10.2 Subject-Verb Agreement & Verb Forms

10.2 Subject-Verb Agreement & Verb Forms

Quick Answer: Make the verb agree with the true subject, not the nearest noun. Watch intervening phrases, compound subjects, collective nouns, and there is/are. Keep tense consistent and use correct irregular past participles (had written, not had wrote).

Subject–verb agreement (SVA) and verb-form errors are the backbone of MCOLES Grammar Incorrect items. If you can reliably match number and choose the right verb form, you will catch a large share of writing mistakes before they cost you points. On a Correct/Incorrect exam, these are often the fastest "automatic Incorrect" finds once you stop listening to the nearest noun.

Rule 1: Intervening Phrases Do Not Change Number

Prepositional phrases, along with / as well as / including inserts, and relative clauses can sit between subject and verb. Mentally delete them before you choose the verb:

• The status of the three warrants is unclear. (subject = status)
• The detective, along with two trainees, is reviewing body-cam footage. (subject = detective)
• Reports that mention the alley are inconsistent. (subject = Reports)
• One of the cameras was unplugged during the interview. (subject = One)

Incorrect exam-style sentence: The results of the lineup was surprising. Why Incorrect: Subject results is plural → needs were.

Correct: The results of the lineup were surprising.

Another Incorrect pattern: The description of the vehicles were posted at roll call. Fix: description (singular) → was posted.

Rule 2: Compound Subjects

Worked Incorrect: Neither the witnesses nor the victim were able to identify the driver. — If the nearer subject is singular victim, standard formal agreement prefers was.

Worked Correct: Neither the victim nor the witnesses were able to identify the driver. — Nearer subject witnesses → were.

Flip the order on purpose when you practice; the nearer-subject rule is what the key follows, not your first impression of the whole pair.

Rule 3: Collective Nouns

Words like team, crew, jury, staff, department, and unit are usually singular when the group acts as one:

• Correct: The patrol unit is staging at the south lot.
• Incorrect: The patrol unit are staging at the south lot. (as a single unit)
• Correct: The jury has reached a verdict.

If the sentence clearly emphasizes individual members, some styles allow plural, but MCOLES-style formal writing typically treats the collective as singular for unitary action. Safest exam habit: singular collective + singular verb unless the sentence forces separate individuals and the wording is unmistakable.

Rule 4: There is / There are

In there is/are sentences, the true subject follows the verb:

• Correct: There are three empty casings on the sidewalk.
• Incorrect: There is three empty casings on the sidewalk.
• Correct: There is a set of keys on the dash. (set is singular)
• Incorrect: There's many calls holding in queue. → There are many calls…

Speech habits (There's a lot of…) create Incorrect items when a plural noun follows. Slow down specifically on There's.

Quantifiers and Tricky Singulars

These subjects are singular even when a plural noun follows in an of phrase:

Incorrect: Each of the affidavits have been notarized. Correct: Each of the affidavits has been notarized.

Tense Consistency

Stay in one time frame unless the meaning requires a shift:

• Incorrect: The officer approached the window and asks for identification.
• Correct: The officer approached the window and asked for identification.

Shifts are fine when intentional: She stated that she works nights. (past reporting verb + present habitual fact). Random mid-sentence tense flips are Incorrect. Also watch perfect timing: had secured before a later past event is Correct when sequence matters—Units had secured the perimeter before the detective arrived.

Irregular Verbs and Wrong Past Participles

After has/have/had or passive was/were/been, use the past participle, not the simple past:

Worked Incorrect: The suspect had already drove away before units arrived. Rule: After had, use driven. Correct: The suspect had already driven away before units arrived.

Worked Incorrect: Evidence was took from the counter without a receipt log. Correct: Evidence was taken from the counter without a receipt log.

Worked Incorrect: Dispatchers have already began the next rotation. Correct: Dispatchers have already begun the next rotation.

Worked Correct/Incorrect Analyses (Exam Style)

1. The packet of certified copies are on the supervisor's desk. → Incorrect. Subject packet is singular; verb should be is.

2. Each of the affidavits has been notarized. → Correct. Each takes singular has.

3. There is several discrepancies in the timeline. → Incorrect. Plural discrepancies requires There are.

4. If the radio were louder, the backup request would have been clearer. → Correct (hypothetical were). Related verb-form awareness helps you separate mood from tense.

5. Officers have wrote three supplements since midnight. → Incorrect. Past participle is written.

6. The crew is prepared to deploy the barrier. → Correct. Collective crew acting as one unit takes singular is.

Fast Drill Checklist

1. Circle the true subject (not the object of of).
2. For or/nor, agree with the nearer subject.
3. For there is/are, look right of the verb.
4. After have/has/had/been, demand a participle.
5. Read the sentence once for accidental present/past mixing.
6. Treat each/every/one/the number of as singular unless a listed exception applies.

Apply this section's rules inside the Correct/Incorrect decision from 10.1. The quizzes below use four options so you must identify which agreement or verb-form rule is decisive.