Verb agreement: Compound subjects with “or” and “nor”

When two or more subjects are joined by the conjunctions or, either…or or neither…nor, the verb agrees with the subject nearest to the verb:

• Atsuko or Sam is bringing sushi. [The verb is is singular to agree with Sam.]
• Either Atsuko or her parents have made rice. [The verb have is plural to agree with parents.]
• Has either Atsuko or her parents made rice? [The verb has is singular to agree with Atsuko.]
• Neither Sam’s parents nor his sister has brought noodles. [The verb has is singular to agree with sister.]
• Neither Sam’s sister nor his parents have brought noodles. [The verb have is plural to agree with parents.]

Additional information

• Verb agreement: Compound subjects with “and”

Quizzes

• Subject-verb agreement: Compound subjects