Standard English Conventions · SAT Reading & Writing

Subject-Verb Agreement on the Digital SAT

Subject-verb agreement is the most-tested grammar rule on the Digital SAT Reading & Writing section. The core rule is simple — singular subjects take singular verbs, plural subjects take plural verbs — but the SAT specifically tests the cases where the subject is hard to identify. This lesson covers the five trap patterns and gives 8 practice problems with full solutions.
By the Prepiii Editorial TeamUpdated 2026-05-24~10 min read

The rule (and why the SAT makes it hard)

The rule: singular subjects take singular verbs. Plural subjects take plural verbs. "The dog barks" (singular). "The dogs bark" (plural).

Easy. So why does the SAT test this constantly? Because the test creates sentences where the subject is hard to identify. Once you know the actual subject, the right verb is usually obvious.

The strategy: find the subject first, then ignore everything between subject and verb. Then match number.

Trap 1: Intervening prepositional phrases

The SAT often inserts a prepositional phrase (or appositive) between the subject and the verb, with a noun of opposite number embedded inside. Your brain wants to make the verb agree with the closest noun — wrong.

The box of old letters has been in the attic for years.

Subject = box (singular). The phrase "of old letters" just modifies it. Verb = has, not have.

Pro move. Mentally cross out any prepositional phrase (anything starting with of, in, on, with, from, including, etc.) between the subject and the verb. The true subject pops out instantly.

Trap 2: Collective nouns and indefinite pronouns

Collective nouns (team, jury, family, committee, audience) are typically singular on the SAT, even though they refer to multiple people. "The team is warming up," not "are."

Indefinite pronouns follow strict rules — memorize these:

Always singular: each, every, either, neither, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, no one, nobody, nothing, anything, something.

Always plural: both, few, many, several.

Depends on the noun it refers to: all, any, most, some, none. ("Most of the cake is gone" but "Most of the cakes are gone.")

Common SAT pattern: "Each of the students..." — subject is each (singular), not students. The verb is singular: "Each of the students has a textbook."

Trap 3: 'Either/or' and 'neither/nor'

With either A or B or neither A nor B, the verb agrees with the noun closest to it (the second one, B).

Either the manager or the employees are responsible. (employees is closest → plural verb)

Either the employees or the manager is responsible. (manager is closest → singular verb)

And vs or. Subjects joined by and are plural ("Sara and Maya are here"), but subjects joined by or follow the proximity rule above.

Trap 4: Inverted sentences and 'there is/are'

In sentences starting with there, here, or a prepositional phrase, the subject comes AFTER the verb. You still need to find the subject and match its number.

There is a problem with the design. (subject: problem, singular)

There are several problems with the design. (subject: problems, plural)

Among the books on her desk was an old dictionary. (subject: dictionary, not books)

Trap 5: Sneaky-singular words

Several nouns look plural (or look like a plural quantity) but are grammatically singular. The SAT tests these constantly:

  • Amounts treated as a unit: "Five dollars is enough." "Ten years feels like forever."
  • Subjects with -ics endings: mathematics, physics, economics, ethics. "Physics is a science."
  • Gerund (-ing) phrases as subjects: "Running long distances improves stamina." (Subject is the act of running, not distances.)
  • Titles and proper names: "The New York Times reports daily." (Always singular, even though the title contains a plural-sounding word.)

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Common mistakes

Matching the verb to the closest noun instead of the subject

'The collection of paintings is rare' — not 'are' — because the subject is 'collection' (singular), not 'paintings.' Cross out the prepositional phrase mentally and the right verb becomes obvious.

Treating 'each' or 'every' as plural

'Each of the students' is singular. 'Every one of the books' is singular. These words always take singular verbs, no matter how many things they refer to.

Misapplying the either/or rule

With 'either A or B,' the verb agrees with B (the closer subject), not with both subjects combined. Watch the order — swapping A and B can flip the correct verb.

Treating collective nouns as plural

Team, jury, audience, committee, family — all singular on the SAT. 'The jury has reached a verdict,' not 'have.'

Practice problems

8 problems adapted from College Board released questions and internal Prepiii sets. Click each one to reveal the solution.

1

Which choice completes the sentence?

The collection of antique maps, including several from the eighteenth century, _______ on display at the city library.

  1. are
  2. have been
  3. is
  4. were

Click to reveal solution →

Answer: (C) is

Subject: collection (singular). The prepositional phrases "of antique maps" and "including several from the eighteenth century" are modifiers. Singular subject → singular verb "is."

2

Which choice completes the sentence?

Each of the candidates _______ submitted a detailed policy proposal.

  1. have
  2. has
  3. are
  4. were

Click to reveal solution →

Answer: (B) has

Subject: each, which is always singular. The prepositional phrase "of the candidates" doesn't change the subject. Singular verb "has."

3

Which choice completes the sentence?

Neither the senator nor her aides _______ available for comment after the press conference.

  1. was
  2. is
  3. were
  4. has been

Click to reveal solution →

Answer: (C) were

With "neither A nor B," the verb agrees with the closer subject — here, aides (plural). Plural verb "were."

4

Which choice completes the sentence?

Behind the dusty bookshelves _______ a hidden room that researchers had overlooked for decades.

  1. was
  2. were
  3. have been
  4. are

Click to reveal solution →

Answer: (A) was

Inverted sentence — the subject comes after the verb. Subject: room (singular). The prepositional phrase "behind the dusty bookshelves" is just a modifier. Singular verb "was."

5

Which choice completes the sentence?

The committee, after weeks of deliberation, _______ unanimous in its recommendation.

  1. are
  2. have been
  3. is
  4. were

Click to reveal solution →

Answer: (C) is

Subject: committee — a collective noun, treated as singular on the SAT. Singular verb "is."

6

Which choice completes the sentence?

Running on uneven trails _______ ankle stability more than running on flat surfaces does.

  1. build
  2. are building
  3. builds
  4. have built

Click to reveal solution →

Answer: (C) builds

The subject is the gerund phrase "Running on uneven trails" — singular (the activity of running). Singular verb "builds."

7

Which choice completes the sentence?

Five hundred dollars _______ a reasonable price for a refurbished laptop of this quality.

  1. are
  2. is
  3. have been
  4. were

Click to reveal solution →

Answer: (B) is

Amounts of money are treated as a singular unit when the focus is on the amount itself. "Five hundred dollars is a reasonable price."

8

Which choice completes the sentence?

The number of students enrolled in advanced mathematics courses _______ increased substantially over the past five years.

  1. have
  2. has
  3. are
  4. were

Click to reveal solution →

Answer: (B) has

Subject: the number — singular. (Note: "a number of students" is plural, but "THE number of students" is singular. The SAT loves this distinction.)

Frequently asked questions

What is subject-verb agreement?

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It's the grammar rule that singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verbs. 'The dog barks' (singular). 'The dogs bark' (plural). The Digital SAT tests it constantly by hiding the real subject.

How do I find the subject of a sentence on the SAT?

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Cross out any prepositional phrase between the subject and the verb. 'The box [of old letters] has been...' — ignore '[of old letters]' and the subject 'box' (singular) is clear.

Is 'each' singular or plural?

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Always singular. 'Each of the students has a textbook.' Even though it refers to multiple things, 'each' takes a singular verb. Same with 'every,' 'either,' 'neither,' 'everyone,' 'anyone,' 'no one,' and 'someone.'

What's the rule for 'either A or B'?

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The verb agrees with the noun closest to it (the one after 'or' or 'nor'). 'Either the manager or the employees ARE responsible' (employees, plural). 'Either the employees or the manager IS responsible' (manager, singular). Swap the order and you swap the verb.

Are collective nouns like 'team' singular or plural?

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On the SAT, collective nouns (team, jury, family, committee, audience, staff) are treated as singular. 'The team is warming up.' British English sometimes treats them as plural, but the SAT follows American conventions.

Keep going

Transitions

Another high-frequency R&W question type

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