Fill in the blanks.
1. Neither pleasure nor pain ……………………… to move him.
When we connect two singular nouns with neither/nor, the verb is singular.
2. Neither the master nor his servants …………………………… present in the barn.
When we connect a singular noun and a plural noun with neither/nor, the verb agrees with the number and person of the noun closest to it.
3. No nook or corner ……………………………. left unsearched.
When we connect two singular nouns with or, the verb is singular.
4. Either you or I ……………………………… mistaken.
When we connect two nouns with either/or, the verb agrees in number and person with the noun closest to it.
5. Neither you nor he ……………………………… right.
When we connect two nouns with neither/nor, the verb agrees in number and person with the noun closest to it.
6. None of them …………………………. arrived.
A singular verb is used after none.
7. All of his books …………………………. worth reading.
Use a plural verb after all.
8. She is getting married to Sam, who ………………………… her college mate.
The verb in the relative clause agrees with its antecedent in number and person.
9. I who …………………………….. your patron will never desert you.
10. A lot of work ………………………………. to be done.
When a lot of is followed by an uncountable noun, the verb is singular in number.
11. A lot of people ……………………………….. in ghosts.
When a lot of followed by a plural noun, the verb is plural in number.
12. There ……………………….. been many studies on this subject.
When the noun following there is plural, the verb is plural.
Answers
- Neither pleasure nor pain seems to move him.
- Neither the master nor his servants were present in the barn.
- No nook or corner was left unsearched.
- Either you or I am mistaken.
- Neither you nor he is right.
- None of them has arrived.
- All of his books are worth reading.
- She is getting married to Sam, who was her college mate.
- I who am your patron will never desert you.
- A lot of work needs to be done.
- A lot of people believe in ghosts.
- There have been many studies on this subject.
