Stop Falling for ACT Subject Verb Agreement Distractors

Read the sentence: The collection of rare, vintage stamps from the early twentieth century are worth a fortune. If that sounds correct to your ears, you just fell for the most common trap on the ACT English section. Your brain naturally wants the verb to agree with stamps because it is the closest noun, but the grammatical subject is actually the singular noun collection. The ACT writers intentionally clutter the space between the subject and the verb with prepositional phrases and modifiers to trick you into choosing the wrong plural or singular form.

To solve these questions reliably, you must physically or mentally cross out everything between the subject and the verb. By stripping the sentence down to its core, you can see that collection are is clearly incorrect. This guide focuses on isolating the true actor of the sentence and navigating the specific rules for neither/nor pairings, indefinite pronouns like everyone, and collective nouns that often sound plural but function as singular units in formal English.

Identifying the True Subject Amidst Clutter

Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule stating that the subject of a sentence and its verb must match in number.

In English, a singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject requires a plural verb. On the ACT English section, this is one of the most frequently tested concepts. For example, in the sentence "The cat sleeps," the singular subject "cat" matches the singular verb "sleeps." Conversely, in "The cats sleep," the plural subject matches the plural verb. A common trap on the exam involves placing prepositional phrases or other modifiers between the subject and the verb to confuse the reader. To succeed, you must identify the true subject—the person, place, or thing performing the action—and ignore any "filler" words in between. This skill is a foundational part of ACT Prep and helps ensure clarity in writing.

Key rules for subject-verb agreement include:

• Singular Verbs: Most singular present-tense verbs end in "s" (e.g., runs, eats, plays).
• Plural Verbs: Most plural present-tense verbs do not end in "s" (e.g., run, eat, play).
• Compound Subjects: Subjects joined by "and" are almost always plural.
• Indefinite Pronouns: Words like "everyone," "each," and "someone" are always singular.

For more foundational practice, you might also find ACT Grammar Practice Questions with Answers helpful for reviewing general sentence rules.

Solved Examples

1. Identify the error: The group of students are going to the museum today.
   1. Identify the subject: The subject is "group," which is singular. "Of students" is a prepositional phrase.
   2. Check the verb: "Are" is plural.
   3. Correction: Change "are" to "is." The correct sentence is "The group of students is going to the museum today."
2. Identify the error: Either the coach or the players is responsible for the equipment.
   1. Identify the rule: When using "either/or," the verb must agree with the subject closest to it.
   2. Check the closest subject: "Players" is plural.
   3. Correction: The verb should be plural. The correct sentence is "Either the coach or the players are responsible for the equipment."
3. Identify the error: Every one of the cakes have been eaten.
   1. Identify the subject: "Every one" is an indefinite pronoun that is always singular.
   2. Check the verb: "Have" is plural.
   3. Correction: Change "have" to "has." The correct sentence is "Every one of the cakes has been eaten."

Practice Questions

1. The sound of the drums (echo / echoes) through the stadium during the halftime show.
2. A box of old photographs (sit / sits) in the corner of the dusty attic.
3. The decisions made by the committee (influence / influences) the entire school district.

4. Neither the teacher nor the students (knows / know) the answer to the difficult riddle.
5. The collection of rare stamps (is / are) worth thousands of dollars.
6. Each of the participants (receives / receive) a certificate of completion at the end of the seminar.
7. The variety of flowers in the garden (attract / attracts) many butterflies and bees.
8. Bread and butter (is / are) a classic snack for many children.
9. The scientist, along with her assistants, (is / are) conducting a groundbreaking experiment.
10. There (is / are) several reasons why the project was delayed.

If you are looking to balance your verbal prep with quantitative practice, check out these Easy ACT Math Practice Questions to boost your overall score.

Answers & Explanations

1. Answer: echoes. The subject is "sound" (singular). The prepositional phrase "of the drums" does not change the subject's number.
2. Answer: sits. The subject is "box" (singular). "Of old photographs" is a modifier that should be ignored when determining verb agreement.
3. Answer: influence. The subject is "decisions" (plural). The phrase "made by the committee" describes the decisions but doesn't change the plural nature of the subject.
4. Answer: know. In "neither/nor" constructions, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. "Students" is plural, so the verb must be "know."
5. Answer: is. The subject is "collection" (singular). Even though "stamps" is plural, it is part of a prepositional phrase.
6. Answer: receives. "Each" is a singular indefinite pronoun. Therefore, it requires the singular verb "receives."
7. Answer: attracts. The subject is "variety" (singular). This is a common trap where the plural "flowers" is placed closer to the verb than the actual subject.
8. Answer: is. While "and" usually makes a subject plural, "bread and butter" is often treated as a single compound entity or unit, requiring a singular verb.
9. Answer: is. Phrases like "along with," "as well as," and "in addition to" do not create compound subjects. The subject remains "scientist" (singular).
10. Answer: are. In sentences starting with "there is/are," the subject follows the verb. "Reasons" is plural, so "are" is correct.

For more advanced practice on similar mechanics, you can explore ACT Pronoun Practice Questions with Answers or use the AI Question Generator to create custom drills.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common mistake in subject-verb agreement?

The most common error is being distracted by "filler" words, such as prepositional phrases that sit between the subject and the verb. Students often mistakenly make the verb agree with the noun closest to it rather than the actual subject of the sentence.

Are collective nouns like "team" or "family" singular or plural?

In American English, which the ACT follows, collective nouns are typically treated as singular because they refer to a single unit acting together. You should use a singular verb unless the sentence specifically emphasizes the individual members acting separately.

How do "either/or" and "neither/nor" affect verb agreement?

When subjects are joined by these conjunctions, the verb must agree with the part of the subject that is closest to the verb. If the closer noun is singular, the verb is singular; if it is plural, the verb is plural.

Is the word "data" singular or plural on the ACT?

While "data" is technically the plural of "datum," it is increasingly accepted as a singular mass noun in modern usage. However, the ACT usually avoids these ambiguous cases or provides clear context to help you determine the intended number.

Do phrases like "as well as" make a subject plural?

No, phrases like "as well as," "along with," and "including" are parenthetical and do not change the number of the subject. Only the word "and" creates a compound plural subject in standard English grammar.