Has/Have either of you...?
- Thread starter tufguy
- Start date
"Either", like "each", is singular, and you should therefore use the singular form.
I second GreenWhiteBlue.
“The Cambridge Guide to English Usage” had an example in the section of either and neither:
“Neither of their suggestions appeal(s) to us.”
“In such cases the plural verb could be prompted by proximity agreement… the singular construction sounds more precise and stylistically more formal; but examples of the plural verb could be found in written data analyzed for the Longman Grammar.”
either | meaning of either in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE
neither | meaning of neither in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE
The use of a plerual verb here might only be accepted in speech and informal writing.
Last edited:
Both are used, I think. If you are seeking to impress with your erudition, it is safer to use the singular.
"Correct/wrong" is not precise. Language isn't mathematics, with precise yes/no lines.
Where did you see this sentence? What is the source?
Where did you see this sentence? What is the source?
Be considered wrong by who? Your friend on the bus? Your teacher in English class? A magazine editor on the internet?
This Ngram seems to show that both "have" and "has" are commonly used, so both are correct:
Google Books Ngram Viewer
Either of you have 
Either of you has
Either of you has
Our dictionary has a couple of user notes.
I find this useful: "When EITHER is followd by a prepositional phrase with a plural object, there is a tendency ro use a plural verb, but a singular verb is more common."
Example sentences given:
Either of them is (or are) good enough.
Either of the shrubs grows (or grow) well in this soil.
I find this useful: "When EITHER is followd by a prepositional phrase with a plural object, there is a tendency ro use a plural verb, but a singular verb is more common."
Example sentences given:
Either of them is (or are) good enough.
Either of the shrubs grows (or grow) well in this soil.
Since "either of them" means "either one of them", I don't see how a plural verb can be considered correct.
Since when has the English language been that logical? I think a singular verb is the safest choice.
I have no strong feelings on this myself, but sentence 2 in post #1 sounds strange to me:"Are either of you ready to go?"
Is either of you ready to go?
I think a singular verb is the safest choice.I have no strong feelings on this myself, but sentence 2 in post #1 sounds strange to me:"Are either of you ready to go?"
Is either of you ready to go?
I see you are skillfully using the passive to avoid specifying who you mean!
Yes, some self-appointed prescriptive grammarians will say it is “ungrammatical”, and various other people will heed their advice.
Last edited:
If I hadn't checked Ngrams, my reply would match post #10. But if people say it (even if I don't) it is correct.
Maybe singular is "old-school" and plural is more recent. I remember the 1973 hit song (Gladys Knight & the Pips):
Neither one of us wants to be the first to say goodbye.
If I were just talking and not thinking about it, I would definitely say "Are either of you ready?" or "Have either of you___?" It's not standard, but it is how plenty of native speakers talk, myself included.
If the question is about which to use in writing or English class though, stick with standardized grammar: either = singular
If the question is about which to use in writing or English class though, stick with standardized grammar: either = singular