Skip to the main content

GED writing practice: verbs with an either-or subject

Question 22 of 36Agreement, harder cases

Which choice fills the blank so that the verbs agree with their subject?
Each evening, either the office manager or the two assistants ________ the mail and the packages.

Have an account? Practice there to keep your work and feedback.

How to approach this kind of question

Some subjects have two parts joined by "and," "or" or "nor." Find both parts first, then look at the word that joins them. Parts joined by "and" make a plural subject. With "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the part that sits closer to it. When the blank holds two verbs, check each one, because a choice is right only when both verbs match.

Practice this skill and more

Free to start. Your work saves itself.