Barrons Writing Question Mistake? Help

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>Identify, name and correct the error in the sentence: </p>

<p>Either Don or you is going to lead the class discussion on Tuesday. </p>

<p>I thought: Since its two different pronouns referring to the same subject, the answer should be: Either Don or you (are) going to lead the class discussion on Tuesday. </p>

<p>Is this my error or the error of the book? The book says the original sentence is correct...?</p>

<p>Also how come there is a plural verb used for some "Either<strong><em>or</em></strong><em>" or "Neither</em><strong><em>nor</em></strong>_" sentences while some use a singular verb? For example...</p>

<p>1) Either a pineapple or some oranges are on the table (This is the correct form, and uses a plural verb)</p>

<p>2) Neither my history teacher nor my economics teacher plans to discuss the crisis. (This is also the correct form, yet it uses a singular verb) </p>

<p>Please explain!</p>

2

<p>When you have “or” as a conjunction, the verb must match the closest subject.</p>

3

<p>I’ll elaborate. When “either,” “neither,” and “both” are used as correlative conjunctions (“either ___ or ____”), the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.</p>

<p>When “either,” “neither,” and “both” are used as indefinate pronouns (“either of them”), the verb agreement is independent upon the intervening prepositional phrase and is always the same:</p>

<p>“either” = singular
“neither” = singular
“both” = plural</p>

4

<p>is this true for all cases? and you mean that WHENEVER i see “or” or “nor” on the identifying errors section of the SAT, if it is not a singular verb, it is an error? im still a little confused…could you use ur explanation in an example? think it’ll make it easier for me and others with my predicament. thanks!</p>

5

<p>Here are some examples I’ve come up with involving subject-verb agreement with correlative conjunctions and indefinate pronouns (all should be correct):</p>

<p>Bob and Sue are gigantic. </p>

<p>Either Bob or Sue is gigantic.</p>

<p>Bob and Sue are gigantic.</p>

<p>Both Bob and Sue are gigantic.</p>

<p>Either of them is gigantic.</p>

<p>Neither of them is gigantic.</p>

<p>The turtle and chickens are super cool.</p>

<p>Either the turtle or the chickens are super cool.</p>

<p>Either the chickens or the turtle is super cool.</p>

<p>Either of you is able to go.</p>

6

<p>“and you mean that WHENEVER i see ‘or’ or ‘nor’ on the identifying errors section of the SAT, if it is not a singular verb, it is an error?”</p>

<p>Nope. When “or” or “nor” is used, the verb matches the closest subject.</p>

7

<p>I’ll type up a comprehensive guide to subject-verb agreement soon.</p>

8

<p>SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT</p>

<p>I. Coordinating Conjunctions</p>

<ul>
<li>AND - When “and” is used to link two noun phrases, the verb is always plural.</li>
</ul>

<p>Examples: He and I are hungry. The book and the dog are yellow. The hippos and the monkey are extinct. There are a goldfish and a hamster in my pants.</p>

<pre><code> When “and” is used to link two nouns so that a collective noun is formed, the verb is singular.
</code></pre>

<p>Examples: Macaroni and cheese tastes like food. </p>

<ul>
<li>OR - When “or” is used to link two noun phrases, the verb matches the subject closest to it.<br></li>
</ul>

<p>Examples: The dog or the preparatory book is going to be my dinner. The desks or the ceiling is going down at 3:00. The water or the dinners are happy. There is a clock or bananas under the floorboards. There are bananas or a clock under the floorboards. </p>

<p>II. Correlative Conjunctions</p>

<ul>
<li>EITHER ___ OR, NEITHER ____ NOR - The rule for these conjunctions is similar to that stated above for “or:” the verb agrees with the closer subject.</li>
</ul>

<p>Examples: Either the happy soup-maker or his watches are upset. Either the chap-sticks or the cube is round. Neither the ceiling nor the floor is around me. Neither the floors nor the walls are in this sentence. </p>

<ul>
<li>BOTH ___ AND - This construction always results in a plural verb.</li>
</ul>

<p>Examples: Both the word and its letters are about to be written. Both the hat and the head are flubber. </p>

<p>III. Indefinite Pronouns</p>

<ul>
<li>EACH, EITHER, NEITHER, MUCH, -ONE, -BODY, -THING - These pronouns always agree with singular verbs; the intervening prepositional phrases are irrelevant.</li>
</ul>

<p>Examples: Each of you is a winner. Neither of them is happy. Much of the student body is living. Everyone is supper. Nobody is under fire. </p>

<ul>
<li>FEW, OTHERS, MANY, BOTH, SEVERAL - These pronouns always agree with plural verbs; the intervening prepositional phrases are irrelevant.</li>
</ul>

<p>Examples: Few of the people are dead. Others are awake. Many of the colors are non-existant. Both of you are hard-working. Several of them are not.</p>

<p>-SOME, ANY, ALL, MOST, NONE - These pronouns’ agreement varies based on the referent, usually found in the intervening prepositional phrase; they can be either singular or plural. If the referent is singular, the verb is singular; if the referent is plural, so is the verb.</p>

<p>Examples: Some of you are coming tonight. Some of the pie is nice. Any of them are able to excavate. None of it is enough. None of them are happy.</p>

9

<p>Thanks for all your help silverturtle…but i have a quick question</p>

<p>from your previous post, how is “Either of you is able to go” correct? </p>

<p>I thought that it would be either of you are…?</p>

10

<p>Actually, after review, i understand my mistake. Your responses were of GREAT help Silverturtle, my problems with the W section are now clear! (almost…). But thanks for alll your help.</p>

11

<p>No problem.</p>

12

<p>Wait…</p>

<p>I thought it would be “either don or you are”</p>

<p>still because it’s the “either or” construction, and the closest one to the verb is “you”</p>

<p>It doesn’t make sense to say “you is” so why is that the correct answer?</p>

13

<p>If you’re using “you” with a singular intention, “either Don or you is” is the correct form.</p>

<p>If, however, you’re using “you” with a plural intention, “either Don or you are” is the correct form.</p>

14

<p>you (singular) are…
you (plural) are …</p>

<p>You does not take “is”</p>

15

<p>What you’re saying is irrelevant to what silverturtle was talking about. He was talking about “you” in terms of correlative conjunctions; however, you are talking about it as though it were the only subject in the clause.</p>