Rule 3
If the noun suggests one idea or refers to the same person the verb is singular.
See Some Examples
State whether the verb has been used correctly. If not, correct the sentence.
- Raya and Simone is good friends.
- The Prime Minister and party leader is present.
- The famous singer and composer have arrived.
- Bread and butter is my daily food.
- The teacher and the Principal of the college is my relatives.
- Knowledge and wisdom makes a man great.
- Smoking and drinking is injurious to health.
- The rising and setting of the sun cause day and night.
- Sodium and chlorine are the components of salt.
- The actor and director of this film is also its writer.
Rule 4
For subjects in the either/or or neither/nor pattern, the verb agrees with the noun closer to it.
Example 3
Neither my kittens nor my cat is hungry now.
See Some Examples
Fill in the blanks with the correct verb from the bracket
- Neither the paint nor the paper ______ [is/are] the right colour.
- Either the bus or the parents ____________ [has/have] to come and pick up the children.
- Neither man nor animals __________ [live/lives] without air.
- Either a large building or several small buildings _________ [is/are] to be built.
- Either the milk or the bottles _________ [was/were] unclean.