Or Rules Subject Verb Agreement
When it comes to writing, subject-verb agreement is one of the most important rules to follow. Essentially, this rule states that the subject and the verb in a sentence must agree in number. Put simply, if the subject is singular, the verb must be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.
However, there are some cases where the “or” rule comes into play. This rule can be a bit tricky at first, but once you understand it, it becomes much easier to apply.
The “or” rule states that when two subjects are connected by “or,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. For example:
– Neither the cat nor the dog is hungry.
– The dog or the cats are playing in the yard.
In the first example, the verb “is” agrees with “dog” because it is the subject closest to the verb. In the second example, the verb “are” agrees with “cats” because it is the subject closest to the verb.
It’s important to note that the “or” rule only applies to two subjects connected by “or.” If there are more than two subjects, the verb should agree with the subject closest to it. For example:
– The cat, dog, or hamster is your favorite pet.
In this case, the verb “is” agrees with “hamster” because it is the subject closest to the verb.
There are also cases where the “or” rule applies with negative subjects, such as “neither” and “nor.” For example:
– Neither the cat nor the dog is hungry.
– The dog or the cats are not playing in the yard.
In both of these examples, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an essential rule to follow in writing. However, the “or” rule can be a bit tricky to understand at first. Remember to always make sure the verb agrees with the subject closest to it when two subjects are connected by “or.” With practice, applying this rule will become second nature.