs the singular verb "is.")
3. Verb Before Subject (Inverted Sentences)
Sometimes the sentence structure is reversed, placing the verb before the subject. This usually happens in a phrase starting with "There" or a preposition.
Among the breakthroughs in modern medicine was gene editing techniques that promise to cure genetic disorders.
Among the breakthroughs in modern medicine were gene editing techniques that promise to cure genetic disorders.
(To check, flip the sentence: "Gene editing techniques were among the breakthroughs." The subject is "techniques" (plural), so it needs the plural verb "were.")
Advanced Subject-Verb Agreement Scenarios
Once you have the basics down, prepare for these advanced cases that appear frequently on the Digital SAT. Mastering these is a key part of How to Solve Verb Questions (Subject Verb Agreement) for the New Digital SAT | TTA Guide.
- Compound Subjects: Two or more subjects joined by "and" are always plural. For example, "Artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming industries."
- Collective Nouns: Nouns that represent a group (like team, company, jury, group) are treated as singular on the SAT. For example, "The research team has made significant progress."
- Gerunds as Subjects: A gerund (an -ing word used as a noun) is always singular. For example, "Coding complex algorithms was once a reserved task."
- Indefinite Pronouns: Some are always singular (each, every, anyone, someone, nothing), some are always plural (both, few, many, several), and some depend on context (all, any, more, most, none, some). On the SAT, "none" is almost always treated as singular. For example, "None of the experiments was successful."
Knowledge Is Power, but Realistic Practice Is the Key to Victory
Knowing the rules is crucial, but the SAT tests your ability to apply them quickly and accurately under pressure. Generic practice questions are not enough. To build true mastery, you need to practice on questions that are indistinguishable from the actual exam. This guide on How to Solve Verb Questions (Subject Verb Agreement) for the New Digital SAT | TTA Guide will show you exactly what to expect.
At The Test Advantage, you can start with the free lesson notes and Targeted Practice, no card required. A paid plan starts with a free trial and opens every Digital SAT question bank, plus AI feedback and the Mr. O AI tutor.
See Our Plans and Get StartedA 3-Step Strategy for Tackling Verb Questions
If you get stuck, use this systematic approach. It works for every verb question on the Digital SAT, including subject-verb agreement. For a full breakdown of this skill, see How to Solve Verb Questions (Subject Verb Agreement) for the New Digital SAT | TTA Guide.
- Analyze the Answer Choices.
Look at the options. If they show different forms of the same verb (for example, incorporates, incorporate, have incorporated), you know it is a verb question. If you see singular forms (with an -s ending) and plural forms (no -s ending), the issue is subject-verb agreement.
- Find the True Subject.
Scan the sentence and identify the main subject noun. Be ruthless: mentally cross out all prepositional phrases (like "of..." or "in...") and non-essential clauses (anything between commas) that stand between the subject and the verb. This reveals the subject in its purest form.
- Make the Verb Agree.
Once you have isolated the true subject and identified it as singular or plural, select the answer choice with the verb form that correctly matches it.
Master Comprehensive Topic Guide Index
References and Further Reading
- Official SAT Suite - What Is on the SATSupports: The SAT uses several predictable traps to trick you.- Official Test Publisher: College Board's own overview of what the SAT tests, relevant context for the claim about predictable question patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is subject-verb agreement on the SAT?
Subject-verb agreement means the verb must match the subject in number: singular subjects take singular verbs, plural subjects take plural verbs.
What are common SAT traps in subject-verb agreement?
Common traps include prepositional phrases between subject and verb, indefinite pronouns (e.g., 'each' is always singular), compound subjects with 'and'/'or', collective nouns (singular in American English), and subjects after the verb (e.g., 'there is/are').
How do you handle prepositional phrases in subject-verb agreement?
Cross out the prepositional phrase (starting with 'of,' 'in,' 'for,' etc.) to find the real subject. The noun inside the phrase does not affect the verb's number.
Which indefinite pronouns are always singular on the SAT?
Always singular: each, every, either, neither, anyone, anybody, anything, someone, somebody, something, everyone, everybody, everything, no one, nobody, nothing, much, one.
How do compound subjects affect verb agreement?
Subjects joined by 'and' are plural. With 'or' or 'nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
Are collective nouns singular or plural on the SAT?
Collective nouns (team, group, committee, etc.) are singular in American English, taking a singular verb.
How do you find the subject when it comes after the verb?
In sentences starting with 'there is/are' or 'here is/are,' ask 'what?' after the verb to find the subject. The verb agrees with that subject.
What is the rule for relative clauses in subject-verb agreement?
The verb in a relative clause (who, which, that) agrees with the noun the clause modifies (the antecedent).