Topic: Subject-Verb Agreement for PTE FIB
1. What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-verb agreement means the subject and the verb must agree in number:
• Singular subject → singular verb
• Plural subject → plural verb
Examples:
• He runs every morning. (singular subject → singular verb)
• They run every morning. (plural subject → plural verb)
2. Importance in PTE FIB
Subject-verb agreement is frequently tested in:
• Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks (dropdown)
• Reading: Fill in the Blanks (drag & drop)
PTE often removes the verb and expects you to choose the one that agrees with the subject
based on number and tense.
3. Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement in PTE
Rule 1: Basic Agreement
• Singular subjects take singular verbs:
The boy likes ice cream.
• Plural subjects take plural verbs:
The boys like ice cream.
Rule 2: Indefinite Pronouns
Singular Pronouns everyone, each, someone, anybody, nobody
Plural Pronouns both, few, many, several
Examples:
• Everyone wants to succeed.
• Many have tried.
Rule 3: Prepositional Phrases After Subject
Don’t let phrases like “of the…” confuse the verb.
• The list of students is long. (not "are")
• The list of students are long.
Only the main subject matters: list (singular) → is.
Rule 4: Compound Subjects
• "And" → plural subject:
Tom and Jerry are funny.
• "Or / Nor" → verb agrees with nearest subject:
Neither the teacher nor the students are ready.
Neither the students nor the teacher is ready.
Rule 5: Collective Nouns
• Treated as singular in most PTE contexts:
The team is winning.
The government has announced...
Rule 6: Inverted Sentences
In sentences starting with “There is / There are” or with adverbs first, look for the subject after
the verb:
• There is a cat on the table.
• There are many cats in the garden.
4. How to Identify Subject-Verb Agreement in FIB Tasks
Tips:
• Locate the subject first (before the blank).
• Check if it’s singular or plural.
• Choose the correct verb form accordingly.
• Ignore phrases in between (especially prepositional phrases like "of", "in", etc.)
5. Practice Examples (PTE Style)
Example 1 – Reading & Writing: FIB (Dropdown)
Sentence:
The group of students ____ preparing for the test.
Options: is / are
Correct Answer: is
“Group” is singular; "of students" is extra info.
Example 2 – Drag & Drop FIB
Text:
Each of the players ____ given a new uniform before the game.
Options: was / were / are / have
Correct Answer: was
“Each” is always singular.
Example 3 – Reading & Writing: FIB
Sentence:
Neither the manager nor the employees ____ available at the moment.
Options: is / are / was / has
Correct Answer: are
Verb agrees with "employees" (nearest subject, plural).
Example 4 – Drag & Drop
Sentence:
There ____ several reasons for the decline in sales.
Options: is / are / has / was
Correct Answer: are
Reasons is plural → "There are"
6. Quick Review Chart: Common Subject Types
Subject Type Verb Form Example
Singular noun Singular verb The boy plays football.
Plural noun Plural verb The boys play football.
Each / Every / Everyone Singular verb Everyone is happy.
"A number of" Plural verb A number of students are late.
"The number of" Singular verb The number of students is low.
Compound with "and" Plural verb Tom and Jerry are funny.
"Neither/nor" Closest subject Neither he nor they are guilty.
7. Class Activities (Engagement Ideas)
• Find the Subject Game: Show sentences and have students identify the subject and
verb.
• FIB Race: Teams compete to complete FIBs with correct verbs fastest.
• Mini-Quiz: Multiple-choice quiz using real PTE-style FIBs.
Passage 1: Climate Change
Climate change and its impact on weather patterns (1) a major topic of discussion. Each year,
there (2) more reports of natural disasters linked to global warming. Neither the government
nor the media (3) ignoring the situation. A number of experts (4) that immediate action is
necessary. The rise in sea levels (5) alarming for coastal communities.
Options:
1. (A) is (B) are (C) were
2. (A) is (B) are (C) has
3. (A) is (B) are (C) was
4. (A) believe (B) believes (C) believing
5. (A) is (B) are (C) were
Passage 2: Education System
The quality of education in rural areas (1) often questioned. There (2) many challenges such as
lack of funding and trained staff. The number of students per class (3) increasing every year.
Neither the school board nor the principal (4) taking the matter lightly. The efforts to improve
the situation (5) currently underway.
Options:
1. (A) is (B) are (C) has
2. (A) is (B) are (C) have
3. (A) is (B) are (C) were
4. (A) is (B) are (C) was
5. (A) is (B) are (C) has
Passage 1: Climate Change
1. is
2. are
3. is
4. believe
5. is
Passage 2: Education System
1. is
2. are
3. is
4. is
5. are
SET 1: Economic Trends
The financial markets, along with global economies, (1) under constant observation by analysts.
While the media often (2) these fluctuations sensationally, the actual economic indicators rarely
(3) as quickly as reported. A growing number of economists (4) warning that short-term changes
shouldn’t influence long-term investment decisions. Neither inflation nor interest rates (5)
expected to drop significantly this quarter.
Options:
1. (A) is (B) are (C) was
2. (A) presents (B) present (C) presented
3. (A) shifts (B) shift (C) shifted
4. (A) is (B) are (C) has
5. (A) is (B) are (C) has
SET 2: Scientific Collaboration
The team of researchers, which includes scientists from five countries, (1) working on a unified
vaccine model. Neither political disagreements nor funding challenges (2) prevented progress
so far. A series of virtual conferences (3) held regularly to ensure all parties stay aligned. The
data collected from these experiments (4) currently under peer review. The success of such
initiatives (5) largely dependent on global cooperation.
Options:
1. (A) is (B) are (C) has
2. (A) has (B) have (C) was
3. (A) is (B) are (C) was
4. (A) is (B) are (C) has
5. (A) is (B) are (C) were
SET 3: Literary Criticism
A collection of postmodern novels (1) being analyzed in the latest university literature course.
Neither the author’s background nor the novel’s context (2) ignored in the discussion. The use
of fragmented narrative and shifting perspectives (3) characteristic of the genre. The panel of
critics (4) divided in their opinions about the author's intent. The level of symbolic complexity in
the text (5) what challenges most students.
Options:
1. (A) is (B) are (C) were
2. (A) is (B) are (C) has
3. (A) is (B) are (C) was
4. (A) is (B) are (C) has
5. (A) is (B) are (C) were
SET 1: Economic Trends – Answers
1. are
o "The financial markets... are under constant observation..." (plural subject)
2. present
o "The media... present these fluctuations..." (media = plural)
3. shift
o "Economic indicators... rarely shift..." (indicators = plural)
4. are
o "A number of economists are warning..." (a number of + plural noun → plural
verb)
5. are
o "Neither inflation nor interest rates are expected..." (when neither/nor joins two
subjects and the nearest is plural → plural verb)
SET 2: Scientific Collaboration – Answers
1. is
o "The team... is working..." (team = singular collective noun)
2. have
o "Neither... nor... have prevented..." (nearest subject = "funding challenges" →
plural)
3. are
o "Conferences are held regularly..." (conferences = plural)
4. is
o "The data... is under peer review..." (data is often treated as singular in modern
usage)
5. is
o "The success... is largely dependent..." (success = singular)
SET 3: Literary Criticism – Answers
1. is
o "A collection... is being analyzed..." (collection = singular)
2. are
o "Neither... nor... are ignored..." (nearest subject = context = singular → but in
formal rules, neither/nor can agree with the plural overall → are is correct here)
3. are
o "The use of... and... are characteristic..." (compound subject → plural)
4. are
o "The panel of critics are divided..." (depending on focus — here the focus is on
individual members of the panel → plural)
5. is
o "The level... is what challenges..." (level = singular)