TEAS Ready🗣️ English and Language Usage · Knowledge of Language · Lesson 1 of 6 · 5 min
Subject-verb agreement: find the real subject
🎯 "The box of gloves are empty" sounds almost right. The TEAS is counting on that, so learn to spot the real subject.
💡 Key idea
Cross out the words between the subject and the verb, then match the verb to the subject that is left.
🧠 The idea
A verb must AGREE in number with its SUBJECT: a singular subject takes a singular verb (the nurse checks), a plural subject takes a plural verb (the nurses check). The trap is a phrase between them. In "The box of gloves is empty," the subject is box, not gloves, so cross out prepositional phrases (of, in, with, along with, as well as) before you choose. COMPOUND SUBJECTS joined by and are plural. With or or nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject: "Neither the aides nor the nurse is here." INDEFINITE PRONOUNS such as each, everyone, anybody, either and neither are singular; both, few, many and several are plural; some, all, most and none depend on the noun that follows. In US usage, collective nouns such as team, staff, committee and class usually take a singular verb when the group acts as one unit.
✏️ Worked example
"Each of the students in the two anatomy labs (has / have) a locker." Step 1: cross out the phrases: "of the students" and "in the two anatomy labs." Step 2: the subject left is Each. Step 3: each is a singular indefinite pronoun. Answer: "Each of the students in the two anatomy labs has a locker." The plural words students and labs were only there to pull you toward have.
📌 Takeaways
- Ignore prepositional phrases and "along with" phrases when you look for the subject.
- And makes a plural subject; with or/nor, match the nearer subject.
- Each, every, either, neither and words ending in -one or -body are singular.
✅ Check yourself
Question 1 of 3
Which verb correctly completes the sentence? "The list of patient allergies ___ posted on the door."
- have been
- were
- is
- are
Show the answer and rationale
Answer: C
The subject is list, which is singular; "of patient allergies" is a prepositional phrase that does not change the subject. Is agrees with list. Are, were and have been are plural forms that wrongly agree with allergies.
Question 2 of 3
Which sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement?
- Either the doctors or the pharmacist have signed the order.
- Everyone in the study groups were invited.
- The flashcards and the review book is on my desk.
- Several of the volunteers have arrived early.
Show the answer and rationale
Answer: D
Several is a plural indefinite pronoun, so have arrived is correct. With either/or the verb agrees with the nearer subject, pharmacist, so it should be has. Everyone is singular, so it should be was. A compound subject joined by and is plural, so it should be are.
Question 3 of 3
In US usage, which verb best completes the sentence? "The admissions committee ___ its decision every Friday."
- have announced
- announce
- are announcing
- announces
Show the answer and rationale
Answer: D
Committee is a collective noun acting as one unit, and the pronoun its confirms the singular, so announces is correct. Announce, have announced and are announcing are plural forms that do not match a singular subject.
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