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Verb Agreement For Test Prep

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Verb Agreement Can Be Tricky

Are you taking a test with a multiple choice writing component? Verb agreement issues can be tricky -- even intimidating -- for test takers.

The particular challenges you face will depend on your language background. If you speak English as a second language -- and particularly if your first language is Mandarin or some other language that doesn't differentiate verb forms -- you may need to spend quite a bit of time learning and practicing the basic rules. This is also the case with English speakers with certain dialect backgrounds.

But even very fluent English speakers can struggle with the complex sentence structures found on higher level writing exams like the SAT or CLEP. Agreement issued get complicated when the standard subject-verb order is inverted and when extra words (especially prepositions!) separate the sentence parts that are supposed to agree.

I teach writing part time at a bilingual school in the Bellevue/Seattle area and also do online tutoring and test preparation. Over the years, I have worked with students with Mandarin as well as English language backgrounds; thus I've given quite a bit of thought to verb tense and agreement issues. This page includes my tips and resources for subject-verb agreement. I will also provide links to a few other good grammar sites. The table of contents will help you find material that's relevant to your needs.

Verb Agreement Resources

On this page

  1. The Very Basics of Verb Agreement
  2. Collective Subjects
  3. More Collective Subjects
  4. Video: Subject-Verb Agreement
  5. Practice Subject-Verb Agreement
  6. Prepositional Phrases and Verb Agreement
  7. False Subjects
  8. Inverted Subject-Verb Order
  10. Online Tutoring and Classes
  11. Grammar on the CLEP Composition Test
  12. Grammar on the SAT Writing Test

The Very Basics of Verb Agreement

For second language learners

Most (though not all) English nouns add an 's' when they're in plural form. Most present tense verbs, on the other hand, add an 's' when they're in singular form.

Ex: The boats float.
The boat floats.

Collective Subjects

Collective nouns are words that describe things that have multiple parts. Many words that stand for groups are considered singular subjects; the rationale is that we are speaking of one entity -- one thing -- with many parts. What does this mean to test takers? It means to give those subjects a singular verb! (Say, "The group runs..." not "The group run.")

The following is a list of collective subjects that usually take a singular verb. Note: The word people does not belong on this list. People takes a plural verb. (The people run.)
  • The group (The group runs.)
  • The herd (The herd runs.)
  • The committee (The committee runs.)
  • The family (The family runs.)
  • The platoon (The platoon runs.)
  • The panel (The panel runs.)
  • The team (The team runs.)
  • The company (The company runs.)
  • The colony (The colony runs.)
  • The flock (The flock runs.)

More Collective Subjects

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Video: Subject-Verb Agreement

Do you learn well through a combination of visuals and audio? Here is a great introduction to the basics of verb agreement, narrated by a second language learner.
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Practice Subject-Verb Agreement

With these exercises

Here are some good online quizzes that help second language learners master verb agreement as well as other grammar skills.
Subject Verb Agreement Quiz
Practice spotting those extra phrases that separate the subject and the verb.
Grammar Bytes Exercises
Find multiple subject-verb agreement exercises at Grammar Bytes. (This is an excellent site -- I use it for classes.)
Irregular Verbs
Here is a list of irregular verbs, conjugated by tense and person.

Prepositional Phrases and Verb Agreement

recognizing prepositional phrases

There are various phrases (groups of words) that can separate the subject from the verb. Prepositional phrases are a particular challenge -- they confound many a test taker.

A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun. The noun in the prepositional phrase may directly precede the verb... but it's still not the subject of the sentence. In other words, it doesn't need to agree with the verb. In the sentence, "The package of berries weighs 3 lbs," 'package' is the subject while 'of berries' is the prepositional phrase tossed in to give additional information (or, in the case of standardized tests, to confuse you).

On a test, of course, you won't see prepositional phrases highlighted or marked with parentheses. Learn to look at them like they were, though... and learn to ask yourself, "Was this prepositional phrase placed here to confuse me?"

False Subjects

Inverted Subject-Verb Order

In English, the subject usually precedes the verb. Not always, though! When the standard order is inverted, it's more difficult to make the subject and verb agree. First you need to identify which noun is the subject.

Ex: In the planter blossomed six tulips. Here the subject is 'tulips'. 'Planter', on the other hand, is part of a prepositional phrase. The sentence actually conveys the same meaning as the following one: "Six tulips blossomed in the planter." (The order of the words may change, but the subject stays the same.)

Sentences that begin "Here is..." or "Here are..." are also examples of inverted word order. Make sure you don't use the verb 'is' if you follow with a plural subject.

Some school subjects (mathematics, economics) have an 's' at the end, but are considered singular nouns.

Online Tutoring and Classes

Online SAT, CLEP, and Writing Coaching
Contact me about SAT, CLEP, and writing tutoring or group classes. Feel free to message me with your questions.

What Do You Call a Group of Swans?

More about collective nouns

a bevy of swans

Some call it a flock, some a bevy, other a lamentation. Whatever you call the group, consider it a singular subject -- and don't let the prepositional phrase, "of swans", fool you into using a plural verb.

Grammar on the CLEP Composition Test

In July 2010, the CLEP English Composition with Essay test was replaced by the CLEP College Composition Test. Sentence-level conventions are still assessed, but they comprise a smaller part of the final score. Find out about the new test here.
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Grammar on the SAT Writing Test

Knowledge of subject-verb agreement and other other grammar rules is important on the multiple choice portion of the SAT writing test. Conventions have some impact on your score on the essay, but don't overestimate their importance. Write a well-developed multi-paragraph essay, and don't get hung up on making your grammar perfect! (Ideally, you'll allow yourself several minutes at the end to edit for grammar and usage issues.)

Here you'll find more information on doing your best on the SAT essay.
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Swans and Ducks
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KarenTBTEN

I'm a test prep teacher as well as a writer. I conduct small group writing classes in the Seattle area, and have recently begun teaching CLEP composit... more »

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