SAT Subject Verb Agreement Exercises: Mastering the Basics
As a high school student, you may have heard about the SAT, a standardized test that plays a significant role in college admissions in the United States. One of the most challenging sections of the SAT is the Writing and Language test, which assesses your ability to improve writing by identifying and correcting errors in grammar, punctuation, structure, and style. Subject-verb agreement is one of the most common grammar errors tested on the SAT. In this article, we will discuss some SAT subject-verb agreement exercises that will help you master the basics.
What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-verb agreement is a grammatical rule that ensures that the subject and the verb in a sentence match in number (singular or plural). A singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb. For example:
– The cat (singular subject) chases (singular verb) the mouse.
– The cats (plural subject) chase (plural verb) the mice.
SAT Subject-Verb Agreement Exercises:
1. Identify the subject and the verb in a sentence.
The first step in mastering subject-verb agreement is to identify the subject and the verb in a sentence. Look for the subject, which is the noun or pronoun that performs the action or is described in the sentence. Then, look for the verb, which is the action or state of being that the subject performs or experiences. For example:
– The dog barks loudly. (Subject: dog; Verb: barks)
– My friends and I enjoy pizza. (Subject: friends, I; Verb: enjoy)
2. Match singular subjects with singular verbs, and plural subjects with plural verbs.
Once you have identified the subject and the verb, make sure to match singular subjects with singular verbs, and plural subjects with plural verbs. This means that you should add -s or -es to the verb if the subject is singular, while you should not add anything if the subject is plural. For example:
– Your friend (singular subject) needs (singular verb) your help.
– Your friends (plural subject) need (plural verb) your help.
3. Watch out for subject-verb agreement errors in complex sentences.
Complex sentences are sentences that contain more than one subject and verb. In these sentences, it is essential to make sure that each subject agrees with its corresponding verb, even if they are separated by other words. For example:
– The dog that barks loudly and chases its tail is mine. (Subject: dog; Verb: is)
– The pizza, as well as the burgers and the fries, was delicious. (Subject: pizza; Verb: was)
Conclusion:
Subject-verb agreement is a critical grammar rule that is frequently tested on the SAT. By mastering the basics of subject-verb agreement and practicing with SAT subject-verb agreement exercises, you can improve your writing skills and increase your chances of getting a high score on the SAT Writing and Language test. Remember to identify the subject and the verb, match singular subjects with singular verbs, watch out for complex sentences, and most importantly, practice, practice, practice!