Subject Verb agreement

Singular subject → singular verb

Plural subject → plural verb

Singular noun → usually verb has -s

Plural noun → usually verb does NOT have -s

Prepositional Phrases

of, in, on, at, by, with, from, for, to, among, between, during, after, before, under, over

The color of its flames indicates the chemical composition.

Subject = color.

Not flames.

Why?

of its flames is a prepositional phrase. It gives information about "color."

The color → indicates ✅

SAT Rule

Don't automatically choose the noun closest to the blank.

Find the main subject first.

Example:

The quality of the products from several companies ___ impressive.

Cross out the middle:

The quality ___ impressive.

Quality = singular

The quality is impressive.

The major past-tense exception is:

was / were

The student was.

The students were.

BE

Singular	Plural
is	are
was	were

HAVE

HAVE

Singular	Plural
has	have

DO

Singular	Plural
does	do

Example:

The group of athletes is training.

You might see:

athletes → plural

But the subject is:

group → singular

group is ✅

The athletes in the group are training.

Now the subject is athletes.

athletes are ✅

"And" Usually Makes a Plural Subject

When two subjects are connected by and, they are generally plural.

Example:

The teacher and the student are talking.

Two people → plural.

teacher and student are ✅

Plural subject → plural verb.

When subjects are connected by or or nor, the verb generally agrees with the subject closest to the verb.

Example:

The teacher or the students are responsible.

Closest subject = students → plural → are

Example:

The students or the teacher is responsible.

Closest subject = teacher → singular → is

Remember:

or/nor → look at the subject closest to the verb

Inverted setences

it’s backwards so make it back to normal then do it the normal way.

There Is / There Are

This is another common structure.

The real subject comes after the verb.

Example:

There is a problem.

Subject = problem → singular.

Example:

There are several problems.

Subject = problems → plural.

Don't think:

"There is..."

Instead ask:

What is there?

Subject-verb agreement asks:

Does the verb match the subject in number?

Verb tense asks:

Does the verb express the correct time?

For example:

The students run every morning.

vs.

The students ran yesterday.

Both are plural-compatible.

The difference is tense, not simply agreement.

Words such as:

who, which, that

can appear between the subject and verb.

Example:

The scientist, who studies climate change, works at the university.

The clause who studies climate change describes scientist.

The singular subject inside that clause is who, referring to scientist.

• group

• team

• committee

• family

• collection

• audience

• class

one group = singular

Each → singular

Each student is prepared.

Every → singular

Every student has a book.

One of the...

One of the students is absent.

Subject = one

Not students.

One is ✅

A number of + plural noun → plural verb

A number of students are absent.

Think: Many students are

The number of + plural noun → singular verb

The number of students is increasing.

Subject = number

Therefore:

number is

Subjects With "As Well As," "Along With," "Together With"

These phrases do not make the subject plural.

Example:

The teacher, along with the students, is attending.

Subject = teacher → singular.

The students are extra information.

Same idea:

The president, as well as several advisers, was present.

Subject = president.

was ✅

Subjects With "As Well As," "Along With," "Together With"

These phrases do not make the subject plural.

Example:

The teacher, along with the students, is attending.

Subject = teacher → singular.

The students are extra information.

Same idea:

The president, as well as several advisers, was present.

Subject = president.

was ✅

SAT questions can make the subject extremely long.

Example:

The rapid development of new technologies in several different industries has transformed the economy.

Don't get distracted by:

• development

• technologies

• industries

The main subject is:

development

Singular → has