As a professional, one of the most fundamental rules of good writing is subject-verb agreement. In English grammar, subject-verb agreement refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence. The agreement is the number, or singular or plural, of the subject, which must match the number of the verb. Mistakes in subject-verb agreement can cause confusion and affect the clarity of your writing.
In this article, we will look at subject-verb agreement rule 5 and provide examples to help you understand how to apply the rule when writing.
Subject-Verb Agreement Rule 5
Subject-verb agreement rule 5 states that a singular subject joined by “or” or “nor” to a plural subject requires a singular verb. In other words, when two or more subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb that follows should agree in number with the subject closest to it.
Example 1: Neither the teacher nor the students were happy.
In this example, the subject “teacher” is singular, and the subject “students” is plural. Since the subject closest to the verb “were” is “students,” which is plural, the correct verb form is “were.” The sentence is correct.
Example 2: Either my sister or my brothers is coming with me.
In this example, the subject “sister” is singular, and the subject “brothers” is plural. Since the subject closest to the verb “is” is “sister,” which is singular, the correct verb form is “is.” The sentence is correct.
Example 3: Neither the manager nor the employees is available to speak with you.
In this example, the subject “manager” is singular, and the subject “employees” is plural. Since the subject closest to the verb “is” is “manager,” which is singular, the correct verb form is “is.” The sentence is correct.
Example 4: Either the cake or the cookies were baked by my grandmother.
In this example, the subject “cake” is singular, and the subject “cookies” is plural. Since the subject closest to the verb “were” is “cookies,” which is plural, the correct verb form is “were.” The sentence is incorrect.
Example 5: Neither the athlete nor the coach knows the answer.
In this example, the subject “athlete” is singular, and the subject “coach” is singular. Since both subjects are singular, the correct verb form is “knows.” The sentence is correct.
Conclusion
Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental rule in English grammar. Rule 5 states that a singular subject joined by “or” or “nor” to a plural subject requires a singular verb. It is essential to apply this rule when writing to ensure that your sentences are grammatically correct and clear. Understanding and applying subject-verb agreement rule 5 will help you write error-free and effective content.
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