Why “He Work” Is Wrong — And Other TOEIC Mistakes You Don’t See

Some TOEIC questions are easy to spot. Others are sneaky. One of the most common traps? Choosing the wrong verb for the subject. It’s called “subject-verb agreement,” but you don’t need to remember the grammar term — you just need to know how to see the mistake before it costs you points.

Let’s break it down with real examples.

1. The Basic Rule You Already Know (But Sometimes Miss)

In simple sentences, it's easy:

• ✅ He works at the bank.

• ❌ He work at the bank. ← sounds wrong, right?

But in TOEIC, you’ll see longer sentences, and the verb won’t always sit next to the subject. That’s when mistakes happen.

2. TOEIC-Style Trap: The Subject Is Far from the Verb

Example:

The manager of the new departments (A) are currently working on the schedule.

→ The correct answer is (B) is.

Why? The real subject is “manager” (singular). The phrase “of the new departments” is just extra information. Ignore it when checking the verb.

✅ The manager of the new departments is...

❌ The manager of the new departments are...

🧠 TOEIC Tip: Don’t let a phrase like “of the...” confuse you. Go back and find the real subject.

3. Words Like “Everyone” Are Actually Singular

Example:

Everyone in the team (A) have different ideas about the project.

→ The correct answer is (B) has.

Even though “everyone” feels like a group, it’s singular.

✅ Everyone has...

❌ Everyone have...

🧠 TOEIC loves this trap — especially with words like:

• Everyone

• Each

• Someone

• Nobody

These all take singular verbs.

4. Watch Out for “Either/Neither” and “Each”

Example:

Neither of the solutions (A) seem to work.

→ Correct: (B) seems

Again, “neither” is singular, even if it’s talking about two things.

✅ Neither of the solutions seems...

🧠 Same with either and each — all take singular verbs.

5. Don’t Get Tricked by Plural Nouns Inside Prepositional Phrases

Example:

The performance of the dancers (A) were impressive.

→ Correct: (B) was

The real subject is “performance” — singular. “Of the dancers” is extra detail.

✅ The performance was impressive.

6. Be Careful with Company Names and Departments

Example:

ABC Technologies (A) are expanding their services overseas.

→ Correct: (B) is

Company names are singular units, even if they sound plural.

✅ ABC Technologies is expanding...

🧠 In TOEIC, treat company names, department names, and team names as one thing — use singular verbs.

7. TOEIC Test Pattern: “Which of the following _____...?”

Example:

Which of the following options (A) best describe your company’s strategy?

→ Correct: (B) best describes

“Which” is singular. Ignore “options.”

✅ Which describes your company’s strategy?

🧠 When you see “which of the following...,” always check the verb.

Final Tip: Find the Subject First — Then Check the Verb

TOEIC will try to distract you with long phrases, plurals in the wrong place, or tricky words like “everyone” and “neither.” The key is simple:

👉 Find the real subject.
👉 Ignore everything in between.
👉 Match it with the right verb — singular or plural.

Quick Practice

Q: The results of the experiment _____ conclusive.

✅ A) are
❌ B) is

The subject is results → plural → are is correct.

Q: Each of the candidates _____ a different strength.

✅ A) has
❌ B) have

“Each” is singular → has is correct.

Master this pattern, and you’ll catch the hidden errors most learners miss.

👉 Next: check out our FAQ on Subject-Verb Agreement traps to see more TOEIC-style examples and test tricks.