Sentences with either...or

Subject-Verb agreement means the verb of the sentence should agree with the subject of the sentence. Generally a singular verb agrees with a singular subject, and a plural verb agrees with a plural subject. We say He/She/Peter is...... or He/She/Peter likes......
We say They/We/Peter and John are.... or They/We/Peter and John like.....

What about sentences that involve "Either.....or"? Such sentences have two subjects and it is the second subject that determines whether singular or plural verb is to be used.

Example situation
Imagine there are 40 students in Mr Davidson's class. Let's say if the 40 students are not going to clean the classroom, Mr Davidson himself is going to clean the classroom, and if Mr Davidson doesn't want to clean the classroom, the 40 students have to clean it. Therefore, in this situation, "Either...or" can be used in the sentence like this:

Either the students or Mr Davidson is going to clean the classroom.
the students is the first subject (plural subject)
Mr Davidson is the second subject (singular subject)
Note that the linking verb is comes immediately after the second subject "Mr Davidson". Therefore, the linking verb is agrees with the second subject, which is singular. We can switch places of the first and second subjects like this:
Either Mr Davidson or the students are going to clean the classroom. The plural verb are must be used as it agrees with the second subject "the students", which is plural.

Remember:
Always use the verb that agrees with the second subject when you write your sentences with "Either....or". When the second subject is singular, use a singular verb irrespective of the first plural subject. When the second subject is plural, use a plural verb irrespective of the first singular subject.

Pay attention to the verbs in bold as you read these example sentences.
Either you or I am going to do the chores. OR
Either I or you are going to do the chores.

Either Sharon or her twin brothers were watching TV a while ago. OR
Either Sharon's twin brothers or Sharon herself was watching TV a while ago.

Here is a piece of exercise for you. Pay attention to the second subject and fill in the correct verb.

Either Team A or Team B ............ (is/are) going to face their opponents in the next match.
Either the team members or their team leader.........(is/are) responsible for the Science project.
Either Margaret or her brother.........(have/has) taken the suitcase by mistake.
Either Laura or her friends.........(has/have) misplaced the golf sticks.
Either Jane or her colleagues........(has/have) informed the customers about the arrival of the new products.

Answers [Show][Hide]

Answers
1. is
2. is
3. has
4. have
5. have

By Susan L
On 12/28/2009 05:50:00 AM
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Sentences with either...or

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