GMAT Verbal Sentence Correction: Ultimate Guide to Flawless Subject-Verb Agreement

Hey there! Grab a coffee, let’s chat. You know, GMAT Verbal can feel like a maze, right? Especially when it comes to Sentence Correction. And if there’s one area that trips up more test-takers than almost anything else, it’s Subject-Verb Agreement. Sounds simple, but the GMAT loves to dress it up in fancy clothes, making it look far more complicated than it is. But don’t worry. Today, we’re going to strip away all the confusion, look at the GMAT’s favorite tricks, and get you to a place where you’re spotting these errors like a pro. Ready to make your GMAT Sentence Correction flawless?

What is Subject-Verb Agreement, Really?

At its core, subject-verb agreement is super straightforward. It’s just making sure that if your subject is singular, your verb is singular. And if your subject is plural, your verb is plural. That’s it! Think of it like a dance partner. You need a singular partner for a singular dance, and a plural partner for a plural dance. Simple, right?

For example:

• The cat runs fast. (Singular subject “cat,” singular verb “runs”)

• The cats run fast. (Plural subject “cats,” plural verb “run”)

But the GMAT doesn’t test you on sentences this easy. Oh no, that would be too kind! They hide the subject, throw in extra words, and try to confuse your ear. Let’s dive into those tricky situations.

GMAT’s Favorite Subject-Verb Agreement Traps

Prepositional Phrases Between Subject and Verb

This is probably the GMAT’s number one trick. They’ll put a bunch of words, often a prepositional phrase, between the subject and the verb. Your brain sees the noun closest to the verb and thinks, “Aha! That must be the subject!” But it’s almost never the real subject. The real subject is usually hidden earlier in the sentence.

A prepositional phrase starts with a preposition (like “of,” “in,” “on,” “at,” “with,” “between,” “among,” “for,” “from,” “to,” “by,” “during,” “through,” etc.) and ends with a noun or pronoun. These phrases never contain the subject of the sentence. Never!

Let’s look at an example:

• The dogs in the park, playing fetch with their owner, is very happy.

Your ear might hear “owner is” and think it sounds okay. But what’s the real subject? It’s “dogs,” right? “In the park” and “playing fetch with their owner” are just extra descriptive bits. Since “dogs” is plural, the verb needs to be plural.

• The dogs in the park, playing fetch with their owner, are very happy. (Correct)

Pro-tip: When you see a long subject, immediately try to cross out all prepositional phrases and other descriptive clauses. Find the core noun that is performing the action. That’s your subject!

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns are words that refer to people or things without specifying exactly who or what they are. Some of these are always singular, and some can be tricky.

Always Singular Indefinite Pronouns

Memorize this list. These are always singular, no matter how many people or things they seem to refer to:

• each, every, either, neither, one, anyone, no one, everyone, someone, anybody, nobody, everybody, somebody, anything, nothing, everything, something.

Yes, even “everyone” and “everybody” are singular! It feels counterintuitive, but that’s the rule.

• Each of the students is responsible for their own materials. (Not “are responsible”)

• Everyone in the team has submitted their report. (Not “have submitted”)

• Neither of the options is suitable. (Not “are suitable”)

See how the GMAT likes to throw in that “of the [plural noun]” after the singular indefinite pronoun? Don’t fall for it! The subject is still “each,” “everyone,” or “neither.”

Indefinite Pronouns That Can Be Singular or Plural

These are the flexible ones:

• some, any, none, all, most, half.

For these words, the verb agreement depends on the noun that follows the “of” phrase.

• Some of the sugar is spilled. (Sugar is uncountable and singular, so “is”)

• Some of the cookies are gone. (Cookies are plural, so “are”)

• Most of the information is accurate. (Information is uncountable and singular, so “is”)

• Most of the employees are happy. (Employees are plural, so “are”)

This is a critical distinction to remember. It’s all about what the indefinite pronoun is referring to.

Compound Subjects: “And” vs. “Or/Nor”

When you have more than one subject, how do you decide if the verb is singular or plural?

Subjects Joined by “And”

If two or more subjects are joined by “and,” they usually form a plural subject, and the verb should be plural.

• The dog and the cat play together. (Plural “play”)

• John and Mary are going to the concert. (Plural “are”)

Exception: Sometimes, “and” connects two singular nouns that refer to the same person or thing, or form a single unit (like “peanut butter and jelly”). In these rare cases, the verb is singular.

• My best friend and mentor is moving away. (Friend and mentor are the same person)

• Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich. (Considered a single food item)

The GMAT usually tests the straightforward plural case for “and,” but it’s good to be aware of the exception.

Subjects Joined by “Or” or “Nor”

This is where it gets interesting! If subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject that is closer to it.

• Either the students or the teacher is wrong. (Teacher is singular and closer to “is”)

• Either the teacher or the students are wrong. (Students are plural and closer to “are”)

• Neither the coach nor the players were happy with the result. (Players are plural and closer to “were”)

This one really messes with your ear, especially when one subject is singular and the other is plural. Always check the noun immediately before the verb!

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns are words that represent a group of individuals (e.g., “team,” “committee,” “family,” “audience,” “staff,” “jury,” “government”). These can be singular or plural, depending on context.

• When the group acts as a single, unified entity, the verb is singular.

• When the individual members of the group are acting separately or individually, the verb is plural.

This can be subtle, but the GMAT will usually make the intent clear.

• The team is celebrating its victory. (The team acts as one unit)

• The team are arguing among themselves about the strategy. (The individual members are disagreeing)

• The committee has reached a decision. (The committee acts as one unit)

• The committee have different opinions on the matter. (The individual members hold different views)

Most of the time on the GMAT, collective nouns are treated as singular. But be ready for the exception if the sentence emphasizes individual actions within the group.

Inverted Sentences and “There Is/Are”

Sometimes, the subject doesn’t come before the verb. In these “inverted” sentences, the verb appears before the subject. The most common example of this on the GMAT is sentences starting with “There is” or “There are.”

When you see “There is” or “There are,” don’t assume “there” is the subject. It’s just a placeholder! The real subject comes after the verb.

• There is a problem with the engine. (Subject “a problem” is singular)

• There are many problems with the engine. (Subject “many problems” is plural)

Similarly, in questions or other inverted structures:

• Under the table was the missing keys. (Incorrect. Subject “keys” is plural)

• Under the table were the missing keys. (Correct. Verb agrees with “keys”)

Always identify the true subject, even if it’s hiding after the verb.

Quantifiers and Fractions

Words like “half,” “most,” “some,” “all,” “none,” and fractions (like “one-third,” “two-fifths”) can be tricky. Just like some indefinite pronouns, their agreement depends on the noun that follows the “of” phrase.

• Half of the cake was eaten. (Cake is singular/uncountable)

• Half of the students were present. (Students are plural)

• One-third of the budget is allocated to marketing. (Budget is singular/uncountable)

• Two-fifths of the apples are rotten. (Apples are plural)

This follows the same logic as the “some, any, none, all, most, half” indefinite pronouns we discussed earlier. Look to the noun in the “of” phrase to determine singularity or plurality.

Phrases like “as well as,” “in addition to,” “along with”

These phrases might look like they’re adding another subject, but they’re not! They are not conjunctions like “and.” When you see these, the verb agrees only with the subject that comes before these phrases.

• The manager, as well as the employees, is attending the conference. (The subject is “manager,” singular)

• The students, in addition to the teacher, are excited for the field trip. (The subject is “students,” plural)

• The president, along with his advisors, is traveling to Geneva. (The subject is “president,” singular)

Treat these phrases like extra information that you can virtually cross out when looking for subject-verb agreement. They don’t affect the main subject’s number.

Your Flawless Subject-Verb Agreement Strategy

So, how do you put all this into practice on test day? Here’s your battle plan:

1. Identify the Verb: First, find the verb or verbs in the underlined portion. This tells you what you’re checking agreement for.

2. Find the True Subject: This is the crucial step. Ask yourself, “Who or what is performing this action?” or “Who or what is this verb describing?”

   • Cross out prepositional phrases: Remember, they don’t contain the subject.

   • Look out for indefinite pronouns: Are they always singular, or do they depend on the “of” phrase?

   • Check compound subjects: Is it “and” (usually plural) or “or/nor” (agrees with the closer subject)?

   • Be wary of inverted sentences: Especially “There is/are” constructions.

   • Is it a collective noun? Does it act as a unit or as individuals?

   • Watch for “as well as,” etc.: These don’t create a compound subject.

3. Match Them Up: Once you have the subject, make sure the verb’s form (singular or plural) matches. Remember that singular verbs often end in “s” (e.g., runs, is, has) in the present tense, while plural verbs do not (e.g., run, are, have).

4. Trust the Rules, Not Always Your Ear: The GMAT is designed to make the incorrect options sound plausible. Stick to the grammatical rules you’ve learned.

5. Practice Relentlessly: The more you practice, the faster you’ll spot these patterns. Use official GMAT questions to train your eye.

Mastering subject-verb agreement is a huge win for GMAT Sentence Correction. It’s a foundational skill that the test loves to exploit. By systematically breaking down sentences, identifying the true subject, and applying these specific rules, you’ll stop falling for the GMAT’s tricks. You’ll move from guessing to confidently knowing you’ve found the correct answer. Keep practicing, and you’ll see your accuracy on these questions soar. You’ve got this!

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