Page 63 - English Grammar - 6

If a subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If a subject is plural, the verb must be
plural. For example:

The player is in the stadium.
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singular singular
subject verb
The players are in the stadium.
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plural plural
subject verb
When two words or groups of words are joined together with or, the verb should be singular.
For example:

Sangeeta or Kapil has done this work.
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Two singular subjects connected by either…or, or neither…nor require a singular verb. For
example:

Julie or Sheela is picking me this evening.
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Neither Julie nor Sheela is coming for the film.
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Either Julie or Sheela is helping us with the charity sale.
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When the subject has two nouns, which are joined together and treated as one, the verb
should be singular. For example:

Bread and butter is a good breakfast for me.
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When two nouns come together to represent the same person, and the article the is put
before the first noun, the verb should be singular. For example:

The secretary and cashier of this office is a good person.
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When two nouns which come together to represent two different people and the article the
is placed before each one of them, the verb should be plural. For example:

The landlord and the tenant of this building are good people.
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For a noun expressing quantity or amount as one unit, the verb should be in singular.
For example:

Nowadays, ten rupees is not a big amount. Subject-Verb Agreement
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Some More Rules to Remember for Subject–Verb Agreement

The verb in a sentence with either…or or neither…nor agrees with the noun or pronoun
closest to it. For example:

Neither the cakes nor the pudding is ready as of now.
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Either the dog or the cats are going with me.
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We use a plural verb with two or more subjects connected by and. For example:
A book and a pen are his most precious possessions.
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