SAT Subject-Verb Agreement Rules
By the Cheetah Prep team
A verb has to match its subject in number, and the SAT works hard to hide the real subject. It slips a phrase between the subject and the verb, usually with a noun of the opposite number, hoping you match the nearest word instead of the actual subject.
The fix is to cross out the middle. In the box of old letters was found, mentally delete of old letters and the singular subject box is obvious. Watch also for there is and there are, where the subject comes after the verb, and for collective nouns like team or committee, which are treated as singular.
The Subject-Verb Agreement Rules the SAT Tests
The verb matches the subject, not a nearby noun
A phrase between the subject and verb does not change the subject. Find the real subject and match it.
The box of old letters were found in the attic.
The box of old letters was found in the attic.
On the SAT: The SAT inserts a prepositional phrase with a noun of the opposite number right before the verb.
Compound subjects joined by and are plural
Two subjects connected by and take a plural verb.
The director and the lead actor was late to rehearsal.
The director and the lead actor were late to rehearsal.
On the SAT: Tested alongside single subjects that look plural because of an intervening phrase.
In an inverted sentence, the subject follows the verb
When a sentence starts with there is, there are, or a similar structure, the subject comes after the verb. Match it anyway.
There is several reasons for the delay.
There are several reasons for the delay.
On the SAT: There is and there are questions are common; the noun that follows sets the number.
Collective nouns are usually singular
A group acting as one unit (team, committee, jury) takes a singular verb.
The committee disagree about the budget.
The committee disagrees about the budget.
On the SAT: The SAT pairs a collective noun with a plural verb to test whether you treat the group as one.
Drill Subject-Verb Agreement on Real Questions
Knowing a rule and spotting it under time pressure are different skills. The diagnostic shows whether subject-verb agreement is costing you points, and Cheetah Prep drills each rule in real digital SAT questions until you catch the pattern on sight.
More SAT grammar topics