1-S Rule – 3 more situations

In the previous article, we saw the use of this rule in 4 situations (CLICK HERE TO READ). 

Continuing on this journey, we’re going to look at 3 more situations as follows:

1. FRACTIONS / PERCENTAGES / MAJORITY / MINORITY
2. TOGETHER WITH / ALONG WITH / AS WELL AS
3. EITHER / NEITHER

Let’s start:

FRACTIONS/PERCENTAGES/MAJORITY/MINORITY

These are expressions indicating parts and not the whole. So, the rule os countability – if you can count the noun, you use the plural. Okay, I’ll make it simpler.

1. Four-fifths of the grain has been consumed. (HAS because you can’t count grains)
2. A fourth of the returns were false. (WERE because you can count the returns)

• A majority of the committee was of the opinion that the writ should be filed. (committee is non-count)

1. More than half the milk was spoilt. (you can’t count milk)

TOGETHER WITH/ALONG WITH/AS WELL AS

These phrases are only additional information and do not affect the subject-verb agreement (1-S Rule). So we can have the following:

1. The man, together with his friends, has gone to the club. (The relevant bit is the man has gone)
2. The captain, as well as her players, is practicing on the grounds.

Let’s look at some other examples:

• The girl, with all her faults, was very adorable.

1. The manager, along with his subordinates, is waiting for the memo.
2. The students, who were selected to the team, have been given time off.

EITHER/NEITHER

(WITHOUT OR/NOR)

Both these expressions, either and neither, are used in the singular.

1. Either of the options is fine by me.
2. Neither the company car nor a travel allowance is suitable for me.

(WITH OR/NOR)

This is the tricky part:

If you have either + or, or neither + nor, the condition changes. Here the number of the noun near the OR or NOR will determine whether the verb is plural or singular.

Okay, I’ll clarify with examples.

1. 1. 1. Either my Mother or my sisters are attending the ceremony.
      2. Either my sisters or my Mother is attending the ceremony. 
      3. Neither the captain nor his teammates were in the know of things. 
      4. Neither his teammates nor the captain was in the know of things.

I call this the Principle of Proximity. The proximate noun determines the number of the verb.

In the next and final article, we’re going to look at the following two situations (CLICK HERE TO READ):

1. 1. 1. ONE OF/SOME OF
      2. THE IN-BETWEEN PHRASES