When a linking verb is usedĪ linking verb (“is,” “are,” “was,” “were,” “seem” and others) agrees with its subject, not its complement. Neither the radios nor the television works. Neither the television nor the radios work.
If one subject is singular and one is plural, the verb agrees with the nearer subject. When one subject is singular and one plural Neither money nor power was important any longer. nor” take a singular verb.Įither the man or his wife knows the truth of the matter. Singular subjects joined by “or,” “nor,” “either. When singular subjects are joined by words like “or” Tom, as well as Jane, has an English 207 paper due Tuesday. Subjects joined by “and” take plural verbs.īe aware: phrases such as “in addition to,” “as well as,” and “along with” do not mean the same thing as “and.” When inserted between the subject and the verb, these phrases do not change the number of the subject.īoth Tom and Jane have English 167 papers due on Tuesday. May take either singular or plural verbs, depending on the context. They do not change the number of the subject.Įveryone in the fraternity has his own set of prejudices.Įach of the rowers takes her turn at rowing.Įvery one of the fraternity members has his own set of prejudices. When words like “each” are the subjectĭo not be confused by prepositional phrases which come between a subject and its verb. When the subject follows the verb (especially in sentences beginning with the expletives “there is” or “there are”), special care is needed to determine the subject and to make certain that the verb agrees with it. Watch the subject-verb agreement in your sentences when… When the subject follows the verb
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