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Viceidol Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

"Either half of the cake is/are mine."?

May I ask a question about the usage of "either"? Please look at the following sentence first:

Either of the students is/are able to speak good English.

My grammar book says it's OK to use either "is" or "are" in the above sentence. But how about this one?

Either half of the cake is mine.

Either half of the cake are mine.

Is it still OK to use either "is" or "are" in the above sentences? I cannot figure it out and hope you could help me. Emotion: smileThank you very much!
  

Top answer

Viceidol May I ask a question about the usage of "either"? Please look at the following sentence first: Either of the students is / are able to speak good English. My grammar book says it's OK to use either " is " or " are " in the above sentence.

— Philip

  • Viceidol May I ask a question about the usage of "either"?
  • Please look at the following sentence first: Either of the students is / are able to speak good English.
  • My grammar book says it's OK to use either " is " or " are " in the above sentence.
  • But how about this one?
  • Either half of the cake is mine.
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2 Answers
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ViceidolMay I ask a question about the usage of "either"? Please look at the following sentence first:

Either of the students is/are able to speak good English.

My grammar book says it's OK to use either "is" or "are" in the above sentence. But how about this one?

Either

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In Section 174.2 of Practical English Usage, Michael Swan says that "A verb after 'either of' is more often singular...": 'Either of the children is perfectly capable of looking after the baby.'
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