Subject-verb agreement is a crucial component of good grammar, ensuring that the subject of a sentence and its corresponding verb agree in tense, number, and person. While there are many rules to remember, rule number 8 is particularly important when it comes to mastering subject-verb agreement.
Rule 8 states that when two subjects are connected by the conjunction “or,” the verb should agree with the subject that is closest to it in terms of number. This means that if the two subjects are singular, the verb should be singular, and if the two subjects are plural, the verb should be plural. Let`s take a look at some examples to better understand this rule.
Example 1: Either Alice or her friends are coming to the party.
In this sentence, we have two subjects connected by the conjunction “or”: Alice and her friends. The subject closest to the verb “are” is “friends,” which is plural. Therefore, the verb “are” agrees with the plural subject “friends.”
Example 2: Neither the dogs nor the cat is allowed on the couch.
Here, we have two subjects once again: “dogs” and “cat.” The subject closest to the verb “is” is “cat,” which is singular. Therefore, the verb “is” agrees with the singular subject “cat.”
Example 3: Either the muffins or the cake is going to be served for dessert.
In this sentence, the two subjects are “muffins” and “cake.” The subject closest to the verb “is” is “cake,” which is singular. Therefore, the verb “is” agrees with the singular subject “cake.”
Example 4: Neither my parents nor my sister were able to attend the wedding.
Here, the two subjects are “parents” and “sister.” The subject closest to the verb “were” is “sister,” which is singular. However, we need to use the plural verb “were” because the first subject “parents” is plural. Therefore, the verb “were” agrees with the plural subject “parents,” not the singular subject “sister.”
By understanding and following rule number 8 of subject-verb agreement, you can ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and grammatically correct. And as a bonus, you’ll be able to impress your grammar-savvy friends with your impeccable writing skills!