5.1 Subject-Verb Agreement

Why Agreement Matters for Clarity

Subject-verb agreement is a core Knowledge of Language skill on the ATI TEAS 7 English and Language Usage section. When the subject and verb do not match in number, readers pause, meaning blurs, and clinical notes can sound unreliable. TEAS items often bury the subject behind a long phrase so that your ear wants to agree with the nearest noun rather than the true subject.

The core rule is simple: singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs. Difficulty comes from finding the subject, handling compounds, and applying special patterns for collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and inverted sentences. This section builds those patterns with ordinary academic sentences and healthcare-flavored examples you can rehearse under time pressure.

Find the True Subject First

Before you choose a verb form, ask: Who or what is performing (or receiving) the action? That noun or pronoun—not the object of a preposition—is the subject.

Healthcare charting example: "The list of symptoms is documented in the admission note." List is singular; symptoms is only the object of of. Writers who hear the plural symptoms often wrongly choose are.

Intervening Prepositional Phrases (High-Yield Trap)

A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition (of, in, with, between, for, among, along with, as well as, in addition to) and ends with a noun or pronoun. That noun is not the subject of the sentence.

Phrases like along with, as well as, together with, and in addition to add extra information; they do not create a compound plural subject the way and does. The verb still matches the main subject alone.

TEAS trap: A long prepositional phrase ends in a plural noun right before the verb. Train yourself to strike through the phrase mentally: The concentration of electrolytes in these samples is elevated.

Compound Subjects with And, Or, and Nor

Joined by And

Two or more subjects joined by and usually form a plural subject and take a plural verb.

• The nurse and the therapist review the discharge goals.
• Gauze and tape are stocked in every room.

Exception sketch (less common on TEAS but useful): When and joins two nouns that name a single idea or unit, some style guides treat the pair as singular (macaroni and cheese is…). Prefer plural when two distinct people or items are clearly intended.

Joined by Or, Nor, Either…Or, Neither…Nor

With or, nor, either…or, and neither…nor, the verb agrees with the subject closest to the verb (the nearer subject).

Healthcare example: "Neither the nurse nor the aides are free to float." Aides is plural and sits next to the verb, so are is correct. Flip the order and the verb flips: "Neither the aides nor the nurse is free to float."

Memorize the proximity rule rather than guessing which noun "feels" more important.

Collective Nouns

A collective noun names a group acting as a unit: team, staff, committee, family, class, group, audience, jury.

In American English (the variety TEAS expects), collective nouns are usually singular when the group acts together:

• The team meets at 0700.
• The staff has agreed on a new handoff format.
• The committee votes tomorrow.

If the sentence stresses individual members acting separately, a plural verb can appear in some careful writing (The staff are submitting their own evaluations), but TEAS-style items more often reward the singular unit reading unless the wording clearly forces plurality (for example, members acting independently with plural markers).

Tip: The number = singular; a number of = plural. That pair is a classic trap.

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns refer to nonspecific people or things. Many are always singular and need singular verbs—even when a plural-looking phrase follows.

Examples:

• Each of the patients needs a fall-risk score. (Each is singular; ignore patients.)
• Everyone on the unit has completed the module.
• Both of the cultures are negative.
• None of the solution was left. / None of the tablets were crushed. (None can go either way; match the sense of the of phrase when TEAS gives a clear mass vs. count cue.)

TEAS trap: Each, every, everyone, and everybody look plural in meaning but are grammatically singular. Do not pair them with are or have when a singular form is required: Everyone has a badge—not have.

Inverted Order and There Is / There Are

Most English sentences put the subject before the verb. Inverted order places the verb (or part of it) before the subject—common after here, there, and in questions.

Rule for there is/are: There is not the subject. Agree with the noun that follows. Compound subjects after there usually take a plural verb when two or more things are listed (There are a stethoscope and a pulse oximeter on the tray—many tests prefer plural when the first noun is not a single unit sense).

When the first item after there is singular and the list continues with and, style guides vary; TEAS items more often test clear singular vs. plural single heads (There is one option vs. There are two options).

Quantity Phrases, Titles, and Special Cases

Quick Decision Flow for TEAS Items

1. Cross out prepositional phrases and as well as / along with extras.
2. Identify whether the subject is simple, compound with and, or compound with or/nor.
3. For or/nor, agree with the nearer subject.
4. Treat each/everyone/nobody type pronouns as singular.
5. For there is/are, look after the verb.
6. Prefer singular for collective nouns acting as one unit in American English.

Run this checklist and agreement items become mechanical. Your ear may still prefer the nearest noun; the checklist overrides the ear when they disagree.