Subject–Verb Agreement: Finding the True Subject
Find the true subject first, decide if it is one or more than one, then match the verb. Eight rule groups cover every agreement item on the exam.
What it is
Every sentence has a subject (who or what the sentence is about) and a verb (what the subject does or is). Subject–verb agreement means the verb must match the subject in number:
- one person or thing (singular) → singular verb: The clerk files the forms.
- more than one (plural) → plural verb: The clerks file the forms.
Why it matters on the exam
Agreement errors are the most common error in the exam's error identification and sentence correction sets (about 20 items together). The test writers hide the real subject on purpose: they put a plural word right before the verb, or use a word that looks plural but is not. If you can always find the true subject, you can answer these items quickly and surely.
Outside the exam, correct agreement makes official letters and reports look careful and professional.
The results of the survey, together with the director's comments, was sent to the regional office last week.
- results
- was sent
- regional
- last week
- No error
The rest of this lesson, and every other lesson, is part of ReviewTayo.
Read moreIn the full lesson
- How to recognize it on the test
- What to look for (5 checks)
- All 8 rules and tools
- 3 worked examples, every step explained
- 6 common mistakes and how to fix them
- 3 exam techniques
- Remember: 5 key points
- Practice questions with explanations, and your progress saved
More Verbal Ability lessons
ReviewTayo has 47 lessons that follow the official scope of the exam, each with rules, worked examples, common mistakes and practice. Open one and read the first part.