We have touched in prior articles on the topic of singular and plural nouns that is a source of continuous errors for those who start learning English, as they sometimes forget the s in a plural noun or use an article where none is required. Today we are going to explore the verbs that we should use when there are various subjects of a phrase and we are not sure whether the verb needs to agree with a plural or singular subject.

1. Let’s start with : Every one of the hats is dirty OR Every one of the hats are dirty. Yes we use is because we are describing one subject at a time. In fact, the words and phrases “each,” “each one,” “either,” “neither,” “everyone,” “everybody,” “anyone,” “anybody,” “nobody,” “somebody,” “someone,” and “no one” are singular and require a singular verb.
2. And: The art student and the art committee members writes/write every day. When we have and phrases the verb is plural so write is correct.
3. However, John or Peter will teach/teaches the class today. When singular subjects are connected by OR or NOR we use singular verbs and so in this case teaches.
4. How about: “Either the sculpture or the paintings is/are in the museum today.”  Mmh more difficult.

Or: Neither she nor I is/are/am getting the lunch special. Not easy at all. The correct phrases are:

Either the sculpture or the paintings are in the museum today

Neither she nor I am getting the lunch special.

The question is why! What is the criteria we need to follow? Well, if you notice, the verb follows the subject that is closest to the verb. Yes, it is called the proximity rule, which means if you were to change the order of the two nouns then you would correctly say: Either the paintings or the sculpture IS in the museum today.  As I said previously, English is all about sound, it sounds better if the subject closest to the verb is followed by a verb that agrees with that noun.