SAT Writing : Identifying Subject-Verb Agreement Errors

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Writing

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Example Questions

Example Question #35 : Identifying Agreement Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

While I don't mind training on the school track, running on trails in our town's local parks are my favorite workout. No error

Possible Answers:

are

No error

in our town's

While

on

Correct answer:

are

Explanation:

Don't be confused here by the plural nouns "trails" and "parks"—neither of these is the subject of the sentence's main clause; they merely add information about the subject. "Running," may initially seem to be a verb, but here it is functioning as a gerund, a verbal ending in "-ing" that functions as a noun. As such, it is a singular subject and needs to take the singular verb "is," making "are" incorrect.

Example Question #36 : Identifying Agreement Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Rabbits spend more time caring for their young than does other types of rodents such as hamsters and gerbils. No error

Possible Answers:

than does

caring

spend

No error

such as

Correct answer:

than does

Explanation:

The verb "does" is used with singular nouns, but in the sentence as it is written, it refers to "types," a plural noun. To correct the sentence's error, we would need to change "does" to "do," or omit "do" completely, as just the "than" is sufficient to make the comparison.

Example Question #37 : Identifying Agreement Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

The two families developed their farms in friendly competition and eventually became the leader of the region’s dairy productionNo error

Possible Answers:

the leader

their

the region's dairy production

friendly

No error

Correct answer:

the leader

Explanation:

This sentence is about two families (plural) that are successful. The sentence has them becoming the leader (singular) in the region. This discrepancy in number is an error. The corrected sentence reads: The two families developed their farms in friendly competition and eventually became the leaders of the region’s dairy production.

Example Question #38 : Identifying Agreement Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

Unfamiliar customs and a sharp intelligence is intimidating, but a good sense of humor is very disarmingNo error

Possible Answers:

very disarming

but

No error

Unfamiliar

is

Correct answer:

is

Explanation:

This sentence lacks agreement between subject and verb. “Is” corresponds with a singular subject, but here the subject is plural. The corrected sentence reads: Unfamiliar customs and a sharp intelligence are intimidating, but a good sense of humor is very disarming.

Example Question #39 : Identifying Agreement Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

The cans of paint, although seemingly light, was too heavy for me to move to the corner of the room where they wouldn't be in anyone's way. No error

Possible Answers:

wouldn't

No error

anyone's

although

was

Correct answer:

was

Explanation:

People get these kinds of questions wrong because of the phrase set apart from the rest of the sentence by commas. That little seperation between the first and second part of the sentence is a distraction to subject-verb agreement. When read quickly, it may seem like "paint," which is singular, is the subject. The real subject, however, is "cans." This means our verb has to agree with a plural noun, and so "was" contains the error, because "was" should be "were."

Example Question #40 : Identifying Agreement Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

The closet of shoes are hard to open; the door has swollen due to the massive amount of rain this spring. No error

Possible Answers:

this

has swollen

No error

are

closet

Correct answer:

are

Explanation:

This question tries to confuse you by putting "shoes" after "closet." "Are" should be "is" as "closet" is the subject of the verb.

Example Question #31 : Identifying Subject Verb Agreement Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

The trail of ants, which crossed the entire kitchen floor and disappeared into the cabinet, were new arrivals this morning. No error

Possible Answers:

No error

trail of ants

disappeared

entire

were new arrivals

Correct answer:

were new arrivals

Explanation:

The predicate of this sentence does not match in number with the single subject “trail.” The corrected sentence reads: The trail of ants, which crossed the entire kitchen floor and disappeared into the cabinet, was a new arrival this morning.

 

Example Question #32 : Identifying Subject Verb Agreement Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

The events director, along with the administrative staff, are responsible for making sure the entire program runs smoothlyNo error

Possible Answers:

along with

No error

making sure

smoothly

are

Correct answer:

are

Explanation:

In this sentence, the verb does not agree with the number of the subject. The subject is singular (the administrative staff is in a modifying phrase and doesn’t count), so the correct verb form would be “is.” The corrected sentence reads, "The events director, along with the administrative staff, is responsible for making sure the entire program runs smoothly."

Example Question #33 : Identifying Subject Verb Agreement Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

The sloth, out of all the zoo animals, were what fascinated Peter the mostNo error

Possible Answers:

the most

No error

all

were

sloth, out

Correct answer:

were

Explanation:

In this sentence, the verb does not agree with the subject. “Were” should go with a plural subject, but here the subject “the sloth” is singular. The corrected sentence reads, "The sloth, out of all the zoo animals, was what fascinated Peter the most."

Example Question #34 : Identifying Subject Verb Agreement Errors

Select the underlined word or phrase that needs to be changed to make the sentence correct. Some sentences contain no error at all.

The physicality in the performance of each and every one of the dancers overwhelm the audience; nobody can describe what they have just witnessed. No error

Possible Answers:

audience; nobody

overwhelm

they

of each and every one

No error

Correct answer:

overwhelm

Explanation:

In this sentence, the verb “overwhelm” does not agree with the singular subject “the physicality.” The corrected sentence reads: "The physicality in the performance of each and every one of the dancers overwhelms the audience; nobody can describe what they have just witnessed."

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