8.1 Subject–Verb Agreement

8.1 Subject–Verb Agreement

Quick Answer: On PERT Writing, every verb must agree in number with its true grammatical subject. Spot the real subject first, ignore intervening phrases and inverted word order, then choose singular or plural. Compound subjects with and are usually plural; or/nor, indefinite pronouns like each/everyone, and collective nouns acting as one unit are usually singular.

PERT Writing tests conventions of standard written English, and subject–verb agreement is one of the highest-frequency grammar skills in that domain. Items often ask you to revise a sentence or identify which version is correct. The trap is almost never the basic rule—it is a distractor structure that makes the wrong noun look like the subject. This section trains you to find the real subject and apply the agreement rules that show up on placement exams.

The Core Rule

• Singular subject → singular verb (The student writes; She is ready)
• Plural subject → plural verb (The students write; They are ready)

In the present tense, third-person singular verbs usually end in -s (walks, has, does), while plural verbs do not (walk, have, do). Do not let formal or academic wording fool you—the same rule applies in every register.

Ignore Intervening Phrases

Words between the subject and the verb do not change agreement. Prepositional phrases (of the students, with the coaches), relative clauses, and appositives are classic PERT traps.

• The stack of textbooks is on the desk. (Subject = stack, not textbooks)
• The coach, along with the players, reviews the film. (along with… is not a second subject)
• The results that the lab reported last week are still under review. (Subject = results)

PERT tip: Mentally cross out every phrase that begins with of, with, including, as well as, together with, or in addition to. Then match the verb to what remains.

Compound Subjects

Joined by and

Two or more subjects joined by and almost always take a plural verb:

• The advisor and the tutor help students revise essays.
• Reading and writing are tested on the PERT.

Exception: If the two nouns name one unit or one person, use a singular verb:

• Macaroni and cheese is the cafeteria special. (one dish)
• The writer and editor of the handbook is Dr. Lee. (same person)

Joined by or, nor, either…or, neither…nor

The verb agrees with the nearer subject (the one closest to the verb):

• Neither the tutors nor the instructor is available. (nearer = instructor, singular)
• Neither the instructor nor the tutors are available. (nearer = tutors, plural)
• Either the sample essays or the rubric explains the score. (nearer = rubric)

Each, Either, Neither, and Similar Words

Used as subjects (or as subject markers before a noun), each, either, and neither are singular:

• Each of the applicants submits a portfolio.
• Either option works for placement.
• Neither of the answers is complete.

Do not let of the applicants or of the answers pull you toward a plural verb. The head word is still each, either, or neither.

Indefinite Pronouns

Many indefinite pronouns are always singular; a few are always plural; a small group depends on meaning.

Examples:

• Everyone in the cohort needs a photo ID. (singular)
• Many of the questions test agreement. (plural)
• Some of the ink has dried. (ink = singular mass noun)
• Some of the pages have dried. (pages = plural)

On PERT, the safest default for everyone/everybody/anyone/anybody/nobody/no one is a singular verb—and, as Section 8.2 notes, a singular pronoun later in the sentence as well.

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns name a group: team, class, committee, faculty, staff, audience, family, jury, group. When the group acts as one unit (the usual academic-English default), use a singular verb:

• The committee votes tomorrow.
• The class is taking the PERT this week.

Use a plural verb only when members clearly act as separate individuals:

• The committee disagree about the deadline. (members hold different views)

PERT items almost always expect the unit = singular reading unless the sentence clearly stresses individual action.

There Is / There Are and Inverted Order

In sentences that begin with there or here, the true subject follows the verb:

• There is one error in the paragraph.
• There are several errors in the paragraph.
• Here comes the proctor.
• Here come the students.

Questions and other inverted patterns work the same way—locate the subject after the helping verb:

• Does the list of prerequisites include chemistry? (subject = list)
• Do the lists of prerequisites include chemistry? (subject = lists)

Tricky PERT-Style Error Patterns

Expect items that combine several traps at once:

1. Intervening plural noun: The board of trustees meet monthly → should be meets (subject = board).
2. Compound with or/nor: Neither the students nor the teacher were ready → was ready (nearer = teacher).
3. Indefinite + of-phrase: Each of the essays need a thesis → needs.
4. Inverted opener: There is many reasons to practice → are many reasons.
5. Relative clause agreement: She is one of the students who writes well → who write well (who refers to students). Compare: She is the only one of the students who writes well → who writes (who refers to one).
6. Titles, amounts, and time periods as singular units: Three hours is enough for the untimed section is acceptable when three hours is treated as one block of time; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is assigned (title = singular).

Error-Identification Routine

1. Underline the simple subject (not the object of a preposition).
2. Cross out intervening phrases and nonrestrictive clauses.
3. Check special cases: compound with and vs. or/nor, indefinite pronouns, collective nouns, there is/are.
4. Confirm the verb’s number matches that subject—especially present-tense -s endings.
5. Read the corrected sentence aloud; wrong agreement often “sounds” off once the true subject is clear.

Mastering subject–verb agreement clears the path for pronoun agreement in the next section: both skills demand the same habit of finding the real headword before you choose a form.