Subject Verb Agreement Rule No 6 Examples

As a professional, I understand the importance of using proper grammar in any piece of writing. One of the fundamental rules of grammar is subject-verb agreement. In the English language, the subject and the verb in a sentence must agree in number and person. In this article, we will take a closer look at rule number six of subject-verb agreement and provide examples to illustrate its application.

Rule number six of subject-verb agreement is: When a singular subject is connected by “or” or “nor” to a plural subject, the verb agrees with the nearer subject. This rule applies to compound subjects that are connected by “or” or “nor.” Let us take a closer look at some examples to understand this rule better.

1. Neither the cat nor the dogs are allowed on the couch.

In this example, the singular subject “cat” is connected to the plural subject “dogs” by the conjunction “nor.” As per rule number six, the verb “are” agrees with the nearer subject “dogs.”

2. Either the team or the players were responsible for the loss.

In this example, the singular subject “team” is connected to the plural subject “players” by the conjunction “or.” As per rule number six, the verb “were” agrees with the nearer subject “players.”

3. One of the boys or the girl is coming to the party.

In this example, the singular subject “boy” is connected to the singular subject “girl” by the conjunction “or.” As per rule number six, the verb “is” agrees with the nearer subject “girl.”

4. Either the red, white or blue shirt fits me well.

In this example, the compound subject is “red, white, or blue shirt,” which is singular. As per rule number six, the verb “fits” agrees with the singular subject “shirt.”

5. Neither the classroom nor the library has enough chairs for the event.

In this example, the singular subject “classroom” is connected to the singular subject “library” by the conjunction “nor.” As per rule number six, the verb “has” agrees with the nearer subject “library.”

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential rule that every writer must follow to ensure clarity and readability of their work. Rule number six of subject-verb agreement is particularly important to note when dealing with compound subjects connected by “or” or “nor.” By applying this rule correctly, writers can avoid common errors in their writing and produce well-structured sentences that effectively convey their message to the readers.