09.04.2019 · Either/Neither with Mixed Singulars and Plurals A complication to these rules comes when one choice is singular and the other is plural. In this case, the general rule is that the verb should agree with the closest noun. In other words, when the either/neither phrase comes before the verb, the verb should agree with the second option.
Neither is usually used with a singular verb, as in "Neither one is here." But sometimes, especially when a prepositional phrase with a plural in it comes between neither and the verb, a plural …
(Here, "neither" is a pronoun. It is singular.) Singular Verb with Singular Elements If the pairings "either/or" (often the "either" is omitted) or "neither/nor" form part of the subject of a verb and both elements are singular, then the verb is singular too. For example: Neither Mark nor …
The reason it is sometimes plural is easy to see when you think about it. Neither serves as the negative counterpart of either, which is usually singular. But it also serves in the same way for both, which is usually plural.
“Neither” refers to two things. One of them is not selected, and the other one is not selected. “Neither one” is selected. So “neither” is usually thought of as “neither one.” That makes us select the verb that goes with singular subjects. If you want to really get logical about “none” it isn’t singular and it isn’t plural. “None” is “no one.”
11.07.2017 · When neither… nor… or either… or… are used with two singular nouns, the verb can be singular or plural. A plural verb is more informal. Certainly, there are constructions in which it is difficult to "keep track" of the number of the verb that is called for by the subject.
06.02.2010 · Usually they will take a singular verb if both parts of the structure are singular, as in Neither he nor his friend is ready, and if the first element is plural but the second element remains singular, the structure may still take a singular verb, as in Neither my friends nor my father is ready, although a plural is also possible.
May 05, 2011 · The answer to this is easy: It depends. Okay, not so easy. Both ‘none’ and ‘any’ can be either singular or plural, depending upon the context. If ‘you’ refers to multiple people, the verb would be plural; if ‘you’ refers to just one, the verb is singular.
Does neither/nor take a singular or plural verb? When neither and nor link singular terms, the verb is singular: Neither the car nor the truck is available.When neither and nor link a singular term and a plural one, put the plural term second and use a …
Neither is usually used with a singular verb, as in "Neither one is here." But sometimes, especially when a prepositional phrase with a plural in it comes between neither and the verb, a plural verb is used, as in "Neither of those are going to work."
Either is singular. Neither is also singular. 'Either/or' and 'neither/nor' are singular if their elements are singular, but treat the pairing as plural if ...
“Neither,” which means “not either,” negates each of two possibilities individually. Treat it as singular (“neither is”). In informal usage, it sometimes negates both things together and then takes a plural verb (“neither are”).
12.09.2015 · Either and neither are pronouns. But they can also be conjunctions (correlative), adjectives, determiners, and even adverbs. When either word is used as a pronoun and as the subject of a sentence or clause—and it’s the only subject—it takes a singular verb.
05.05.2011 · ‘Either’ and ‘neither’ are generally singular. There is an exception, however. If the word follows a choice between two or more alternatives, the verb should take the form of the closest alternative. Furthermore, if one alternative is singular and one is plural, it is preferred that you put the plural word last and use a plural verb.
If you want to really get logical about “none” it isn’t singular and it isn’t plural. “None” is “no one.” If it is “no one” or “not even one” that makes it nothing or zero: not singular, which is one, nor plural, which is more than one. However, when we use “none” we follow it with a phrase beginning