Select the best word or words for the blank in the following sentence.
Either the corn dog or the onion rings ______ fried in peanut oil.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A subject must agree with its verb in number. The subject in this sentence is a compound subject (the corn dog and the onion rings).
When a compound subject consists of a two words connected by "or", "either/or", "neither/nor", or "not only/but also", you need to use a verb that agrees with the subject that is closest to the verb.
The closest word to the verb (onion rings) is singular so we need a singular verb (were fried).
Either the corn dog or the onion rings were fried in peanut oil.

Select the Best Word or Words for the Blank in the Following