Standard English Conventions

Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement for The College Board Digital SAT

Communication Essentials

The Test Question

Which choice most logically completes the text and conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

The novel's protagonist grapples with moral dilemmas, often questioning __________ and the broader implications of his actions on society.

A. his decisions
B. decisions he made
C. of his decisions
D. decision-making

The convention being tested in this question is subject-verb agreement and word choice for clarity and consistency in context. The question focuses on ensuring that the sentence structure and phrasing adhere to Standard English conventions, particularly in maintaining a consistent and clear expression of the protagonist's internal reflection.

Unpacking the Question

To answer these types of questions, you need to:

Look at the sentence structure and how the words fit together.
Check for any tense changes or other shifts that don’t match.
Think about each option and how clear and natural it sounds.
Pick the option that sounds the best and follows grammar rules.

In this case, the sentence focuses on the protagonist's moral dilemmas, which suggests the need for clear and consistent phrasing. It’s important to consider how each option fits with the meaning and tone of the passage. Let’s dig into how the choices align with the basic English rules.

Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is essential to make sure your sentences sound right and are grammatically correct. Let's take a look at how this works:

Correct Usage

"The team works together every day to improve their performance."

The subject ("team") is treated as a singular entity, and the verb "works" matches accordingly.

Incorrect Usage

"The team work together every day to improve their performance."

The subject ("team") is singular, so the verb should be "works," not "work."

Correct Usage

"The students are preparing for their exams this week."

The plural subject ("students") takes the plural verb "are," making the sentence consistent.

Incorrect Usage

"The students is preparing for their exams this week."

The plural subject ("students") needs the plural verb "are," not "is."

Essential Subject-Verb Agreement Rules:

Singular subjects need singular verbs, and plural subjects need plural verbs.
Be careful with collective nouns (e.g., "group," "family")—they are usually treated as singular.
When subjects are joined by "and," the verb should be plural (e.g., "The teacher and the student are here.").
When subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it (e.g., "Either the dog or the cats are to blame.").

Colloquialisms to Avoid:

Using "they" when referring to a singular subject without context:
❌ Incorrect: "I don't know what the person's problem was or why they ghosted me."
✅ Correct: "I don't know what his or her problem was or why he or she ghosted me."

Note: While "they" is commonly used as a singular pronoun in informal speech, in formal writing, it's best to use "his or her" for singular subjects unless referring to a specific individual who prefers "they."

Incorrect subject-verb agreement with collective nouns like "staff":
❌ Incorrect: "The staff are working late tonight."
✅ Correct: "The staff is working late tonight."

Note: "Staff" is a collective noun and is treated as singular in formal writing, referring to the group as a whole.

Using a plural verb with singular subjects joined by "or" or "nor":
❌ Incorrect: "Neither the manager nor the employees was prepared for the meeting."
✅ Correct: "Neither the manager nor the employees were prepared for the meeting."

Note: When subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

Critical Rule: Vague Antecedents

In Standard English, it is incorrect to use vague antecedents. This can create confusion and ambiguity in writing, especially in standardized tests like The College Board Digital SAT, where clear and precise language is crucial for success.

✅ Correct: "If you are a defendant, who needs to speak to his or her lawyer, then please wait by the corridor after the hearing."

The antecedent "defendant" is clear, referring directly to the person who needs the lawyer. No ambiguity here!

❌ Incorrect: "If you are a defendant, who needs to speak to their lawyer, then please wait by the corridor after the hearing."

"Their" doesn’t follow subject-verb agreement in this case, which makes the sentence grammatically off. "Defendant" is singular, so we need "his or her" instead of "their."

Therefore, even though this is exact language is widely used in modern English, and is it's heard around courtrooms across the United States, it’s still considered grammatically incorrect on the SAT when clarity and formal rules apply.

Why This Matters Beyond the SAT

Proper comma usage isn't just about SAT scores—it's about clear communication that can have real-world consequences:

Government Efficiency & Public Safety Example:

"The microchip and processor was rigorously tested, meeting every technical specification."

✅ Correct: "The microchip and processor were rigorously tested, meeting every technical specification."

In U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) procurement and aerospace contracts, subject-verb precision ensures operational clarity across legal, engineering, and quality control departments. Using “were” correctly here avoids the false impression that only one component was tested—critical in security, compliance, and funding justifications. A single syntactic misstep can trigger re-inspections, delay approvals, and introduce litigation risks.

❌ Incorrect: "The microchip and processer was rigorously tested, meeting every technical specification."

If a technician or legal official were to sign off on documentation using this incorrect subject-verb agreement, it could imply that the processor alone was tested—or worse, suggest editorial oversight. In defense and tech infrastructure contexts, such errors can invalidate certification processes, erode trust, and compromise contract enforceability.

Real World Application

In federal agencies, grant applications, and regulatory filings, language is not just descriptive—it's legally binding. A single mispunctuated sentence in a compliance report or contract clause can nullify eligibility, delay funding, or void procurement agreements.

Consider the following: “This has gone under the radar for far too long; we need to suspend the operative, Taylor.” versus “This has gone under the radar for far too long; we need to suspend the operative Taylor.” The first pauses a mission. The second wrongly implicates Taylor as the object of suspension. In legal and bureaucratic environments—especially where clarity equals accountability—this kind of syntactic ambiguity can trigger mission delays, contract breaches, or internal investigations.

These are not trivial distinctions. In government contexts, this level of ambiguity could lead to misallocated resources, disqualified proposals, or breached audit standards. For legal drafters, grant officers, and contract reviewers, syntactic precision safeguards institutional trust, upholds regulatory compliance, and ensures that accountability is traceable. Sloppy grammar isn't just unprofessional—it’s a liability.

Legal Example: Constitutional Ambiguity & Birthright Citizenship

Consider the following clause from Section 1 of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States...”

📜 Original Interpretation (Post–Civil War):

The phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” was historically understood to include nearly all individuals born on U.S. soil—regardless of their parents’ immigration status. This interpretation was affirmed in the 1898 Supreme Court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which held that children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents are citizens at birth.

⚖️ Contested Interpretation (Modern Challenge):

Recent executive orders and legal arguments have sought to reinterpret “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” as excluding children born to undocumented immigrants or temporary visa holders. This reinterpretation hinges on whether such parents are fully “subject” to U.S. jurisdiction—a claim that diverges from over a century of precedent and introduces significant legal ambiguity.

Legal Consideration: This ambiguity is not just academic—it has immediate and profound consequences. If the reinterpretation prevails, it could retroactively strip citizenship from millions of U.S.-born individuals, triggering constitutional crises, mass litigation, and international human rights concerns. The phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof,” once seen as inclusive, now sits at the center of a legal firestorm. As with any syntactic ambiguity in a binding legal instrument, the stakes are enormous: the meaning of a single clause could redefine national identity, reshape immigration law, and alter the lives of generations.

Still Not Convinced?

The College Board College Board Acorn Logo Digital SAT isn’t some arbitrary brain Olympics. It’s a diagnostic tool—designed to show whether a student has command of foundational skills that academic institutions (and, frankly, future employers) rely on every day. Because if you’re writing grant proposals, court filings, or multimillion-dollar contracts, a misplaced comma or unclear clause doesn’t just lose points—it can lose funding or credibility.

SAT Statistics

Approximately 25% of Standard English Conventions questions on the SAT test comma usage, including lists, clauses, and modifiers.
Comma-related questions appear in 3 to 5 items per Reading and Writing module, making them one of the most frequently tested punctuation topics.
Students who master comma rules often improve their SAT Writing score by 40–60 points, according to aggregated prep course data.
The GRE Verbal and Analytical Writing Sections test the same grammar and punctuation skills—including comma placement, subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure.
Students who perform well on the SAT’s Reading and Writing section often transition smoothly to GRE prep, especially in grammar-heavy areas like sentence equivalence and text completion.

Practice Question 1

Which sentence has correct subject-verb agreement and conforms to Standard English conventions?

A Since they be on social media, agents wont have a hard time building a pychological profile on him.

B Since he is on social media, agents won't have a hard time building a psychological profile on him.

C Since he or she are on social media, agents won't have a hard time building a psychological profile on the individual.

D Since they was on social media, agents didn't have a hard time building a psychological profile on them.

Practice Question 2

Choose the option that conforms to Standard English conventions:

A Not only are the team publishing their findings, but they're gonna be on CNN.

B Not only is the team publishing their findings, but it will be on CNN.

C Not only is the team publishing there findings, but they are going to be on CNN.

D Not only is the team publishing its findings, but it will be on CNN.

Practice Question 3

Identify the sentence that conforms to Standard English conventions:

A How many applicants, along with their portfolios, are being reviewed this week?

B How many applicants, along with their portfolios, was reviewed this week?

C How many applicants, along with their portafolios, is being review this week?

D How many applicants along with their portafolios are reviewed this week?

SAT Skill Capsule

Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement for Higher Scores

While The College Board Digital SAT is not required for all college applicants, nor does it replace the GED, a strong score can still enhance applications. Non-traditional students, foreign nationals, and professionals have used SAT scores for course placement or admission at community colleges. In some cases, students with strong SAT scores and academic records have even transferred to selective schools like Stanford University, which considers such applications holistically and offers need-based aid to qualified admits.

You might think the only way to go to college or gain professional certification is through the traditional route—earning a high school diploma or GED. But that’s not true. You don’t need a diploma to pursue higher education or professional goals. It’s never too late to start an independent study plan and prepare for the SAT. By taking control of your education, you can prove your readiness for college or certification programs, no matter where you start. The opportunities are there for you—determination can open doors you once thought were out of reach.

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