Foundation
English
Sentences
Sentences
Sentences
Question

Identify the verb which will fill the blank suitably:

Either she or the men  ______ to go to the principal.

Has
have
Both
None of these
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Solution
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This question tests the concept of subject-verb agreement with compound subjects joined by "or" or "nor".

When two subjects are joined by "or" or "nor", the verb must agree with the subject that is closer to it. This is known as the proximity rule.

Let's break down the sentence:

Subject 1: "she" (singular)

Joining word: "or"

Subject 2: "the men" (plural)

Verb: ______

Step 1: Identify the subject nearest to the verb. In this sentence, "the men" is closer to the blank than "she".

Step 2: The verb must agree with this nearest subject. "The men" is a plural noun, so it requires a plural verb.

Step 3: The plural form of the verb "to have" is "have".

Therefore, the correct verb to fill the blank is have.

Complete Sentence: Either she or the men have to go to the principal.

Related Topic: Subject-Verb Agreement

This is a fundamental rule in grammar that ensures a verb matches its subject in number (singular or plural). With compound subjects (subjects joined by 'and', 'or', 'nor'), specific rules apply to determine the correct verb form.

Key Formulae/Rules

  • Rule for 'or'/'nor': The verb agrees with the subject that is closest to it.
  • Singular subject + singular verb (e.g., She has...)
  • Plural subject + plural verb (e.g., The men have...)