English · Original worked example
Match the verb to its subject, not the nearest noun
Find a sentence's true subject through intervening phrases, choose a matching verb, and practice with an original ACT-style editing example.
Before you begin
Useful foundation: Identify nouns and verbs and distinguish singular from plural.
Your goal: Ignore an intervening prepositional phrase when deciding which verb agrees with the subject.
In the present tense, the verb agrees with the grammatical subject. A noun inside a phrase such as of the maps or near the windows does not become the subject simply because it is closer to the verb.
Work through an example
The collection of historical maps [includes / include] several hand-drawn charts.
- Find the subject: “collection.” Ask what includes the charts.
- Set aside the phrase “of historical maps.” It describes the collection; “maps” is not the subject.
- “Collection” is singular, so choose “includes”: “The collection of historical maps includes several hand-drawn charts.”
- Check by temporarily shortening the sentence: “The collection includes several charts.” Restore the phrase once the agreement is clear.
Try a question yourself
As a regular weekly routine, the volunteers at the neighborhood library [sorts] donated books every Saturday.
Choose an answer, then check your reasoning. This public practice is not saved.
Read all answer explanations
sorts: “Sorts” agrees with a singular subject, but “volunteers” is plural. “Library” belongs to a descriptive phrase.
sorting: “Sorting” alone does not supply a complete finite verb for this sentence. A form such as “are sorting” would need an auxiliary and would change the emphasis.
has sorted: “Has” does not agree with plural “volunteers,” and “has sorted” changes the tense rather than expressing the requested simple present routine.
sort — correct answer: “Volunteers” is plural, so the simple present verb is “sort.” The phrase “at the neighborhood library” does not change that agreement.
What to do next
Try sentences in which a longer phrase separates the subject and verb. Name the subject before comparing the answer choices.
Revisit the idea in a week using a different question. Repeating this example can help you understand it, but remembering its answer is not evidence of learning a new problem.
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