Subject-Verb Agreement Rule 7

If the subjects connected by or or nor differ in number or person, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.

Examples:

A. Neither Susan nor her friends have seen Mayon Volcano.

B. Either my friends or my brother was allowed to bring home the magazines.

Note: The nearer subject of the first statement is "her friends" which is plural thus, we use the plural form of the verb. On the other hand, the nearer subject in the second example is "my brother" which is singular so, we use the singular form of the verb.

Exercise 07

1. Neither the newspapers nor the radio (has, have) accurately reported the incident.

2. Either the athletes or the coach (attends, attend) the meeting.

3. Either my mother or my sisters (joins, join) the party.

4. Neither my niece nor my cousins (goes, go) with us.

5. Either the host or the candidates (was spotted, were spotted)in the mall last night.

Refs

Intensive English Book

grammar, 14-04-22 13:23, 14-05-07 19:56, Marz

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This is true rule 7
18-01-16 06:28,