Welcome to Subject-Verb Agreement!
Hello there! Welcome to one of the most important chapters in your TOEFL journey. Even though the TOEFL iBT doesn't have a "Grammar" section with multiple-choice questions, your grammar is being watched closely in the Speaking and Writing sections. To get a high score (25+ in Writing), you need to show "consistent grammatical control." This means making fewer "silly" mistakes that distract the reader.
Subject-Verb Agreement is the "glue" that holds your sentences together. If the glue is weak, your sentence falls apart, and your score might drop. Don't worry if this seems tricky at first; once you learn to spot the "traps," it becomes second nature!
1. The Golden Rule: The Balance Scale
Think of a sentence like a balance scale. The subject and the verb must always match in number. If the subject is singular (one), the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural (more than one), the verb must be plural.
The "S" Secret: In the present tense, singular verbs usually end in -s (he walks, she talks, it works). Plural verbs do not (they walk, we talk, they work).
Example:
Weak: The professor give a lecture every Monday. (This loses marks for "grammatical accuracy").
Improved: The professor gives a lecture every Monday. (This shows the rater you have control over basic English structures).
2. Beware of "The Distractors" (Prepositional Phrases)
TOEFL examiners love to put extra words between the subject and the verb to confuse you. This is the most common place students lose marks in the Writing for an Academic Discussion task because they are typing quickly.
The Trap: The results of the latest scientific study is surprising.
In this sentence, "study" is right next to the verb, so it's tempting to use "is." But the real subject is results (plural)!
The Fix: Mentally "cross out" the words between the subject and the verb.
The results (of the latest scientific study) are surprising.
High-Value Pattern to Reuse:
The impact of these new government policies is significant for the local economy.
(Notice: impact is singular, so we use is, even though "policies" is plural).
3. The "Indefinite Pronoun" Trick
In your Integrated Writing task, you might need to talk about "everyone" or "each." Many students think these are plural because they refer to many people. However, in English grammar, they are always singular.
Memorize these singular subjects: Each, Everyone, Everybody, Anyone, Anything, Nobody, Someone, Something, Either, Neither.
Example:
Weak: Everyone in the university know where the library is.
Improved: Everyone in the university knows where the library is.
Did you know? Using "Each of the..." is a great way to show sophisticated grammar. Just remember: Each of the participants was interviewed. (Not "were").
4. Compound Subjects: "And" vs. "Or"
When you use and, you are adding things together, so the subject becomes plural. When you use or or nor, you are choosing between them, so the rule changes.
The "And" Rule (Plural):
The reading and the lecture provide different perspectives on the topic. (1 + 1 = 2, so no -s on "provide").
The "Or/Nor" Rule (The Proximity Rule):
If you use either...or or neither...nor, the verb matches the subject closest to it.
Neither the students nor the professor is present. (Professor is singular and closest to the verb).
Neither the professor nor the students are present. (Students is plural and closest to the verb).
5. Phrases that Feel Plural but Aren't
In academic writing, you will often use phrases like "along with," "as well as," or "in addition to." These do not make a subject plural!
Model Sentence:
The theory, as well as the supporting experiments, demonstrates a clear trend.
The subject is just theory. The "supporting experiments" are just extra information in commas. Treat them like they aren't there when choosing your verb.
6. "There is" and "There are" (Inverted Subjects)
In the Speaking section, you might rush and say "There's many reasons..." This is a common habit, but it's technically a mistake. In sentences starting with "There," the subject comes after the verb.
Weak: There is several causes for global warming mentioned in the text.
Improved: There are several causes for global warming mentioned in the text.
Timing Reality: In the Writing for an Academic Discussion task, you only have 10 minutes. Most agreement errors happen in the last 2 minutes when students stop thinking about grammar. Save 30 seconds at the end just to check your "s" endings on verbs!
7. Summary Checklist for your TOEFL Prep
Quick Review:
1. Find the true subject (ignore the words in between).
2. If the subject is singular, add -s to the verb (in the present tense).
3. Each/Everyone/Something = Always singular.
4. A and B = Always plural.
5. Either A or B = Match the verb to B.
6. There is/are = Look at the noun that follows.
Key Takeaway: Grammatical control is about consistency. One mistake won't ruin your score, but five mistakes in one paragraph tell the rater that you haven't mastered the basics of sentence building. Take your time, find your subject, and make sure that scale is balanced!