The Master Guide to SAT Verb Questions

Verbs are the engine of a sentence. On the SAT, verb questions test your ability to match subjects with verbs and ensure actions happen in a logical timeline. If you can master Subject-Verb Agreement and Verb Tense, you will conquer a significant portion of the grammar questions.

1. Subject-Verb Agreement

The Rule: Singular subjects take singular verbs. Plural subjects take plural verbs.

This sounds simple, but the SAT likes to hide the subject. They will put a lot of words between the subject and the verb to trick you.

The "Prepositional Phrase" Trap

Ignore the prepositional phrases (phrases starting with of, in, on, at, to, for, by, with) when finding the subject.

Example: "The box of chocolates ___ on the table."

• Subject: Box (Singular)
• Verb: Is (Singular)
• Correct: "The box of chocolates is on the table."

Do not be fooled by "chocolates." The subject is "box."

Compound Subjects

Subjects joined by "and" are plural.

• "Jack and Jill are going up the hill."

2. Verb Tense Consistency

The Rule: Keep the tense consistent within the sentence and paragraph, unless there is a specific time marker indicating a change.

If the paragraph is describing a historical event in the past, the verbs should generally be in the past tense. If it is describing a general fact or scientific truth, use the present tense.

Check the Context

Look at the other verbs in the sentence or surrounding sentences. If they are in the past tense, your target verb likely should be too.

Example: "In 1969, astronauts landed on the moon and collected samples." (Both past tense)

3. Finite vs. Non-Finite Verbs

Every complete sentence needs at least one finite (main) verb. A finite verb has a subject and a tense.

Non-finite verbs cannot be the main verb of a sentence. These include:

• Gerunds/Participles: Words ending in -ing (e.g., running, eating) without a helper verb (is running, was eating). "Running down the street" is not a sentence.
• Infinitives: To + verb (e.g., to run, to eat). "To run down the street" is not a sentence.

SAT Tip: If a choice creates a sentence fragment by replacing the only main verb with an -ing word, it is incorrect.

Summary of the Protocol

• Find the Subject: Who or what is doing the action? Ignore the fluff in between.
• Check Agreement: Singular subject = Singular verb (usually ends in 's'). Plural subject = Plural verb (usually no 's').
• Check Tense: Look for time clues (dates, "yesterday") and other verbs in the context.
• Check Completeness: Ensure the sentence has a valid main verb.

Mastering these rules will help you navigate the trickiest verb questions the SAT throws at you.