Subject–Verb Agreement for PTE

1. Subject-Verb Agreement: The Core Rule

A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Singular: The dog runs fast.
Plural: The dogs run fast.

2. Why is it Important for PTE?

Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks: The verb form often depends on the subject hidden behind a complex phrase. Choosing the wrong verb loses the mark instantly.
Summarize Written Text: One grammatical error (like a singular/plural mismatch) can cost you points in grammar.
Essay (Write Essay): The AI scoring system heavily penalizes basic subject-verb agreement errors in the "Grammar" and "Form" sections.

3. Tricky Rules with Examples (Must-Know for PTE)

Rule 1: Prepositional Phrases (The "Distractor" Rule)

The verb agrees with the subject, NOT the object of the preposition.

Wrong: The list of items are on the table.
Right: The list of items is on the table. (Subject = List)

Rule 2: Indefinite Pronouns (Always Singular)

Words like Everyone, Someone, Nobody, Everything, Each, Either, Neither are always singular.

Right: Everyone is ready for the exam.
Right: Each of the students has completed the task.
Right: Neither of the two options seems viable.

Rule 3: Subjects joined by "And" (Usually Plural)

If two things are connected by "and," use a plural verb.

Right: The manager and the employee are discussing the budget.

Exception: If they refer to the same person/thing or a single concept, use singular.

Right: Fish and chips is my favorite meal. (One dish)

Rule 4: Subjects joined by "Or / Nor" (Proximity Rule)

The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

Right: Neither the manager nor the employees are available.
Right: Neither the employees nor the manager is available.

Rule 5: Collective Nouns (Team, Group, Public, Family, Committee)

In PTE Academic (formal writing), collective nouns are almost always singular unless the members are acting individually.

Right: The committee has reached a decision. (Acting as one unit)
Right: The public trusts the healthcare system. (Important for PTE)
Rare Plural: The staff are arguing among themselves. (Acting individually - rarely tested in Fill in the Blanks).

Rule 6: Uncountable Nouns (Always Singular)

Money, Time, Distance, Information, Research, Evidence, Furniture, News.

Right: Ten thousand dollars is a large sum.
Right: The research provides valuable insights. (Not provide)
Right: The news is depressing today.

Rule 7: Subjects ending in "s" (Singular)

Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Civics, Measles, Mumps.

Right: Physics is a difficult subject.
Right: Mathematics remains the foundation of engineering.

Rule 8: "The Number" vs. "A Number"

The number (singular) = The specific total.
A number (plural) = Several/many.
Right: The number of applicants is increasing.
Right: A number of applicants are waiting outside.

Rule 9: Gerunds (-ing words) as Subjects (Always Singular)

When an action is the subject.

Right: Swimming in the ocean requires great skill.
Right: Eating healthy foods helps prevent disease.

Rule 10: Inverted Sentences (Subject comes AFTER verb)

Look for the subject after the verb.

Right: There is a problem with the system. (Subject = problem)
Right: There are several issues to address. (Subject = issues)
Right: Included in the report is a summary of findings. (Subject = summary)

4. PTE-Specific Complex Examples

Complex Subject	Correct Verb	Full Sentence Example
The impact of new technologies	is	The impact of new technologies is significant. (Subject = impact)
A group of researchers	has	A group of researchers has published a paper. (Subject = group)
The quality of the products	varies	The quality of the products varies greatly. (Subject = quality)
The findings of the study	are	The findings of the study are conclusive. (Subject = findings)
Public trust	remains	Public trust remains essential for democracy. (Uncountable)
Neither the teacher nor the students	are	Neither the teacher nor the students are in class. (Proximity)

5. PTE-Based Practice Questions (Fill in the Blanks)

Choose the correct verb to complete the sentence.

Question 1:

The amount of information available on the internet __________ overwhelming for many users.

A) are
B) is
C) have
D) were

Question 2:

A number of solutions __________ been proposed to tackle climate change.

A) has
B) have
C) is
D) was

Question 3:

Neither the CEO nor the board members __________ in favor of the new policy.

A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has

Question 4:

The economics of the project __________ carefully analyzed before we proceed.

A) need
B) needs
C) needing
D) have needed

Question 5:

Public trust in the media __________ significantly over the past decade.

A) have declined
B) are declining
C) has declined
D) were declining

Question 6:

There __________ a number of factors contributing to the success of the company.

A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has

Question 7:

Each of the participants __________ required to submit a feedback form.

A) are
B) have
C) were
D) is

Question 8:

The collection of rare artifacts __________ displayed in the museum.

A) are
B) have
C) is
D) were

Question 9:

Neither the quality nor the price of the product __________ acceptable to customers.

A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have

Question 10:

Reading academic journals __________ students develop critical thinking skills.

A) help
B) helps
C) have helped
D) are helping

6. Answers with Explanations

Q	Answer	Explanation
1	B) is	Subject = "The amount" (singular/uncountable). Ignore "of information."
2	B) have	"A number of" = plural (several solutions). Use plural verb "have."
3	B) are	Proximity Rule: Verb agrees with "members" (plural) because it is closest.
4	B) needs	Subject = "The economics" (a field of study) = singular.
5	C) has declined	Subject = "Public trust" = uncountable/singular. "Has" for present perfect.
6	B) are	Inverted sentence. Subject = "factors" (plural). "There are..."
7	D) is	"Each" is always singular, even with "of the participants."
8	C) is	Subject = "The collection" (singular). Ignore "of rare artifacts."
9	C) is	Proximity Rule: Verb agrees with "price" (singular) because it is closest.
10	B) helps	Gerund subject "Reading" is singular. Always use singular verb.

Subject–Verb Agreement: 40 Rules for PTE

40 rules covering major exceptions, tricky constructions, and high-level structures that PTE commonly tests in Fill in the Blanks and Essay Writing.

Rules 1–10: The Golden Basics & Prepositional Phrases

Rule 1: Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.

Use: The most basic rule. Add -s/-es to the verb for a singular third-person subject.
Example: The student writes well. / The students write well.

Rule 2: Ignore prepositional phrases that begin with of, in, on, for, with, between, among.

Use: Find the real subject before the preposition. Do not match the verb to the object of the preposition.
Example: The quality of the products is excellent. (Subject = quality)

Rule 3: Ignore interrupting phrases set off by commas (e.g., along with, together with, as well as, including, accompanied by, in addition to).

Use: These phrases are additive, but they do not make a singular subject plural.
Example: The professor, along with his assistants, is presenting the research.

Rule 4: Ignore expressions like plus, with, including, together with, and no less than.

Use: The verb must agree with the main subject, not the noun inside the added expression.
Example: Hard work, plus a bit of luck, leads to success.

Rule 5: Subjects ending in -s but singular in meaning (News, Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Measles, Mumps) take singular verbs.

Use: These are fields of study or diseases that look plural but are treated as single units.
Example: Economics is a popular major. / The news is shocking.

Rule 6: Titles of books, movies, organizations, or countries (even if plural in form) take singular verbs.

Use: Treat the title or name as one single entity.
Example: The United States is a large country. / "The Chronicles of Narnia" is my favorite series.

Rule 7: Gerunds (-ing words) and infinitives (to + verb) used as subjects are usually singular.

Use: When an action itself is the subject, it is treated as one activity or idea.
Example: Swimming daily improves stamina. / To err is human.

Rule 8: Clauses (starting with that, what, who, which) used as subjects are generally singular when the whole clause represents one idea.

Use: A whole idea counts as one thing.
Example: What he said makes no sense. / That they won was unexpected.

Rule 9: Uncountable nouns (Information, Research, Evidence, Furniture, Luggage, Knowledge, Advice) take singular verbs.

Use: These nouns are generally treated as singular and do not normally have plural forms.
Example: The research provides crucial data. / Their advice is helpful.

Rule 10: Units of measurement, time, money, and distance are singular when considered as a single unit.

Use: When the expression represents one total amount, use a singular verb.
Example: Ten thousand dollars is a high price. / Five kilometers is too far to walk.

Rules 11–20: Indefinite Pronouns & Compound Subjects

Rule 11: Singular indefinite pronouns (Each, Either, Neither, One, Everyone, Everybody, Someone, Somebody, Anyone, Anybody, No one, Nobody, Everything, Nothing) take singular verbs.

Use: These pronouns refer to single, unspecified entities.
Example: Everyone is invited to the seminar. / Nobody knows the answer.

Rule 12: The pronouns All, Some, Most, None, Any can be singular OR plural, depending on the noun they refer to.

Use: Look at the noun after of.
Example: All of the water is gone. (Water = uncountable)
Example: All of the students are present. (Students = plural)

Rule 13: Neither and Either used alone (without or/nor) are singular.

Use: When they stand independently as subjects, they refer to one of two possibilities at a time.
Example: Neither is acceptable. / Either works fine for me.

Rule 14: Compound subjects joined by and are usually plural.

Use: Two separate things normally require a plural verb.
Example: The teacher and the student are discussing the assignment.

Rule 15: Exception to Rule 14: Use a singular verb if and joins two parts of the same thing, a single concept, or a habitual combination.

Use: Look for one cohesive idea rather than two separate subjects.
Example: Bread and butter is my breakfast. / Time and tide waits for no one.

Rule 16: If and joins two subjects preceded by each or every, use a singular verb.

Use: Each individual item is emphasized.
Example: Every pen and every notebook is on the desk.

Rule 17: Singular subjects joined by or, nor, either...or, neither...nor take a singular verb.

Use: When both subjects are singular, the verb is singular.
Example: Neither the manager nor the assistant is available.

Rule 18: Rule of Proximity with Or/Nor

If one subject is singular and one is plural, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

Example: Neither the students nor the teacher is here.
(Teacher = singular and closest to the verb.)
Example: Neither the teacher nor the students are here.
(Students = plural and closest to the verb.)

Rule 19: Not only...but also follows the Proximity Rule.

Use: The verb generally agrees with the subject nearest to it.
Example: Not only the CEO but also the employees are worried.

Rule 20: Subjects that are plural in form but represent a single pair (Scissors, Trousers, Pliers, Eyeglasses, Jeans) take plural verbs, unless preceded by a pair of.

Use: The word pair becomes the singular subject.
Example: My trousers are torn. / A pair of trousers is hanging there.

Rules 21–30: Collective Nouns & Special Quantifiers

Rule 21: Collective nouns (Group, Team, Committee, Jury, Audience, Public, Family, Staff, Board) are usually singular when treated as one unit.

Use: Treat the collective noun as one unified body when the group acts together.
Example: The committee has reached a verdict. / The public trusts the system.

Rule 22: Use a plural verb with collective nouns when the members are acting individually and separately.

Use: This is more common in British English than in American English. The context determines the choice.
Example: The staff are debating among themselves.

Rule 23: A number of takes a plural verb.

Use: A number of means several/many.
Example: A number of issues have arisen.

Rule 24: The number of takes a singular verb.

Use: The number of refers to the total count.
Example: The number of participants has increased.

Rule 25: The majority of follows the noun after of.

Use: If the noun is uncountable/singular, use a singular verb; if it is plural, use a plural verb.
Example: The majority of the population is vaccinated.
Example: The majority of voters are happy.

Rule 26: Fractions and percentages: The verb agrees with the noun after of.

Example: Fifty percent of the water is contaminated.
Example: Half of the students are graduating.

Rule 27: Many a + singular noun takes a singular verb.

Use: Although it means "many," the grammar is singular.
Example: Many a student has struggled with this rule.

Rule 28: More than one + singular noun takes a singular verb.

Use: Although the meaning suggests multiple people or things, the construction is grammatically singular.
Example: More than one employee has complained.

Rule 29: Subjects with and but modified by no: If no precedes each noun, use a singular verb.

Example: No teacher and no student is permitted to leave.

Rule 30: Adjectives used as nouns (the rich, the poor, the elderly, the young) take plural verbs.

Use: These expressions refer to groups of people.
Example: The rich are getting richer. / The elderly need special care.

Rules 31–40: Advanced Structures, Inversions & Verb Tenses

Rule 31: Inverted Sentences (Here/There): The verb agrees with the subject that comes after the verb.

Use: Look beyond there or here to find the real subject.
Example: There is a solution.
Example: There are several solutions.
Example: Here comes the bus.

Rule 32: Inverted Sentences with a Prepositional Phrase at the Start

Use: The verb agrees with the subject that appears after it.
Example: Included in the file is the original report.
(Subject = report)
Example: Included are the original documents.
(Subject = documents)

Rule 33: Inverted Neither/Nor/So

When So or Nor begins a sentence to show agreement, the auxiliary verb agrees with the subject.

Example: I like coffee. So does she.
(She = singular)
Example: They work hard. So do we.
(We = plural)

Rule 34: Relative Pronouns (Who, Which, That)

The verb inside the relative clause agrees with the antecedent—the noun that the pronoun refers to.

Use: Look backward to identify the antecedent.
Example: He is one of those people who always arrive late.
(Antecedent = people, plural)
Example: He is the only one of those people who arrives late.
(Antecedent = one, singular)

Rule 35: Subject is a Noun Clause Beginning with Whether/If

A noun clause functioning as the subject is normally singular.

Example: Whether we succeed or fail depends on our effort.

Rule 36: Linking Verbs (is/are/was/were)

The linking verb agrees with the subject, not the complement.

Example: The biggest issue is the high costs.
Subject: issue = singular
Complement: costs = plural
Therefore: is, not are

Rule 37: Present Perfect: Use has for singular and have for plural.

Example: He has written the report.
Example: They have written the report.

Rule 38: Present Continuous: Use is for singular and are for plural.

Example: The machine is running smoothly.
Example: The machines are running smoothly.

Rule 39: Modal Verbs (can, will, must, should, may) Do Not Change Form

Use: Modal verbs remain the same for singular and plural subjects. The verb after the modal is always in its base form.
Example: He can write.
Example: They can write.
Never: He can writes.

Rule 40: Fixed Expressions and Exceptions: It as a Dummy Subject

It is grammatically singular, even when another noun appears later in the sentence.

Use: It is commonly used for weather, time, distance, or vague references.
Example: It is raining.
Example: It is the students who are responsible.

Here, is agrees with the dummy subject it, while are agrees with students inside the relative clause.

Quick Recap: PTE "Danger Zones"

Rule #	Danger Zone	Correct PTE Example
2	Prepositional phrases	The impact of these policies is huge.
5	Words ending in -s	Economics remains a challenging field.
11	Indefinite pronouns	Everyone in the classes has finished.
14–18	And / Or / Nor / Either / Neither	Neither the manager nor the staff are happy. (Proximity)
21	Collective nouns	The public trusts the new regulations.
23–24	A number vs. The number	A number of errors have occurred. / The number is small.
31	Inversions (There/Here)	There are a few factors to consider.
34	Relative pronouns	She is one of the few candidates who have the skills.

Friday, 14 August 2026

Subject–Verb Agreement for PTE