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Master subject-verb agreement rules including compound subjects, inverted sentences, indefinite pronouns, and tricky agreement patterns on the SAT.
Learn step-by-step with practice exercises built right in.
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Choose the correct verb: "The group of students (is/are) working on the project."
Step 1: Identify the true subject.
The sentence reads: "The group of students (is/are) working on the project."
The subject is "group" (singular), NOT "students."
"Of students" is a prepositional phrase that modifies "group" — it does NOT determine the verb.
Step 2: Match the verb to the singular subject:
"The group is working on the project." ✅
Answer: "is"
Ignore prepositional phrases between the subject and verb. The subject of the sentence determines the verb form.
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Choose the correct verb: "Neither the teacher nor the students (was/were) prepared for the fire drill."
Rule for "neither...nor" and "either...or":
When a compound subject is joined by "neither...nor" or "either...or," the verb agrees with the closer subject.
"Neither the teacher nor the students were prepared for the fire drill." ✅
Compare: "Neither the students nor the teacher was prepared." (Verb matches "teacher" — singular)
Answer: "were"
Memory aid: The verb "looks at" whichever subject is closer to it.
Choose the correct verb: "The news about the budget cuts (has/have) worried many employees."
Step 1: Identify the subject.
"The news" is the subject. "About the budget cuts" is a prepositional phrase.
Step 2: Is "news" singular or plural?
"News" is SINGULAR even though it ends in -s.
Other tricky singular nouns: mathematics, physics, economics, politics, measles, the United States.
Step 3: Match the verb:
"The news has worried many employees." ✅
Answer: "has"
SAT Trap: Words ending in -s seem plural but aren't always. Check each word individually — "news," "mathematics," "economics" are all singular.
Choose the correct verb: "The number of applicants who (has/have) submitted forms online (has/have) increased dramatically."
This sentence has TWO subject-verb pairs:
Pair 1: "applicants who (has/have) submitted"
Pair 2: "The number... (has/have) increased"
Important distinction:
Complete sentence: "The number of applicants who have submitted forms online has increased dramatically." ✅
Answer: First blank: "have"; Second blank: "has"
SAT Pattern: Sentences with embedded clauses ("who have submitted") are designed to confuse you about which verb goes with which subject.
Choose the correct verb: "Amid the chaos of the crowded market, where vendors and customers (negotiate/negotiates) prices and exotic spices (fill/fills) the air with fragrance, (stand/stands) a centuries-old temple."
This is an inverted sentence with multiple clauses:
Clause 1: "where vendors and customers _____ prices"
Clause 2: "exotic spices _____ the air"
Main clause (inverted): "_____ a centuries-old temple"
Complete sentence: "Amid the chaos of the crowded market, where vendors and customers negotiate prices and exotic spices fill the air with fragrance, stands a centuries-old temple."
Answer: negotiate, fill, stands
SAT Insight: Inverted sentences (verb before subject) are a common trap. Mentally rearrange the sentence to find the true subject: "A temple stands amid the chaos."