Each have or Each has

In the following sentence, is "each have" correct? Should it say "each has"? Thanks.

The rack feeder unit and priority rack set unit each have LEDs to show the status of each area.

chanbr said:

The rack feeder unit and priority rack set unit each have LEDs to show the status of each area.

Click to expand...

With 'each' in that position, the plural form of the verb is fine, but it would be singular in:

Each of the units, rack feeder and priority rack set, has ....

Not a teacher:

According to many opinions, "each have" is only more formal than "each has", so supposedly both are correct. However, and according to the same opinions, if it precedes the compound subject, the singular should be used, as in:

"Each boy and girl has reasons to be unhappy."

Can anyone one throw more light on this issue?

Mannysteps said:

Not a teacher:

According to many opinions, "each have" is only more formal than "each has", so supposedly both are correct. However, and according to the same opinions, if it precedes the compound subject, the singular should be used, as in:

"Each boy and girl has reasons to be unhappy."

Can anyone one throw more light on this issue?

Click to expand...

NOT A TEACHER


(1) I have checked my books and wish to report my findings to you.


(2) The use of "have" or "has" does NOT involve formality or

informality.

(3) RULE 1

If the word "each" comes before a compound subject, use the

singular.

(a) A book's example: Each boy and each girl is to work independently.

(b) Your excellent example: Each boy and [each] girl has reasons to be unhappy.

(4) RULE 2

If the word "each" comes after a plural subject, use the plural verb

(mentally ignore the word "each").

(a) A book's example:The athletes each are seeking more than

$50,000 .... (What's the subject? Answer: athletes. Therefore: are.)


(B) A book's example: The conservative and the liberal each have

voiced his opinion. (What's the subject? Answer: The conservative and

the liberal. Therefore: have.)

NOTES:

(a) That book does admit that some people would use "has" in the

sentence above. I strongly recommend that you do NOT. Just follow

Rule 2.

(b) That sentence comes from a 1972 book. Many people in the

year 2011 do not like the use of "his opinion." They say you should

say "his or her" or "their" opinion. Of course, I guess that you could

just say "an opinion." And -- of course -- it is OK to say "his" if both are

men; it is OK to say "her" if both are women!!!



Respectfully yours,


James


P.S. Thanks for your question. I learned a lot.

SOURCES:

Professors John C. Hodges and Mary E. Whitman, Harbrace College
Handbook (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1972).

Mr. Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern American Usage (New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998)

Thanks for your thorough research James. I can quite understand rule 2, since;

"The athletes each are seeking more than $50.000"

Stands for

"The athletes are individually seeking more than $50.000"

Regards,
M.

"The athletes each are seeking more than $50.000"

That sounds very odd to me, I'd put the 'each' after the verb.

Is it possible to say : "The athletes are seeking more than $50.000 each" ?Would "each" be an adverb here ?Thanks