Subject-verb agreement is one of the most frequently tested grammar concepts on the Digital SAT Reading & Writing section. You can expect to see roughly 2–4 questions on this topic per test. The rule is simple: a subject and its verb must match in number. A singular subject needs a singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb. But the SAT doesn't test this rule in simple sentences. Instead, it buries the true subject under prepositional phrases, relative clauses, and inverted structures so you lose track of what the verb should agree with. Every question follows the same format: a short passage with one blank, and you pick the choice that "conforms to the conventions of Standard English."
The Core Rule: Number Agreement
Singular subjects take singular verbs. Plural subjects take plural verbs. That's the entire concept of number agreement, and it's the only grammar rule this topic tests. Here's what it looks like in its simplest form:
- The researcher works late. (singular subject, singular verb)
- The researchers work late. (plural subject, plural verb)
Notice something about English singular plural verbs that trips people up: for most verbs in the present tense, the singular form ends in -s (works, runs, studies), while the plural form does not (work, run, study). This is the opposite of how nouns behave, where the -s signals plural. Keep that straight and you're already ahead.
For the verb "to be," the forms are more distinct: is/was for singular, are/were for plural.
On the SAT, the answer choices for subject-verb agreement questions typically offer you different verb forms that vary only in number (and sometimes tense). Your job is to identify the true subject, determine whether it's singular or plural, and pick the verb that matches.
The SAT's Favorite Trick: Separating Subject from Verb
The most common way the SAT tests subject-verb agreement is by inserting words between the subject and the verb. If you can't find the real subject, you can't pick the right verb. Here are the structures you'll see most often.
Prepositional Phrases
A prepositional phrase (starting with of, in, with, for, between, among, etc.) sitting between the subject and verb is the classic trap. The noun inside the phrase is NOT the subject.
Example question:
The collection of rare manuscripts from several private libraries ______ now available to the public through a new digital archive.
Choices: (A) are (B) is (C) were (D) have been
How to solve it: Strip away the prepositional phrases: of rare manuscripts and from several private libraries. The subject is collection, which is singular. The answer is (B) is.
Relative Clauses and Appositives
Sometimes a "who," "which," or "that" clause, or a descriptive phrase set off by commas, separates the subject from the main verb.
Example question:
The biologist who spent years cataloging New Zealand's native bird species ______ recently published a comprehensive field guide.
Choices: (A) have (B) has (C) are (D) were
How to solve it: The clause who spent years cataloging New Zealand's native bird species describes "biologist" but doesn't change its number. The subject is biologist (singular), so the answer is (B) has.
Phrases Like "As Well As," "Along With," and "Together With"
These phrases do NOT create a compound subject. They're grammatically parenthetical, meaning they don't affect the verb's number.
- The director, along with the cast members, is attending the premiere. (Subject is director, singular.)
- The senator, as well as her aides, has reviewed the proposal. (Subject is senator, singular.)
Only the word "and" creates a true compound subject that takes a plural verb: The director and the cast members are attending.
Subjects That Don't Behave as Expected
Inverted Sentences and "There Is/Are"
When a sentence begins with "there," the real subject comes after the verb. You need to look ahead to determine number.
- There are several factors to consider. (Subject is factors, plural.)
- There is a significant gap in the data. (Subject is gap, singular.)
In inverted sentences where the subject follows the verb for stylistic reasons, the same rule applies: Among the artifacts discovered at the site was a bronze figurine. (Subject is figurine, singular.)
Indefinite Pronouns
Some indefinite pronouns are always singular: each, every, either, neither, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, nobody, no one, one.
- Each of the experiments demonstrates a different result.
- Neither of the proposals has been approved.
Some are always plural: both, few, many, several.
- Few of the participants were aware of the change.
And some depend on the noun they refer to: all, any, more, most, some, none.
- Most of the research is inconclusive. (Research is singular.)
- Most of the studies are inconclusive. (Studies is plural.)
Collective Nouns
Words like team, committee, jury, family, group, audience are typically treated as singular on the SAT because the group acts as one unit.
- The committee has reached a decision.
- The team is preparing for the tournament.
Other Tricky Cases
"The number of" vs. "A number of": The number of is singular (The number of applicants is rising). A number of is plural, meaning "several" (A number of applicants are qualified).
Compound subjects joined by "or" or "nor": The verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Neither the students nor the professor was available.
Nouns that look plural but are singular: Fields of study and certain other words (mathematics, physics, economics, news, athletics) take singular verbs. Economics is a required course.
Putting It All Together: A Step-by-Step Method
When you see a subject-verb agreement question, follow this process:
- Find the blank and note that the answer choices offer different verb forms.
- Locate the subject by asking: who or what is performing the action? Ignore prepositional phrases, relative clauses, and appositives.
- Determine the subject's number. Is it singular or plural? Watch for indefinite pronouns, collective nouns, and inverted structures.
- Pick the verb that matches in number.
Harder example:
A survey of over 3,000 participants conducted by researchers at two major universities ______ that sleep quality, rather than sleep duration, is the strongest predictor of daytime alertness.
Choices: (A) suggest (B) suggests (C) have suggested (D) are suggesting
How to solve it: Strip away the modifiers: of over 3,000 participants (prepositional phrase), conducted by researchers at two major universities (participial phrase). The subject is survey, which is singular. The answer is (B) suggests.
What to Watch For on Test Day
- Always find the true subject before looking at the answer choices. Cross out prepositional phrases and descriptive clauses mentally (or with your on-screen highlighter). The noun closest to the blank is often NOT the subject.
- Watch for "as well as," "along with," and "together with." These do not make a singular subject plural. Only "and" does.
- Check for inverted order. If the sentence starts with "there" or a prepositional phrase, the subject may come after the verb. Read past the blank to find it.
- Don't overthink collective nouns. On the SAT, treat team, group, committee, and similar words as singular unless the sentence makes individual action unmistakably clear (which is rare on this test).
- Use the answer choices strategically. If two choices are singular verbs and two are plural, the question is testing number agreement. Identify the subject's number and eliminate half the choices immediately.