0
Khoff Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

have or has?

1font00This question arose at my husband's office, and I said I would consult all you experts:02font02br
02br
01font00"If you or Betty have/has any questions, please call me."02font02br
02br
00My instinctive answer to this was "have," but I couldn't really explain why I think the "you" form of the verb (have) should take precedence over the "Betty" form of the verb (has), unless it's because you could think of it as having parentheses around "or Betty." However, the more variations I consider, the less sure I am of how to explain the guiding principles.02br
02br
01font00If either you or Betty have/has any questions . . .02font02br
02br
01font00If you and/or Betty have/has any qeustions . . . 01font02font02font02br
02br
01font00If Bob or Betty have/has any questions . . .02font02br
02br
01font00If either Bob or Betty have/has any questions . . . 02font02br
02br
01font00If Bob and/or Betty have/has any questions . . . 02font02br
02br
01font00If anyone has any questions 02font00(obviously not have, because any01i00one02i00) 02br
02br
01font00If any of you have/has any questions 02font00(have inplies only one questioner; has implies several)02br
02br
00Opinions, anyone? Thanks.02br
02br
00(edited to correct a typo)0-
  

Top answer

0I've been taught that when the subject has an "or," you make the verb agree with the subject the verb is closer to. But when you have 01i 00either02i 00, it01i 00 02i 00takes singular 3rd person -01i 00 if either has02i 00 is the same as 01i 00if either B or B has02i 02br 02br 00But on the other hand, sometimes using "correct grammar" can make you sound awkward or pedantic. And the rule of not "stopping" your reader with awkwardness trumps proper grammar, so in cases where there is a conflict between the two, whenever possible, rewrite.

— BarbaraPA

  • 0I've been taught that when the subject has an "or," you make the verb agree with the subject the verb is closer to.
  • But when you have 01i 00either02i 00, it01i 00 02i 00takes singular 3rd person -01i 00 if either has02i 00 is the same as 01i 00if either B or B has02i 02br 02br 00But on the other hand, sometimes using "correct grammar" can make you sound awkward or pedantic.
  • And the rule of not "stopping" your reader with awkwardness trumps proper grammar, so in cases where there is a conflict between the two, whenever possible, rewrite.
  • After Bob and Betty have read this, if either of them has any questions...
  • 02br 02br 00Or (tongue firmly in cheek) - if Betty has any questions, she can call me.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

10 Answers
0
0I've been taught that when the subject has an "or," you make the verb agree with the subject the verb is closer to. But when you have 01i00either02i00, it01i00 02i00takes singular 3rd person -01i00 if either has02i00 is the same as 01i00if either B or B has02i02br
02br
00But on the other
0
0
0
AnonymousTom have a balloon

has = 3rd person singular.
Tom has a balloon.
0
0
"If you or Betty have/has any questions, please call me." (has)

If either you or Betty have/has any questions . . . (has)

If you and/or Betty have/has any qeustions . . . (...you and Betty have; ... you or Betty has ... )

If Bob or Betty have/has any questions .
0
0
This is an old thread, but I remember asking the same question because I was confused by what grammar books said. It turned out both are ok, singular or plural, possibly depending on the situation. I personally tend to use the singular if I feel I somehow want to separate the two subjects (works especially with "either... or"):
If either you or your partner needs help with... call 1-800
0
0
Hi Kooyeen

I believe the natives seldom refer to grammar and English usage books because they speak English since they were very young, and so they do not have to refer to such books, If you bother to refer to grammar or English usage books, you will be able to find the rule and that is the verb has to agree with the noun closest to it. GG mentioned this earlier if I'm not wrong..
0
0
Or (tongue firmly in cheek) - if Betty has any questions, she can call me. That goes for you too.
Did you mean like, " If you has any questions, you can call me"
But we generally say " If you have any questions, you can call me". Which one is correct?
0
0
nagavikaschDid you mean like, " If you has any questions, you can call me"But we generally say " If you have any questions, you can call me". Which one is correct?
The second is correct. The first is not.
0
0

Related Questions