As a professional, it is important to know the rules of subject-verb agreement, especially when dealing with subjects joined by the conjunctions “or” and “nor”. This article will guide you through the proper use of subject-verb agreement when working with these conjunctions.
Firstly, it is important to understand that when “or” or “nor” is used to join two singular subjects, the verb must agree with the subject closer to the verb. For example, consider the sentence: “The cat or the dog eats its food.” In this case, the subject closer to the verb is “dog”, which is singular, so the verb should also be singular, “eats”. Similarly, in the sentence, “Neither the cat nor the dog likes its food,” the verb should be singular, “likes”, since the subject closer to it, “dog”, is singular.
However, when joining a singular subject with a plural subject using “or” or “nor”, the verb should agree with the subject that is closer to the verb. For example, in the sentence, “Either the cat or the dogs eat their food,” the subject closer to the verb is “dogs”, which is plural, so the verb should also be plural, “eat”. Similarly, in the sentence, “Neither the cats nor the dog likes their food,” the verb should be plural, “like”, since the subject closer to it, “cats”, is plural.
In addition, when “or” or “nor” is used to join two subjects of different tenses or persons, the verb should agree with the subject that is closer to the verb. For example, in the sentence, “Neither he nor I am going to the party,” the subject closer to the verb is “I”, which is first person singular, so the verb should also be singular, “am”. Similarly, in the sentence, “Either her husband or her children were responsible for the mess,” the subject closer to the verb is “children”, which is third person plural, so the verb should also be plural, “were”.
In conclusion, when dealing with subjects joined by “or” or “nor”, it is crucial to remember the rules of subject-verb agreement. The key is to identify the subject closer to the verb and make sure the verb agrees with it in terms of number and tense or person. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your writing is grammatically correct and clear.