Subject Verb Agreement Rule 6 Examples
Subject verb agreement is an important component of good writing. It ensures that sentences are clear and easy to understand, and it can help prevent confusion and misunderstanding. One of the most important rules of subject verb agreement is rule 6, which states that singular subjects joined by “or” or “nor” require a singular verb.
This rule can be a bit confusing, so let‘s look at some examples to help clarify it.
1. Neither the teacher nor the students (is/are) happy about the cancellation of the field trip.
In this sentence, we have two singular subjects joined by “nor”. Since they are both singular, we need to use a singular verb. The correct answer is “is”.
2. Either my sister or my brother (is/are) going to pick me up from the airport.
Once again, we have two singular subjects joined by “or”. The correct verb in this case is “is”.
3. Either the cat or the dogs (is/are) responsible for the mess in the living room.
This sentence is a bit tricky because we have a singular subject (cat) and a plural subject (dogs) joined by “or”. In this case, you should match the verb to the subject closest to it, which is “dogs”. The correct answer is “are”.
4. Neither my friends nor I (has/have) seen the new Star Wars movie.
This sentence is similar to the first example, with two singular subjects joined by “nor”. Since both subjects are singular, we need to use a singular verb. The correct answer is “has”.
5. Either the book or the movie (was/were) great.
This sentence is also a bit tricky because we have a singular subject (“book”) and a plural subject (“movie”) joined by “or”. However, in this case, we are talking about two separate things and not a group of things. Therefore, the correct verb is singular, and the correct answer is “was”.
By following subject verb agreement rule 6, you can ensure that your writing is clear and easy to understand. Remember to use a singular verb when you have two singular subjects joined by “or” or “nor”. With a little practice, this rule will become second nature and your writing will be all the better for it.