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Subject-verb agreement

Brian Hall

Brian Hall

7 min read

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Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers subject-verb agreement, focusing on matching singular and plural forms. It explains basic principles, special cases (like collective nouns and indefinite pronouns), and how to avoid errors with intervening phrases and clauses. The guide also provides practice questions and highlights high-priority topics for the final exam, including compound subjects and tricky nouns. It emphasizes reading carefully and identifying the true subject.

Subject-Verb Agreement: Your Ultimate Guide 🚀

Hey there! Ready to nail the Subject-Verb Agreement questions on the SAT? It’s all about making sure your subjects and verbs match up, and while it sounds simple, there are some tricky spots. Let's break it down so you feel super confident! This guide is designed to be your go-to resource the night before the exam.

Jump to Basic Principles | Jump to Special Cases | Jump to Phrases and Clauses | Jump to Collective Nouns | Jump to Final Exam Focus | Jump to Practice Questions

Basic Principles of Agreement

Key Concept

The core idea: Singular subjects = singular verbs, and plural subjects = plural verbs. It's all about matching the number! 💡

  • Singular vs. Plural:
    • Singular: The cat is sleeping. (one cat, singular verb)
    • Plural: The cats are sleeping. (multiple cats, plural verb)
  • Verb Forms:
    • Verbs change form to match the subject. Think is (singular) vs. are (plural).
    • Most verbs add an '-s' for singular in the present tense: He walks vs. They walk.
  • Irregular Plurals:
    • Nouns like children, mice, and geese don't follow the typical '-s' rule. Be aware of these!
  • Singular '-s' Nouns:
    • Some nouns ending in '-s' are actually singular: mathematics, news, physics. The news is good.
  • Intervening Words:
    • Don't let extra words between the subject and verb confuse you! The subject still determines the verb. The dog, along with its puppies, is sleeping.
  • Compound Subjects:
    • Joined by "and": Usually plural. Tom and Jerry are friends.
    • Joined by "or" or "nor": Verb agrees with the closest subject. Either the students or the teacher is responsible.

Special Cases and Exceptions

  • Singular '-s' Nouns (again!):
    • Nouns like measles, economics, and athletics are singular. Economics is a challenging subject.
  • Titles:
    • Titles of books, movies, etc., are always singular. *"The Lord of the Rings" is a ...
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