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subject verb agreement

which one is right?
1) Either the king or his sons have gone there.
2)Either the king or his sons has gone there.
and why?

Re: subject verb agreement

Toki Tahmid
which one is right?
1) Either the king or his sons have gone there.
2)Either the king or his sons has gone there.
and why?


Hi Toki

There's no simple answer.

(1) Either the king or his sons has/have gone there.

In a positive sentence like (1) where the coordinates are of a different number, neither singular nor plural feels right: whichever we choose, there will be conflict between the number of the verb and the number of one of the coordinates. Usage manuals generally invoke the principle of proximity, saying that the verb should agree with the nearest coordinate. That rule would select plural "have". In practice, however, many speakers feel uncomfortable with both forms and look for a way of avoiding the conflict, e.g. by using a modal auxiliary which has no agreement properties: "Either the king or his sons could have gone there".

(2) I don't think either the king or his sons has/have gone there.

Things are different in (2) where the coordination is within the scope of a negative where a negated "or" entails that all coordinates fail to have the property in question. It conveys that both the king and his sons have not gone there. This makes the plural "have" sound better, though it would still generally be avoided in formal style.

Does that answer your question?

PaulM

Re: subject verb agreement

thanks

Re: subject verb agreement

The rules are:

2. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by 'or' or 'nor', use a singular verb.
The book or the pen is in the drawer.

3. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb.

The boy or his friends run every day.
His friends or the boy runs every day.

1) Either the king or his sons have gone there.

When composing such compound subjects yourself, it is preferable to put the plural noun/pronoun second and use a plural verb - as you have done!

Re: subject verb agreement

Claire
The rules are:

2. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by 'or' or 'nor', use a singular verb.
The book or the pen is in the drawer.

The OP was no doubt aware of that.

3. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb.

The boy or his friends run every day.
His friends or the boy runs every day.

1) Either the king or his sons have gone there.

You've more or less repeated the elementary points I made in my more comprehensive reply. The OP had already replied with a "thanks" which should have been sufficient to indicate that he was satisfied with the reply.