PMA English Reviewer: Subject–Verb Agreement Practice

Subject–verb agreement questions often place a distracting noun between the subject and the verb. The solution is to identify the subject’s main word before deciding whether the verb should be singular or plural.

This short PMA English reviewer uses original grammar exercises. Check the PMA’s official examination guidance for instructions from the academy; an unofficial reviewer cannot replace admission notices or establish the exact mix of questions on your examination.

Question 1: Ignore the nearby plural noun

Choose the correct verb: “The list of required documents is / are on the desk.”

Answer: is. The subject is “the list,” which is singular. “Of required documents” describes the list but does not change its number.

Try removing that phrase: “The list is on the desk.” The shorter sentence makes the grammatical relationship clearer. This is a useful checking method when a longer phrase sits between subject and verb.

Question 2: Find the subject after the opening word

Choose the correct verb: “There is / are three rooms available for the review session.”

Answer: are. In this construction, “three rooms” supplies the plural subject. Do not choose a singular verb merely because the sentence begins with “there.”

Compare it with “There is one room available.” The opening stays the same while the number of rooms changes. That contrast reveals which part controls agreement.

Question 3: Recognize an indefinite pronoun

Choose the correct verb: “Each of the applicants has / have a registration form.”

Answer: has. “Each” is singular in this sentence. The plural noun inside “of the applicants” does not turn the subject into a plural subject.

Now compare “The applicants have registration forms.” Removing “each of” changes the subject, so the verb changes too. Study the pair rather than memorizing one sentence in isolation.

Question 4: Do not confuse time with number

Choose the sentence that reports a completed event yesterday: “The students complete the exercise yesterday” or “The students completed the exercise yesterday.”

Answer: the second sentence. This item concerns tense, not a singular-versus-plural choice. The past-time expression helps identify the required form.

Labeling the grammar issue matters. Applying an agreement rule to every verb question can make you overlook a tense question.

Turn answers into a compact reviewer

After trying PMA English practice questions, underline the subject in each grammar item and label the issue being tested. Add a second example with a changed subject or time expression to check your understanding.

Use the PMA exam preparation guide to balance English review with your other preparation. A useful grammar note contains a rule, a contrast and a reason for the answer. That is more helpful than an answer key consisting only of letters.