SAT Subject–Verb Agreement Fast-Fix 2025: 11 Digital-SAT Traps

Subject-verb agreement is one of the most tested grammar rules on the SAT, making up about 14% of the Reading and Writing section. Mastering this concept can significantly impact your score. However, these questions are rarely straightforward, with test makers using tricks like separating subjects and verbs with extra phrases, inverting sentence structures, or using tricky word combinations.

Key Takeaways:

• 2-Step Process for Success:

  1. Find the true subject by eliminating prepositional phrases, interrupting clauses, and distractions.

  2. Match the verb to the subject - singular subjects need singular verbs, and plural subjects need plural verbs.

• Common Traps:

  1. Collective nouns (e.g., "team") take singular verbs.

  2. Fractions and percentages agree with the noun following "of."

  3. Indefinite pronouns like "each" are always singular.

  4. Compound subjects joined by "and" are plural.

  5. Subjects joined by "or/nor" agree with the closest subject.

  6. Prepositional phrases and interrupting clauses don't affect the subject-verb relationship.

  7. Inverted sentences require careful reordering.

  8. Words like "data" and "criteria" are plural, even if they seem singular.

By following this method and avoiding these traps, you can confidently tackle subject-verb agreement questions on test day.

Pro tip: Tools like ChatSAT can help you identify weaknesses, focus on problem areas, and practice with tailored lessons to improve accuracy.

New Digital SAT's MOST COMMON Question! Singular VS Plural, Subject-Verb Agreement is EASY.

2-Step Subject–Verb Agreement Check

When tackling subject–verb agreement questions on the Digital SAT, relying on your instincts can backfire. Test makers design these questions to trip you up. Instead, stick to this reliable two-step method to ensure you get it right every time.

"Always Identify the Subject. Both subjects of sentences and subjects of clauses must agree with their verbs. For each verb, find the noun which corresponds with that specific verb. Then, determine whether that subject is singular or plural and make sure that the subject and verb agree." – Justin Berkman

Here’s how to approach it:

Step 1: Find the True Subject

The hardest part of these questions isn't knowing the rules - it’s pinpointing the actual subject. Test makers often hide it behind layers of extra phrases and clauses.

"Simply, a subject is the noun which corresponds with a verb in a sentence." – Justin Berkman

To uncover the true subject, start by eliminating prepositional phrases, which never contain the subject. For example:
"Changes for the new and improved SAT is going to be implemented soon."
When you cross out the prepositional phrase "for the new and improved SAT", you’re left with "Changes is going to be implemented soon", making the error clear. The subject "Changes" is plural, so the verb should be "are."

Next, remove non-essential clauses and appositives that interrupt the sentence. For instance:
"My math teacher, who yells at all students, give too much homework."
By crossing out "who yells at all students", the sentence becomes "My math teacher give too much homework", revealing the mistake. The singular subject "teacher" requires "gives."

For inverted sentences, where the verb comes before the subject, mentally rearrange them. Take this example:
"On my forehead resides five unsightly pimples."
Rearrange it to: "Five unsightly pimples reside on my forehead." Now it’s clear that the plural subject "pimples" needs the plural verb "reside."

"Remember, the first thing to do on an SAT Writing question is to circle the subject, underline the verb, and make sure they agree!" – Chris

Once the true subject is identified, you’re ready for the next step.

Step 2: Match the Verb to the Subject

Now that you’ve found the true subject, aligning it with the correct verb becomes much easier. Singular subjects pair with singular verbs, and plural subjects pair with plural verbs.

A common mistake is letting intervening phrases distract you. Stay focused on the relationship between the subject and its verb, ignoring everything else.

Take this sentence:
"The crystals of the geode sparkles in the sunlight, attracting collectors from around the world."
The subject "crystals" is plural, but the verb "sparkles" is singular. The prepositional phrase "of the geode" doesn’t affect the verb. The corrected sentence should use "sparkle."

In complex sentences with multiple clauses, extra care is needed. For example:
"Quantum computing, which promises to revolutionize data processing, are still in its early stages of development."
Here, the non-essential clause separates "computing" (a singular subject) from the plural verb "are." The correct verb is "is."

Watch for inverted structures as well. Consider:
"Among the breakthroughs in modern medicine was gene editing techniques that promise to cure genetic disorders."
The verb "was" comes before the true plural subject "techniques." The correct verb form is "were."

11 Common Subject–Verb Agreement Traps on the Digital SAT

The Digital SAT often tests your ability to master subject–verb agreement. Below are 11 common traps that can trip you up, along with tips to navigate them successfully.

Trap 1: Collective Nouns

Collective nouns like "team", "band", "company", and "family" take singular verbs when acting as a single unit. For example:

"After losing by thirty points, the basketball team have decided to fire its coach" (incorrect)
"After losing by thirty points, the basketball team has decided to fire its coach" (correct)

Other collective nouns, such as "committee", "jury", "staff", and "audience", follow the same rule when the group acts as one entity.

Trap 2: Fractions and Percentages

When dealing with fractions or percentages, the verb agrees with the noun following "of." For instance:

• "One half of the toxic waste has escaped."

• "Two thirds of the students are satisfied with the class."

• "Fifty percent of the students are studying."

• "Half of the pie is gone."

Trap 3: Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns like "each", "every", "everyone", "somebody", "nobody", and "anything" are always singular and require singular verbs, even if they seem to reference multiple people. For example:

• "Each student brings his or her own laptop."

This rule also applies to pronouns such as "either", "neither", "one", and "someone."

Trap 4: Compound Subjects Joined by "And"

When two or more subjects are joined by "and", they form a plural subject, requiring a plural verb. For example:

• "Sarah and Michael are studying for the exam."

An exception occurs when the compound subject refers to a single entity, such as "peanut butter and jelly", which takes a singular verb.

Trap 5: Subjects Joined by "Or/Nor"

For subjects joined by "or" or "nor", the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. For example:

• "Either the teacher or the students are responsible" (plural verb, as "students" is nearest).

• "Either the students or the teacher is responsible" (singular verb, as "teacher" is nearest).

Trap 6: Prepositional Phrase Distractions

Don't let prepositional phrases confuse you. The verb should agree with the main subject, not the noun in the prepositional phrase. For example:

• "The list of books are on the table" (incorrect).

• "The list of books is on the table" (correct).

Trap 7: Interrupting Phrases or Clauses

Interrupting phrases - like non-essential clauses or descriptive segments - don’t change the subject–verb agreement. For example:

• "The scientist, along with her team, has made a breakthrough."

Other phrases like "as well as", "in addition to", and "including" follow the same rule.

Trap 8: Inverted Sentence Structures

In sentences where the verb comes before the subject, it can be tricky to match them. These often start with prepositional phrases or use "there is/are." For example:

• "On the desk sit three unopened letters" is correct because "letters" is the subject.

Rewriting it as "Three unopened letters sit on the desk" can help you double-check the agreement.

Trap 9: Subjects Separated by Appositives

Appositives, which clarify the subject, don’t affect agreement. For example:

• "My brother, a musician, plays guitar every evening."

Here, the verb "plays" agrees with "brother", not "musician."

Trap 10: Plural Forms That Look Singular

Some words that end in "s" appear plural but are actually singular. Examples include academic subjects and certain conditions:

• "Mathematics is my favorite subject."

• "The news was disappointing."

Trap 11: Singular Forms That Look Plural

Certain words may seem singular but are plural, often due to their Latin or Greek origins. For example:

• "The data show a clear trend" (plural; singular is "datum").

• "Criteria" (plural; singular is "criterion").

• "Phenomena" (plural; singular is "phenomenon").

• "Alumni" (plural; singular is "alumnus").

"Subject-Verb Agreement may be the most tested grammatical rule on the SAT."
– Justin Berkman, PrepScholar Advice Blog

Mastering these traps will sharpen your grammar skills and prepare you for the subject–verb agreement questions on the Digital SAT. Up next, see how correct and incorrect usage compare.

Wrong vs Right Examples

These real Digital SAT examples showcase how to identify and fix subject–verb agreement errors with ease.

Trap 1: Collective Nouns

❌ Wrong: 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.

✅ Right: Composer Max Richter is not afraid of his audience dozing off. In fact, his eight-hour composition, charmingly entitled Sleep, was performed in a concert hall outfitted with hundreds of beds.

Here, "composition" is singular and requires a singular verb.

Trap 2: Fractions and Percentages

❌ Wrong: Half of the students in the advanced chemistry class has completed their lab reports.

✅ Right: Half of the students in the advanced chemistry class have completed their lab reports.

The verb must agree with "students", a plural noun following "of."

Trap 3: Indefinite Pronouns

❌ Wrong: Each team member are athletic.

✅ Right: Each team member is athletic.

"Each" is always singular, no matter what follows "of."

Trap 4: Compound Subjects Joined by "And"

❌ Wrong: Above the desk in his bedroom hangs shiny silver medals and a large gold trophy, each adorned with a small plaque and signed by the young athlete.

✅ Right: Above the desk in his bedroom hang shiny silver medals and a large gold trophy, each adorned with a small plaque and signed by the young athlete.

When two subjects are joined by "and", they form a plural subject that needs a plural verb.

Trap 5: Subjects Joined by "Or/Nor"

❌ Wrong: Either the students or the teacher are responsible for organizing the event.

✅ Right: Either the students or the teacher is responsible for organizing the event.

The verb agrees with the subject closest to it - here, "teacher", which is singular.

Trap 6: Prepositional Phrase Distractions

❌ Wrong: The announcement of the new test schedule are confusing due to extra details.

✅ Right: The announcement of the new test schedule is confusing due to extra details.

The true subject is "announcement" (singular), so it takes "is."

Trap 7: Interrupting Phrases or Clauses

❌ Wrong: My math teacher, who is extremely demanding and yells at all the students, give too much homework.

✅ Right: My math teacher, who is extremely demanding and yells at all the students, gives too much homework.

Remove the interrupting clause to see that "My math teacher give" clearly needs "gives."

Trap 8: Inverted Sentence Structures

❌ Wrong: Beside the bins, where one could smell the stench of rotten eggs, was a pack of philosophy majors gathering cans for recycling.

✅ Right: Beside the bins, where one could smell the stench of rotten eggs, were a pack of philosophy majors gathering cans for recycling.

Rearranging to "A pack of philosophy majors were gathering" clarifies the correct verb.

Trap 9: Subjects Separated by Appositives

❌ Wrong: The scientist, a researcher from MIT, have published groundbreaking findings.

✅ Right: The scientist, a researcher from MIT, has published groundbreaking findings.

The appositive "a researcher from MIT" doesn't change the singular nature of "scientist."

Trap 10: Plural Forms That Look Singular

❌ Wrong: 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.

✅ Right: NASA's long-awaited photos of Pluto show that not a single impact crater appears on the planet's surface, which indicates that Pluto is geologically active.

"Crater" is singular despite the surrounding plural context.

Trap 11: Singular Forms That Look Plural

❌ Wrong: The data from the climate study shows concerning trends about global warming.

✅ Right: The data from the climate study show concerning trends about global warming.

"Data" is plural (its singular form is "datum") and takes a plural verb.

Additional Gerund Example

❌ Wrong: Having strict and sometimes unusual routines are common among creative individuals.

✅ Right: Having strict and sometimes unusual routines is common among creative individuals.

Gerunds like "having" always act as singular subjects.

These examples highlight common patterns you'll encounter on the Digital SAT. By focusing on the true subject in each sentence, selecting the correct verb becomes straightforward. Keep these traps in mind to avoid mistakes and improve your accuracy on test day.

Test Day Checklist

When test day arrives, use this checklist to spot and fix subject–verb agreement errors. Remember the 2-step process discussed earlier: identify the true subject and ensure the verb matches it. Here’s a quick refresher to help you stay on track.

Quick Trap Reminders

Step 1: Find the True Subject
Circle the subject and cross out any interrupting phrases. Keep in mind that subjects never appear within prepositional phrases.

Step 2: Match the Verb to the Subject
Underline the verb and confirm that it agrees with the subject you circled.

Here’s a breakdown of common traps and tips to avoid them:

• Collective Nouns: Words like "team", "committee", "band", or "company" are singular and take singular verbs.

• Fractions and Percentages: The verb should agree with the noun following "of." If that noun is plural, use a plural verb.

• Indefinite Pronouns: Words such as "each", "every", and "someone" are singular and require singular verbs.

• Compound Subjects with "And": When two singular nouns are joined by "and", they typically require a plural verb.

• Or/Nor Pairs: The verb agrees with the subject closest to it in constructions like "either…or" and "neither…nor."

• Prepositional Phrases: Ignore prepositional phrases starting with words like "of", "in", "on", "by", or "with."

• Interrupting Clauses: Skip over non-essential phrases set off by commas.

• Inverted Sentences: Rearrange sentences where the verb appears before the subject to restore the normal order.

• Appositives: Focus on the main subject and ignore descriptive phrases set off by commas.

• Plural-Looking Singulars: Words ending in "s" (e.g., "mathematics", "news") may look plural but are singular.

• Singular-Looking Plurals: Some words like "data" or "criteria" appear singular but are actually plural.

To make things even simpler, here’s a handy table summarizing these traps and their solutions.

Reference Table for All 11 Traps

How ChatSAT Helps with Grammar Prep

Mastering subject-verb agreement is a critical skill, and ChatSAT makes it easier by offering tools tailored to your learning needs. With its AI-powered system, grammar prep becomes less of a guessing game and more of a focused, personalized experience designed to address your specific challenges and learning pace.

One standout feature is the Urgency Detector, which keeps tabs on your performance across all grammar topics, including subject-verb agreement. If collective nouns trip you up or prepositional phrases throw you off track, the system flags these areas as high-priority. This way, you spend your time where it matters most - on the concepts that can significantly improve your score - rather than revisiting material you’ve already mastered.

Personalized Micro-Lessons

ChatSAT doesn’t waste time with generic grammar lessons. Instead, it delivers micro-lessons that zero in on the specific traps giving you trouble. For example, if "or/nor" questions consistently stump you but you ace collective nouns, your study plan shifts to provide more practice on "or/nor" pairs while scaling back on collective noun exercises.

The system tracks your performance on 11 common grammar traps and adapts accordingly:

Each micro-lesson includes interactive examples and immediate feedback, helping you practice the 2-step check method while solidifying your understanding of tricky rules.

Urgency Detector and Feedback Loops

ChatSAT goes beyond lessons by providing instant, actionable feedback to prevent small mistakes from turning into bad habits. Its "Ask-Why" button is a game-changer - just click it whenever you’re confused, and you’ll get an immediate explanation of why a specific answer is correct. This ensures you don’t carry misconceptions into future practice.

When you make an error, ChatSAT doesn’t just mark it wrong; it explains why. For instance, if you mistakenly choose a plural verb for a collective noun, the system breaks down how collective nouns function as singular units. This targeted feedback helps you understand the reasoning behind each rule.

You’ll also see real-time score tracking, which shows your accuracy for each of the 11 traps. This data feeds back into the Urgency Detector, keeping your study plan aligned with your progress. Over time, every session builds on the last, reinforcing correct grammar patterns and eliminating errors through a continuous feedback loop.

With ChatSAT, grammar prep becomes smarter, more efficient, and tailored to your needs, ensuring you’re ready for test day.

Conclusion

Mastering subject-verb agreement is a key grammar skill that can significantly raise your Reading and Writing score on the Digital SAT. As PrepScholar's Justin Berkman puts it:

"Subject-Verb Agreement may be the most tested grammatical rule on the SAT. Therefore, just by mastering this rule and its applications, you will be well on your way toward achieving a ridiculously good score on the SAT Reading and Writing."

These questions are part of the "Form, Structure and Sense" category, which makes up about 14% of the Reading and Writing section. Consistently nailing this question type can be the difference between a solid score and an exceptional one.

The 11 traps discussed in this guide highlight the most common ways the SAT might try to trip you up. Whether it’s collective nouns acting singular or prepositional phrases obscuring the true subject, these patterns show up time and again. The key is to spot them quickly and apply the 2-step check method every time.

ChatSAT’s adaptive system takes your preparation a step further by zeroing in on your weak areas with personalized micro-lessons. Its Urgency Detector prioritizes the traps that most affect your score, while the "Ask-Why" feature clears up confusion during practice, ensuring you fully understand the concepts.

With regular practice, the right strategies, and tools like ChatSAT, subject-verb agreement questions can go from being a challenge to a chance to boost your score, giving you the confidence to excel on test day.

FAQs

How can I easily spot the subject in tricky SAT sentences?

To easily pinpoint the subject in tricky SAT sentences, begin by locating the main verb. Once you’ve found it, ask: Who or what is doing this action? That question will guide you straight to the subject.

Keep your attention on the main clause and disregard any extra phrases or clauses that might separate the subject from the verb. Typically, the subject is a noun and is positioned before the verb. Sticking to this approach can help you sidestep common pitfalls and stay self-assured during the exam.

What are the best ways to avoid subject-verb agreement mistakes on the Digital SAT?

To steer clear of subject-verb agreement errors on the Digital SAT, the first step is to pinpoint the actual subject in each sentence. Watch out for phrases or clauses positioned between the subject and verb - they can easily throw you off and lead to mismatches in number.

Be especially mindful of collective nouns (like "team" or "group") and fractions, as their verb forms depend on the specific context. When dealing with sentences that use "or" or "nor", make sure the verb aligns with the subject closest to it.

A straightforward two-step approach can help:

• Step 1: Identify the subject.

• Step 2: Ensure the verb agrees with the subject in number.

Practicing with examples is a great way to boost your confidence and sidestep common pitfalls.

How does ChatSAT tailor grammar lessons to help me master subject-verb agreement?

ChatSAT leverages cutting-edge AI to craft grammar lessons tailored specifically to your learning needs. By evaluating your current skills and tracking your progress, it pinpoints challenging areas - like collective nouns, fractions, or 'or/nor' pairs - and zeroes in on those tricky grammar rules.

With this focused method, you’ll receive instant, easy-to-understand feedback and plenty of practice using real-world examples. This not only boosts your confidence but also helps you grasp subject-verb agreement with greater ease.

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