Either your father or your brothers ______ to visit Uncle Bill next weekend.
Which of the following options correctly completes the sentence above?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct option is "are going". A subject must agree with its verb in number. The subject in this sentence is a compound subject (your father or your brothers). When a compound subject consists of a singular word (your father) and a plural word (your brothers) connected by the words or, either/or, neither/nor, or not only/but also, choose a verb that agrees with the subject that is closest to the verb. The closest word to the verb (your brothers) is plural so we need a plural verb (are going).
The verb phrase "was going" would require a singular subject.
The verb phrase "is going" would require a singular subject.
The use of the verb phrase "be going" does not make sense within this sentence.

Either Your Father or Your Brothers ______ to Visit Uncle