Syntax: Pronoun-Subject-Verb Agreement

Are either of the 2024 candidates acceptable to you? Or is neither candidate acceptable to you?

Distributive Determiners that Always Require a Singular Verb:

• Either/Neither: Refers to one (or not one) out of two items: “Neither of your claims is sufficient to convey standing.”
  • Exception—Neither/Nor OR Either/Or Constructions: Agree the verb with the noun that’s closer to nor/or: “Neither the plaintiff nor the defendants are willing to compromise.”
• Each: Refers to every one of two or more items, taken one-by-one: “Each additional day you wait is another day that justice is delayed.”

Distributive Determiners that Always Require a Plural Verb:

• Both: Refers to two items collectively: “Both parties are unwilling to compromise.”
• Few: Refers to a small number (but more than one) of something: “Few judges would entertain these claims.”
• Many: Refers to a larger number of something: “Many judges would reject this claim out-of-hand.”
• These/Those: Refer to multiple items that are either nearby (these) or further away (those): “These circumstances are unfortunate but not illegal.”

Context-Specific Distributive Determiners: Agreement depends on the noun referred to.

• Such:
  • Singular: “Such behavior is prohibited. ”
  • Plural: “Such actions are prohibited by law.”
• Any:
  • Singular: “Is any book missing from the stack?”
  • Plural: “Are there any books missing from the stack?”
• Some:
  • Singular: “There is some time left on the claim because of the tolling provision.”
  • Plural: “Some judges are more open to abstract state-standing theories than others.”

And now that each of you is well-versed in distributive determiners, here are a few practice problems!

[ays_quiz id="22"]