Subject-verb agreement (SVA) is a cornerstone of the Standard English Conventions domain on the Digital SAT. While it may seem like a basic grammar rule you learned in elementary school, the SAT elevates this concept to a "Medium" difficulty level by burying the subject under layers of complex sentence structures. On the Digital SAT, you will encounter these questions within the Reading and Writing modules, specifically in the "Form, Structure, and Sense" category.
This skill tests your ability to ensure that a verb matches its subject in number: a singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb. In the context of the Digital SAT, you aren't just looking at simple sentences like "The cat sits." Instead, you are analyzing academic passages where the subject might be ten words away from the verb, separated by prepositional phrases, non-essential clauses, or introductory modifiers.
Each Digital SAT Reading and Writing module typically contains 2 to 4 questions specifically targeting subject-verb agreement. Because these questions are predictable and follow a rigid set of logical rules, they represent some of the most "attainable" points on the test. Mastering SVA allows you to move quickly through the grammar section, saving precious time for the more labor-intensive "Command of Evidence" or "Inference" questions.
The format is always the same: a short passage (usually 2–4 sentences) with a blank space. You must choose the form of the verb that logically and grammatically completes the sentence. The SAT will try to trick your "ear" by placing a plural noun right before a singular verb. This guide will teach you how to ignore those distractions, isolate the true subject, and select the correct answer with 100% certainty.
Core Concepts
To master Subject-Verb Agreement on the SAT, you must move beyond "what sounds right" and rely on "what is structurally true." The SAT writers are experts at making the wrong answer sound correct to a casual listener.
1. The Fundamental Rule
- Singular subjects take singular verbs. (The planet rotates.)
- Plural subjects take plural verbs. (The planets rotate.)
Note: In the present tense, singular verbs usually end in "-s" (eats, runs, explores), while plural verbs do not (eat, run, explore). This is the opposite of how nouns work!
2. The "Middle Man" (Interrupting Phrases)
The most common way the SAT hides the subject is by placing an "interrupting phrase" between the subject and the verb. These phrases often contain "distractor nouns" that have the opposite number of the subject.
- Prepositional Phrases: "The discovery [of the ancient ruins and artifacts] is significant."
- The subject is "discovery" (singular). "Ruins and artifacts" are objects of the preposition "of" and do not affect the verb.
- Appositives/Non-essential Clauses: "The scientist, [along with her dedicated lab assistants], is conducting the experiment."
- Phrases like "along with," "as well as," and "in addition to" do not create a plural subject. Only "and" does that.
3. Compound Subjects
- The "And" Rule: When two or more subjects are joined by and, the subject is almost always plural.
- "The moth and the butterfly belong to the order Lepidoptera."
- The "Or/Nor" Rule: When subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb must agree with the subject closest to it.
- "Neither the lead singer nor the guitarists are ready."
- "Neither the guitarists nor the lead singer is ready."
4. Inverted Sentences
In most English sentences, the subject comes before the verb. However, the SAT loves to flip this structure, especially in sentences starting with "There is/are" or prepositional phrases.
- Standard: "A rare species of bird lives deep within the forest."
- Inverted: "Deep within the forest lives a rare species of bird."
- To find the subject, ask: "Who or what is living?" The answer is "species" (singular).
5. Indefinite Pronouns
Some pronouns are deceptively singular. You must memorize these, as they are frequent SAT targets.
- Always Singular: Each, anyone, everyone, someone, no one, everybody, somebody, nobody, either, neither, everything.
- "Each of the participants was given a badge." (Even though "participants" is plural, "Each" is the subject).
- Always Plural: Both, few, many, several.
- "Many of the students were excited."
6. Collective Nouns
Nouns that represent a group (team, jury, committee, audience, family) are typically treated as singular because the group is acting as a single unit.
- "The committee agrees on the proposal."
7. Relative Clauses (Who/Which/That)
When a verb follows a relative pronoun (who, which, that), the verb must agree with the noun the pronoun refers to (the antecedent).
- "The books [that are on the shelf] need to be organized."
- Here, "that" refers to "books" (plural), so we use "are."
SAT Strategy Tips
1. The "Slash and Burn" Technique
When you encounter a subject-verb agreement question, your first step should be to physically or mentally cross out all "fluff" between the subject and the verb. This includes:
- Prepositional phrases (starting with of, in, by, with, for, on).
- Non-essential clauses (stuff between two commas or dashes).
- Introductory phrases. What remains is the "skeleton" of the sentence, making the subject obvious.
2. Identify the "Singular/Plural Split"
Look at the answer choices immediately. If you see two versions of the same verb (e.g., is/are, was/were, creates/create), you are almost certainly being tested on Subject-Verb Agreement. This "split" tells you exactly what to look for in the passage: the subject.
3. The "Ear" Trap
Never rely on what "sounds right." The SAT specifically designs sentences where the noun closest to the blank is the opposite of the actual subject. For example: "The collection of rare stamps [is/are] expensive." Your ear hears "stamps are," but the subject is "collection." Always identify the subject grammatically.
4. Time Management
You should aim to solve SVA questions in under 45 seconds. Because these are rule-based, they don't require the deep analysis that a "Main Idea" question does. Use the extra time for the Reading-heavy questions later in the module.
5. Check the Tense (Secondary Step)
If two answer choices are both singular (e.g., is and has been), then the question is testing both agreement and tense. First, eliminate based on agreement. If you are left with two options that both agree with the subject, look for time markers in the passage (like "in 1924" or "currently") to determine the correct tense.
Worked Example: Easy (Interrupting Phrases
The proliferation of digital tools and online platforms ________ the way modern architects design sustainable buildings, allowing for more precise energy-efficiency calculations.
A) has transformed B) have transformed C) are transforming D) transform
Reasoning:
- Identify the subject: Ask "What has/have transformed?" The answer is "The proliferation."
- Ignore the fluff: "[of digital tools and online platforms]" is a prepositional phrase. Cross it out.
- Determine number: "Proliferation" is singular.
- Evaluate choices:
- (A) has transformed (Singular) - Correct.
- (B) have transformed (Plural) - Incorrect.
- (C) are transforming (Plural) - Incorrect.
- (D) transform (Plural) - Incorrect. The SAT tries to trick you with "tools" and "platforms" right before the verb.
Worked Example: Medium (Compound Subjects & Collective Nouns
Neither the lead researcher nor the members of the environmental committee ________ that the proposed dam would have such a devastating impact on the local salmon population.
A) was expecting B) were expecting C) is expecting D) expects
Reasoning:
- Identify the structure: This is a "Neither/Nor" compound subject.
- Apply the rule: In a "Neither/Nor" structure, the verb agrees with the closest subject.
- Identify the closest subject: The noun phrase closest to the blank is "members of the environmental committee."
- Determine number: "Members" is plural.
- Evaluate choices:
- (A) was expecting (Singular) - Incorrect.
- (B) were expecting (Plural) - Correct.
- (C) is expecting (Singular) - Incorrect.
- (D) expects (Singular) - Incorrect.
Worked Example: Hard (Inverted Sentence & Relative Clause
Tucked away in the back of the university archives ________ a collection of letters and journals that provides a firsthand account of the 1918 influenza pandemic.
A) sits B) sit C) are sitting D) have sat
Reasoning:
- Identify the structure: This sentence is inverted. It starts with a prepositional phrase ("Tucked away...").
- Find the subject: Ask "What sits/sit in the archives?" The answer is "a collection."
- Ignore the fluff: "[of letters and journals]" is a prepositional phrase modifying "collection."
- Determine number: "Collection" is singular.
- Evaluate choices:
- (A) sits (Singular) - Correct.
- (B) sit (Plural) - Incorrect.
- (C) are sitting (Plural) - Incorrect.
- (D) have sat (Plural) - Incorrect. Note: The word "provides" later in the sentence is a clue! It is singular, agreeing with "collection."
Practice Problems
Question 1 The intricate patterns of the Navajo weaver, which often incorporate symbolic representations of the natural world and tribal mythology, ________ highly sought after by art collectors globally.
A) is B) has been C) are D) was
Question 2 In the high-altitude regions of the Andes Mountains ________ the vicuña, a relative of the llama whose extremely fine wool was once reserved exclusively for Incan royalty.
A) resides B) reside C) are residing D) have resided
Question 3 Every one of the participants in the longitudinal study on sleep deprivation ________ required to maintain a detailed log of their cognitive performance and emotional states for the duration of the six-month trial.
A) were B) are C) have been D) was
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Common Mistakes
1. The "Proximity Trap"
Students often make the verb agree with the noun closest to it rather than the actual subject.
- Wrong: The box of chocolates are on the table.
- Right: The box [of chocolates] is on the table.
- How to avoid: Always find the "action-doer" and ignore prepositional phrases starting with "of."
2. Treating "As Well As" Like "And"
"And" creates a plural subject. "As well as," "along with," and "including" do not.
- Wrong: The teacher as well as the students are going.
- Right: The teacher [as well as the students] is going.
- How to avoid: Treat everything between commas as "invisible" when checking for agreement.
3. Forgetting Indefinite Pronouns are Singular
Words like "Each," "Neither," and "Everyone" feel plural because they refer to many people, but grammatically, they are singular.
- Wrong: Each of the dogs have a collar.
- Right: Each [of the dogs] has a collar.
- How to avoid: Memorize the "Singular Indefinites" list. If it ends in "-one," "-body," or "-thing," it is singular.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I can't tell if a noun is singular or plural?
A: On the SAT, nouns are rarely ambiguous. However, look for context clues. If the noun is "species," look at the rest of the sentence. Does it say "this species" (singular) or "these species" (plural)? Also, check the other verbs in the passage; the SAT usually maintains consistency.
Does the subject-verb agreement rule change in the past tense?
A: For most verbs, no. "He walked" and "They walked" look the same. However, the verb "to be" changes (was vs. were) and "to have" changes (has vs. had—though had is used for both). The SAT specifically tests was/were and is/are because they show agreement clearly.
I'm down to two singular options. How do I choose?
A: This means the question is testing Tense or Diction in addition to agreement. Look for time markers. "Currently" or "today" suggests present tense (is), while "historically" or "in 1990" suggests past tense (was). If there are no time markers, choose the simplest, most concise option.
Key Takeaways
Isolate the Subject: Cross out prepositional phrases and non-essential clauses to find the true subject.
The -s Rule: Singular verbs usually end in "s" (e.g., claims), while plural verbs do not (e.g., claim).
"And" vs. The Rest: Only "and" creates a plural compound subject. "As well as" and "along with" are just "fluff."
Inverted Sentences: If a sentence starts with a place or "There is/are," look after the verb to find the subject.
Indefinites are Singular: "Each," "Neither," and "Everyone" always take singular verbs.
Trust the Grammar, Not the Ear: The SAT is designed to make the wrong answer sound right. Follow the rules, not your intuition.