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Introduction
Mastering subject-verb agreement is critical for success in the PTE Academic test.
Whether you’re responding to a “Describe Image” task in the Speaking section or writing an essay in the Writing section, getting your verbs to match their subjects is a basic yet essential skill.
Even small errors in subject-verb agreement can cost you marks in Grammar, Written Discourse, and Oral Fluency.
This ultra-detailed guide will help you understand, apply, and practice subject-verb agreement so you can speak and write with precision and confidence in the PTE exam.
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🧠 What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-verb agreement refers to the rule that the verb must agree in number with its subject:
- A singular subject takes a singular verb.
- A plural subject takes a plural verb.
✅ Examples:
- They write every day. (Plural)
- He writes every day. (Singular)
This rule may seem simple, but it’s a common source of mistakes—especially under pressure in the PTE Academic test. Errors in subject-verb agreement can affect your scores in Grammar, Oral Fluency, and Written Discourse. Mastering this skill is essential for both test success and clear communication.
Some subjects may appear plural but are actually singular—like “The news is surprising” or “Mathematics is my favorite subject.” Collective nouns like “team” or “group” can take singular or plural verbs depending on the context. Knowing these tricky cases helps you avoid common PTE pitfalls and express yourself with confidence.
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⚠️ Why It Matters in PTE
Subject-verb agreement errors are considered basic grammar mistakes that can negatively affect multiple areas:
🗣️ Speaking Section: Affects Grammar and Oral Fluency. Mistakes here make you sound less fluent and less confident.
✍️ Writing Section: Impacts scores in Grammar and Written Discourse.
🎯 Overall Impact: These errors suggest a weak grasp of English fundamentals, which can lower your overall communicative score.
Mastering subject-verb agreement shows that you’re in control of the language—crucial for test performance and real-life communication.
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🧠 How Preposition Mistakes Affect PTE Scoring
1. Singular vs. Plural Nouns
✅ The student has a question.
“Student” is singular, so use “has.”
2. Words Between Subject and Verb
✅ The list of items is on the table.
The subject is “list” (singular), not “items.”
3. Indefinite Pronouns
Others are plural:
✅ John and Sarah are coming.
Subjects joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it:
✅ Neither the teacher nor the students are responsible. ✅ Neither the students nor the teacher is responsible.
5. Collective Nouns
✅ The team is winning.
Use singular when the group is acting as one unit.
✅ The team are arguing among themselves. (Here, the team members are acting individually.)
6. There is/There are
✅ There is a cat on the roof. ✅ There are many cats on the roof.
7. Titles and Names
✅ “The Chronicles of Narnia” is a popular book.
8. Amounts and Measurements
Considered singular because they refer to a single amount or quantity.
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📈 Subject-Verb Agreement in PTE Writing
In the Essay and Summarise Written Text tasks:
- Mistakes in subject-verb agreement reduce your Grammar score.
- They can make your writing less formal and academic.
- Mistakes in basic rules suggest you lack English proficiency.
Even one mismatch between the subject and verb can confuse the reader and break the flow of your argument. In high-stakes exams like PTE, clarity and precision are key—so even small grammar slips can cost you valuable points.
🔥 Tips:
- Use grammar check tools during practice.
- Always identify the main subject.
- Ignore modifiers or additional information.
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🎤 Subject-Verb Agreement in PTE Speaking
In tasks like Read Aloud, Repeat Sentence, and Describe Image:
- Mistakes can disrupt fluency.
- Incorrect agreement sounds awkward and affects pronunciation rhythm.
Even if your pronunciation is clear, poor grammar can lower your Oral Fluency and Enabling Skills scores.
Subject-verb mismatches can make your speech sound unnatural or hesitant.
Consistency in grammar boosts your confidence and helps you speak smoothly under pressure.
The better your sentence structure, the easier it is to deliver responses without stumbling.
🔥 Tips:
- Practice speaking full sentences with varied subjects.
- Slow down if needed to maintain accuracy.
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🧪 Practice Sentences: Find the Mistake
- The group of tourists are taking photos. ❌
- Neither the manager nor the staff is available. ✅
- A bouquet of flowers brighten the room. ❌
- There is many students here. ❌
Corrected:
- The group of tourists is taking photos.
- ✅ Correct
- A bouquet of flowers brightens the room.
- There are many students here.
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📝 Practice Activity for Writing
Write 5 sentences each with:
- A singular subject
- A plural subject
- An indefinite pronoun
- A compound subject with “and”
- A subject separated from the verb by extra information
Example:
Each of the answers is important.
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🎙️ Practice Activity for Speaking
Describe the following image using proper subject-verb agreement:
Image Prompt Example: A busy marketplace with different types of shops and customers.
Sample Response:
The market is filled with people. Each vendor sells a different kind of item. The customers are walking around and exploring the stalls.
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🛠️ Final Tips to Avoid Subject-Verb Mistakes and Conclusion
✅ Memorise the rules for special cases (indefinite pronouns, collective nouns).
✅ Read aloud during writing practice.
✅ Practice daily with varied sentence types.
✅ Take feedback and note recurring errors.
🚀 Conclusion
Correct subject-verb agreement is a non-negotiable grammar skill for success in both PTE Writing and Speaking.
Mastering it will help you produce clearer, more accurate, and professional English responses. Whether you’re writing an essay or describing a chart, keeping your subjects and verbs in sync will improve both your communication and your score.
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Final Tips to Ace the PTE with Simple Sentences
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