This question type again requires you to identify a mismatch between the subject(s) and the main verb in a sentence.

These questions operate by reversing the subject-verb order that English uses 99% of the time and placing the subject(s) after the verb.

This trick can be done with almost any sentence. For example, “Several students and a hungry hamster are in the classroom” becomes “In the classroom are several students and a hungry hamster.”

As in the above example, flipping the subject almost always requires the use of a preposition as the first word of the sentence.

For example, "Around the corner from my house are a supermarket, a police station, and a petting zoo."

SAMPLE PRACTICE QUESTION FOR SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT (THE FLIPS)

        Among the dense brush lies the sources of the spring from which
                                                  (A)                                                   (B)
        we obtain all our potable water for bottling and selling. No Error
                              (C)                                    (D)                            (E)

Arriving at choice (A), you need to search for the noun(s) with which the verb (“lies”) is linked. The subject of a sentence can never be after a preposition (“among”). Recognizing the subject-verb switch, the question looks like this:

        Among the dense brush lies the sources of the spring from which
                                                  (A)                                                   (B)
        we obtain all our potable water for bottling and selling. No Error
                              (C)                                    (D)                            (E)

Now you can more easily see that “sources” is the subject and is plural. Therefore “lies” (A) is incorrect and should be “lie”.

SAT Writing: Using Subject - Verb Agreement

Lesson Includes:

—Explanation of Subject - Verb Agreement

—Sample Practice Question

—Practice Question

SAT Math

SAT Reading

SAT Writing

SAT Vocabulary

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT (THE FLIPS) REVIEW QUIZ

 

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