Grammar Bytes - Concord

Neither the apples nor the basket was/were expensive.

Neither the apples nor the basket was expensive

Either you or John have/has to attend.

Either you or John has to attend.

April 28, 2023 Amrita University

Is/Are my boss or my sisters in the union going to win this grievance?

Is my boss or my sisters in the union going to win this grievance?

Ram or his brothers has/have done this.

Ram or his brothers have done this.

Either he or I am/is mistaken.

Either he or I am mistaken.


RULE #1 If two nouns are connected by or, nor,

either……or, neither…….nor, not only……but also, the number and person of the noun closer to the verb will determine the number of the verb.

Note: The subject shall preferably be arranged in the proper order – second person first, third person next and first person last.


Either you or I not Either I or youEither he or I not Either I or heEither you or he not Either he or you

Each of the boys was/were given a prize. Each of the boys was given a prize.

A pair of scissors is/are missing. A pair of scissors is missing.

Neither of the candidates are/is selected. Neither of the candidates is selected.

Each of them have/has a good seat. Each of them has a good seat.


• The number of students is/are thirty.

• The number of students is thirty.

• Nobody, not even the soldiers, stay/stays here.

• Nobody, (not even the soldiers), stays here.

• None of my relatives is/are poor.

• None of my relatives is poor.


RULE #2

When used as subjects, words like each, every, either, neither, everybody, everyone, everything, somebody, someone, something, anybody, anyone, anything, nobody, no one, nothing, whatever, whichever, whoever, many a, the number of, a pair of, etc always take singular verbs.

Note: Many and a number of take plural verbs. Nothing but can take both singular or plural depending

on the word that follows. Nothing but books and music please him. There are nothing but liars in here.


• Ten rupees is/are a high price to pay.

• Ten rupees is a high price to pay.

• Five years are/is the maximum sentence for that offence.

• Five years is the maximum sentence for that offence.

• Two kilograms of coffee cost/costs Rs. 200.

• Two kilograms of coffee costs Rs. 200.


• Fifteen gallons of chocolate milk make/makes Herbert, the elephant a happy pachyderm.

• Fifteen gallons of chocolate milk makes Herbert, the elephant a happy pachyderm.

• One thousand grams of jelly beans fill/fills the bed of Betty’s truck.

• One thousand grams of jelly beans fills the bed of Betty’s truck.


RULE #3

Use a singular verb with sums of money, periods of time, and units of measurement (distance, weight, height).


• Ram and not you have/has won the prize.

• Ram (and not you) has won the prize.

• The chief, with all his men was/were massacred.

• The chief, (with all his men) was massacred.

• Justice as well as mercy allows/allow it.

• Justice (as well as mercy) allows it.


• Clara, together with her teammates, present/presents a formidable opponent on the basketball court.

• Clara, (together with her teammates), presents a formidable opponent on the basketball court.

• Sharon, along with her parents and brothers, has/have spent hours lugging her treasured possessions to her third floor room.

• Sharon, (along with her parents and brothers), has spent hours lugging her treasured possessions to her third floor room.


RULE #4

When two subjects are joined by (parenthetical phrases) together with, along with, as well as, besides, not, in addition to, rather than, more than, as much as, except, etc. when determining whether to use a singular or plural verb.


• My thanks are/is due to all my friends.

• My thanks are due to all my friends.

• The scissors are/is blunt.

• The scissors are blunt.

• A number of students was/were absent.

• A number of students were absent.


• Few has/have done their homework.

• Few have done their homework.

• My jeans has/have become old.

• My jeans have become old.

• Both do/does a good deal of work around the office.

• Both do a good deal of work around the office.


RULE #5

When used as subjects, words like both, many, few, a few, several, a number of, scissors, pants, spectacles, thanks, etc. always take plural verbs.


• The majority have/has accepted the proposal.• The majority has accepted the proposal.• A majority of railway commuters reads/read while traveling.• A majority of railway commuters read while

traveling.• Most of the houses in the street has/have been built within the last

20 years.• Most of the houses in the street have been built

within the last 20 years.


• In the bank, most of our time was/were wasted in waiting.

• In the bank, most of our time was wasted in waiting.

• All the money has/have been spent.

• All the money has been spent.

• All of the students knows/know the answer.

• All of the students know the answer.


RULE #6

Some words such as all, more, most, some, majority, half may take either singular or plural verbs depending on the meaning and also depending on whether they are used along with countable nouns or uncountable nouns.


• Recent data show/shows that most college students are willing to go into debt to buy appliances.

• Recent data (plural) show that most college students are willing to go into debt to buy appliances.

• Our criteria for stock selection are/is based on fundamental analysis.

• Our criteria (plural) for stock selection are based on fundamental analysis.


RULE #7 When foreign plurals (analyses, theses,

crises, bases, parentheses, curricula, memoranda, data, bacteria, criteria, phenomena, syllabi) or irregular plurals (children, people) act as the subject, the verb has to be a plural.

Note: The plural word media is now accepted to be treated as a singular subject as it is acting as a collective noun.



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Grammar Bytes - Concord