Digital SAT Subject Verb Agreement Examples: Types of Questions
- Simple subject verb agreement questions are just singular or plural number agreement.
- More difficult questions can use a different type of noun like compound or collective nouns, or, use a higher level of grammar, vocabulary and/or sentence structure.
Digital SAT Subject Verb Agreement Examples
Type 1. NASA’s long-awaited photos of Pluto show that not a single impact crater appear on the planet’s surface, which indicates that Pluto is geologically active. Choose 1 answer:
- A NO CHANGE
- B have appeared
- C appears
- D are appearing
Type 2. Contrary to the theory that specific areas of the tongue responds to different tastes, scientists have now determined that neurons in the brain are responsible for humans’ perception of flavors. Choose 1 answer:
- A NO CHANGE
- B respond
- C is responding
- D has responded
Type 3. Composer Max Richter is not afraid of his audience dozing off. In fact, his eight-hour composition, charmingly entitled Sleep, have been performed in a concert hall outfitted with hundreds of beds. Choose 1 answer:
- A NO CHANGE
- B are performed
- C were performed
- D was performed
Type 4. Beams of afternoon sunlight, shimmering across the windshield of Molly’s hand-me-down station wagon, begins to give her an odd sort of headache. Choose 1 answer:
- A NO CHANGE
- B was beginning
- C were beginning
- D has begun
Type 5. Having strict and sometimes unusual routines are common for many creative people who are trying to stay productive. For example, Franz Kafka wrote all through the night, while Ernest Hemingway was up every morning at 5:00am to write without disturbance. Choose 1 answer:
- A NO CHANGE
- B were
- C is
- D have been
The 5 types of Subject-Verb Agreement Questions include:
- simple single agreement in number
- simple plural agreement in number
- more complex question singular
- more complex question plural
- advanced, more difficult or complex (trick) question
LESSON 2
Digital SAT Grammar
9 steps to go from beginner to understanding the digital SAT questions, improving your knowledge, skills and ability to do your best in the SAT text.
The first lesson focused on the SAT reading area of textual and quantitative evidence. The second lesson introduces our lessons on SAT grammar with subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement.
Subject Verb Agreement Explanations
1 singular subject “crater” and the verb “appears”.
- (Choice A, Incorrect) This choice results in a lack of agreement between the singular subject “crater” and the plural verb “appear”.
- (Choice B, Incorrect) This choice results in a lack of agreement between the singular subject “crater” and the plural verb “have”.
- (Choice C, Checked, Correct) This choice maintains agreement between the singular subject “crater” and the verb “appears”.
- (Choice D, Incorrect) This choice results in a lack of agreement between the singular subject “crater” and the plural verb “are”.
2 Specific areas of the tongue (subject: areas)
- (Choice A, Incorrect) NO CHANGE This choice results in a lack of agreement between the plural subject “areas* and the singular verb “responds”.
- (Choice B, Checked, Correct) This choice maintains agreement between the plural subject “areas” and the plural verb “respond.”
- (Choice C, Incorrect) This choice results in a lack of agreement between the plural subject “areas* and the singular verb “is”.
- (Choice D, Incorrect) This choice results in a lack of agreement between the plural subject “areas* and the singular verb “has”.
3
- (Choice A, Incorrect) This choice results in a lack of agreement between the singular subject “composition” and the plural verb “have been performed”.
- (Choice B, Incorrect) This choice results in a lack of agreement between the singular subject “composition” and the plural verb “are”.
- (Choice C, Incorrect) This choice results in a lack of agreement between the singular subject “composition” and the plural verb “were”.
- (Choice D, Checked, Correct) This choice maintains agreement between the singular subject “composition” and the singular verb “was”.
4
- (Choice A, Incorrect) This choice results in a lack of agreement between the plural subject “beams” and the singular verb “begins”.
- (Choice B, Incorrect) This choice results in a lack of agreement between the plural subject “beams” and the singular verb “was”.
- (Choice C, Checked, Correct) This choice maintains agreement between the plural subject “beams” and the plural verb “were”.
- (Choice D, Incorrect) This choice results in a lack of agreement between the plural subject “beams” and the singular verb “has”.
5
- (Choice A, Incorrect) This choice results in a lack of agreement between the singular subject “having” and the plural verb “are”.
- (Choice B, Incorrect) This choice results in a lack of agreement between the singular subject “having” and the plural verb “were”.
- (Choice C, Checked, Correct) This choice maintains agreement between the singular subject “having” and the singular verb “is”.
- (Choice D, Incorrect) This choice results in a lack of agreement between the singular subject “having” and the plural verb “have”.
An online answer is wrong [1]: The sentence is referring to past habits of Franz Kafka and Ernest Hemingway, so the past tense verb “were” is appropriate.
Subject-Verb Agreement: Common Questions and Simple Rules for Beginners
What is subject-verb agreement?
Subject-verb agreement means the verb must agree with the subject in number. A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. This rule helps keep sentences grammatically correct.
How do I know if a subject is singular or plural?
A singular noun refers to one person or thing (e.g., dog), while a plural noun refers to more than one (e.g., dogs). The verb form changes depending on whether the subject is singular or plural.
What is the rule if the subject and verb are separated?
If other words come between the subject and the verb, ignore them. The verb must agree with the subject, not with any nearby noun or prepositional phrase.
Can you give an example of a sentence with correct subject-verb agreement?
Yes: The cat runs fast. (Singular subject and verb)
The cats run fast. (Plural subject and verb)
In both examples, the verb agrees with the subject.
What is a compound subject, and what verb should it take?
A compound subject is made of two or more nouns joined by and (e.g., Tom and Jerry). These subjects take plural verbs: Tom and Jerry are funny. But if the subjects form one unit (e.g., macaroni and cheese), the verb is singular: Macaroni and cheese is delicious.
When do subjects joined by “or” or “nor” take a singular or plural verb?
The verb should agree with the closest subject:
Either the teacher or the students are coming.
Either the students or the teacher is coming.
How do indefinite pronouns affect subject-verb agreement?
Some indefinite pronouns like everyone, each, someone, and nobody require a singular verb: Everyone is ready.
Others like few, many, several take plural verbs: Few are absent.
Does a prepositional phrase after the subject affect the verb?
No. The verb must agree with the subject of the sentence, not with a noun or pronoun in a prepositional phrase.
Example: The list of items is on the table.
What are some common subject-verb agreement errors?
Some common agreement errors include:
- Confusing the verb form when the subject is a singular and a plural noun joined by or
- Making the verb agree with a part of the subject instead of the whole
- Letting phrases or clauses between the subject and verb cause confusion
Why must subjects and verbs agree in number?
Every sentence must follow basic grammar rules. When the verb agrees with the subject, the sentence is clear and easy to understand. This is a key rule in understanding subject-verb agreement.
Extra Help: Specific Subject-Verb Agreement Rules and Special Cases
What if the subject is a group or a collective noun?
When the group acts as a whole, use a singular verb: The team wins every game.
When individual members of the group act separately, use a plural verb: The team are arguing among themselves.
How does subject-verb agreement work with present tense verbs?
In the present tense, a singular subject takes a verb ending in -s: She walks.
A plural subject takes the base form: They walk.
How do singular and plural verbs look different?
In the third-person singular, the verb is used with an -s: He plays.
For plural subjects, take plural verbs: They play.
Can a noun phrase affect the verb choice?
Only the head noun in the noun phrase controls the verb. The book of poems is on the desk.
How do clauses affect subject-verb agreement?
If a clause follows the subject, it doesn’t change the verb form. The man who walks dogs is friendly.
Make sure the verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun inside a clause.
What should I remember about pronouns and agreement?
Make sure the pronoun agrees in number with its verb. Each of them is responsible. (Each is singular.)
Do plural subjects always take plural verbs?
Yes, plural subjects take plural verbs. But be careful with phrases like The news is bad—news looks plural but is actually singular.
What if a subject can be either singular or plural depending on the meaning?
Words like none, all, and some require a singular or plural verb depending on what they refer to:
None of the water is left.
None of the students are late.
How can I make sure the verb agrees with the subject every time?
Always identify the subject of the sentence, determine if it is singular or plural, and make sure the verb agrees.
This helps avoid subject-verb agreement errors and improves clarity.
What’s the best tip for learning subject-verb agreement rules?
Focus on the number of the subject, ignore nearby prepositional phrases, and study rules for subject-verb agreement regularly.