3. When the verb applies to one subject and not to the others, it should agree with that subject to which it applies; as, The employee, and not the employers, was to blame, The employers, and not the employee, were to blame, The boy, as well as his sisters, deserves praise.

4. When the verb applies separately to several subjects, each in the singular, the verb should be singular; as, Each book and each paper was in its place, No help and no hope is found for him, Either one or the other is he, Neither one nor the other is he.

5. When the verb applies separately to several subjects, some of which are singular and some plural, it should agree with the subject nearest to it; as, Neither the boy, nor his sisters deserve praise, Neither the sisters nor the boy deserves praise.

6. When a verb separates its subjects, it should agree with the first; as, The leader was slain and all his men, The men were slain, and also the leader.

Exercise 42

Choose the proper form of the verb in the following sentences:

  1. Hard and soft coal is are used.
  2. The boy and the girl have has come.
  3. Neither James nor I are is to go.
  4. Neither James nor they are is to go.
  5. Henry, and not his sister, is are sure to be invited.
  6. The children and their father was were on the train.
  7. Each man and each woman was were present.
  8. Either Tennyson or Wordsworth was were the author of that poem.
  9. Either the man or his children was were lost.
  10. Either the children or their father was were lost.
  11. Bread and milk are is frugal but wholesome fare.
  12. The teacher was were cut off by the fire, and also her pupils.
  13. The pupils was were cut off by the fire, and also the teacher.
  14. Dogs and cats is are useless animals.
  15. Neither the daughters nor their mother is are at home.
  16. Either the soldier or his officers is are mistaken.
  17. The cat and all her kittens was were at the door.
  18. Tennyson, not Wordsworth, were was the author.
  19. Each of the trustees has have a vote.
  20. Our success or our failure is are due solely to ourselves.
  21. Neither sincerity nor cordiality characterize characterizes him.
  22. Everyone of these chairs is are mine.
  23. Each day and each hour bring brings new questions.
  24. The car and all its passengers was were blown up.
  25. The ambition and activity of the man has have been the cause causes of his success.
  26. Old and new hay is are equally good for horses.
  27. Matthew or Paul are is responsible for that belief.
  28. A man, a woman, and a child is are comprised in the group.
  29. The pupils and also the teacher were was embarrassed.
  30. The teacher and also the pupils were was embarrassed.
  31. Neither he nor I are is am going.
  32. Book after book was were taken from the shelves.
  33. Either Aunt Mary or her daughters is are coming.
  34. Either the daughters or Aunt Mary is are coming.
  35. Aunt Mary, but not her daughters, is are coming.
  36. The daughters, but not Aunt Mary, is are coming.
  37. Both Aunt Mary and her daughter is are coming.
  38. Mary, and not her mother, is are coming.
  39. No preacher and no woman is are allowed to enter.
  40. Every adult man and woman has have a vote.
  41. Money, if not culture, gains gain a way.
  42. Brain power, as well as money, talk talks.
  43. Each boy and girl bring brings books.

64. Some miscellaneous cautions in regard to agreement in number:

1. Do not use a plural verb after a singular subject modified by an adjective phrase; as, The thief, with all his booty, was captured.

2. Do not use a singular form of the verb after you and they. Say: You were, they are, they were, etc., not, you was, they was, etc.