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Intro to subject/verb agreement

Last updated over 5 years ago
10 questions
Subject Verb Agreement

Basic Rule. A singular subject (she, Bill, car) takes a singular verb (is, goes, shines), whereas a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Example: The list of items is/are on the desk. If you know that list is the subject, then you will choose is for the verb.
Rule 2. Two singular subjects connected by or, either/or, or neither/nor require a singular verb.
Examples: My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today. Neither Juan nor Carmen is available. Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with stage decorations.
Rule 3. The verb in an or, either/or, or neither/nor sentence agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it.
Examples: Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that shelf. Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf.
This rule can lead to bumps in the road. For example, if I is one of two (or more) subjects, it could lead to this odd sentence:
Awkward: Neither she, my friends, nor I am going to the festival.
If possible, it's best to reword such grammatically correct but awkward sentences.
Better: Neither she, I, nor my friends are going to the festival. OR She, my friends, and I are not going to the festival.
1

Annie (is, are) at school practicing for the cheerleading competition.

1

Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.

1

The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.

1

Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.

1

Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.

1

The man (live, lives) on my street.

1

The women in the pool swim, swims very well.

1

The weather appear, appears to be nice this weekend.

1

The magazine or the book is, are on the floor.

1

Either Karen or Susan and Kelly is, are going to make the cheer team.