The SAT grammar trap almost everyone falls for: subject-verb agreement

Here's a classic Digital SAT question:

The collection of rare coins that my grandparents left us ____ worth more than our house.

Most people want to say "are," because "coins" is right next to the blank and "coins are" sounds normal. But the verb doesn't belong to "coins." It belongs to "collection," and a collection is one thing. The answer is "is."

The trick: cross out the middle

Find the subject, then cross out everything between it and the verb. What's left is short and obvious:

The collection of rare coins that my grandparents left us ____ worth more than our house.

"The collection is worth more than our house." Done. The SAT stuffs that middle part in on purpose, because the nearest noun is usually the wrong one.

What to cross out

• Prepositional phrases, which start with words like of, in, on, with, for, between and among. "The box of old letters is on the shelf."
• "That," "which" and "who" clauses. "The students who won the science fair are giving a talk."
• Phrases set off by commas. "The coach, along with her assistants, is traveling to the game."

Watch out for "along with," "as well as" and "together with." They feel like they make the subject plural, but they don't. Only "and" joins two subjects into a plural one.

Words that are singular even though they feel plural

• Each, every, either, neither, everyone, nobody: singular. "Each of the paintings is signed."
• Group nouns like team, band, committee, family and collection: usually singular on the SAT. "The team plans its schedule."
• Titles and amounts used as one thing: "Ten dollars is too much for a sandwich."

Watch for flipped sentences

Sometimes the subject comes after the verb, especially with "there" and "here." In "There ____ three reasons for the delay," the subject is "reasons," so the verb is "are." Flip it in your head: "Three reasons are there."

Try these

1. The list of required supplies (is / are) posted on the door.
2. Neither of the two routes (is / are) open today.
3. The dancers, as well as their teacher, (was / were) nervous before the show.
4. On the top shelf (sits / sit) a jar of buttons and two old clocks.

Answers: 1. is (the list). 2. is (neither). 3. were (the dancers; "as well as" doesn't add to the subject). 4. sit (a jar and two clocks, joined by "and," is plural).