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Original practice · Reading and Writing

SAT Grammar: Find the Subject Across an Intervening Phrase

Choose a verb that agrees with the main subject rather than a noun inside a prepositional phrase.

Reviewed

Before you start

Practice form, structure and sense with an original problem, a complete solution and a transfer check. Try the problem before reading the worked answer.

The original problem

The collection of handwritten maps ___ a detailed record of the region’s changing roads.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to Standard English conventions?

Try the question before reading the solution

Choose one answer, then check it.

Answer: provides

Find the main subject

The subject is “collection,” a singular noun. “Of handwritten maps” is a prepositional phrase describing the collection.

Match the verb to that subject

In the present tense, the singular subject “collection” takes “provides.” The nearby plural noun “maps” does not control the verb.

Check the sentence without the phrase

“The collection provides a detailed record” is grammatical. Restoring the descriptive phrase does not change the required agreement.

A second method or independent check

Substitute the pronoun “it” for the entire subject noun phrase: “It provides a detailed record.” This makes the singular agreement easier to hear.

Why tempting answers fail

  • “Provide” agrees with a plural subject in this construction.
  • “Have provided” uses the plural auxiliary “have”; the singular auxiliary would be “has.”
  • “Are providing” uses the plural auxiliary “are”; the singular auxiliary would be “is.”

Try a transfer problem

Choose is or are: “The results of the second experiment ___ consistent with the prediction.”

Answer: are

The main subject is the plural noun “results.” “Of the second experiment” does not make it singular.

What to practice next

If this was difficult, return to form, structure and sense practice and identify the precise step to improve. These are original PeakSAT teaching examples, not official College Board questions or calibrated score predictions. For official adaptive test practice, use Bluebook (opens in a new tab).

Sources

  1. College Board: Reading and Writing contentsatsuite.collegeboard.org

Sources are linked for reference; they do not endorse PeakSAT. How we prepare our guides