This topic asks you to supply a simple-present form, identify a correctly agreed sentence, or select every standard option for subjects linked by and, or or nor. The connector matters, but so do distributive words, position and the intended reading of the coordinated phrase.
Choose the rule family before the verb
Begin by bracketing the full subject. If and links two distinct people or things, treat the result as plural. Then check for a true exception: a preceding each or every can distribute over coordinated singular nominals, while each placed after an ordinary compound does not change its plural agreement. If the phrase names one conventional item, a one-notion reading makes singular available, but plural also remains standard when the coordinated components control agreement, even if they form one dish. Only an explicit separate-referent context rules out singular.
Alternative subjects use a different method. With or, either or, or neither nor, move from the finite verb leftwards and stop at the nearest alternative. That noun phrase controls agreement. If the alternatives differ in person or number and the result sounds awkward, recasting is preferable, but proximity remains the rule tested here.
| Subject pattern | Agreement method |
|---|---|
| Two distinct noun phrases joined by and | Plural. |
| Each or every preceding coordinated singular nominals | Singular distributive agreement. |
| An ordinary and-compound followed by each | Plural; postpositive each emphasises the members but does not replace the compound subject. |
| A conventional single-notion expression | Singular is available for the one-notion reading; plural also remains standard when the coordinated components control agreement, even if they form one dish. An explicit separate-referent reading requires plural. |
| Alternatives linked by or or nor | Match the finite verb to the nearest alternative. |
Where the mistakes come from
| Trap | Why it is wrong |
|---|---|
| A singular verb for two distinct roles joined by and | The two noun phrases form an ordinary plural compound; neither role absorbs the other. |
| Agreement with the first or more distant alternative | An or or nor construction follows proximity, so the noun phrase beside the finite verb controls it. |
| Plural agreement after a preceding every over two singular nominals | The distributive determiner creates the singular exception to the ordinary plural-and pattern. |
| A singular verb because each appears after an and-compound | Postpositive each describes how the members act; it does not turn the compound grammatical subject into a singular one. |
| A singular verb where the context puts the two referents in different places | The explicit separate-referent reading requires the ordinary plural-and pattern, not the single-notion exception. |
Try it
Which sentence follows the proximity rule for an either-or or neither-nor subject?
- Either the ushers or the supervisor opens the side entrance.
- Either the supervisor or the ushers opens the side entrance on weekdays.
- Neither the technicians nor the curator approve the revised plan today.
- Neither the curator nor the technicians approves the revised plan during rehearsals.
Provide only the standard simple-present form of rehearse: The soprano and the pianist each ___ alone before the joint performance.
The café advertises fish and chips without saying whether readers should construe the words as one dish or as two coordinated components. Which sentences are standard? Select all that apply.
- Fish and chips be today's special.
- Fish and chips is today's special.
- Fish and chips being today's special.
- Fish and chips are today's special.