Fill in the blanks with a verb form that agrees with the subject.
1. Neither James nor his children ………………………. English.
When we connect a singular noun and a plural noun with neither/nor, the verb agrees in number and person with the noun following nor.
2. Neither Sam nor his brother ………………………
When we connect two singular nouns with neither/nor, the verb is singular.
3. The farmer along with his children ……………………. hard day and night.
When we connect two nouns with along with, the verb agrees with the former.
4. Neither you nor he ……………………….. capable of doing this.
When we connect two pronouns with neither/nor, the verb agrees in number and person with the pronoun following nor.
5. The writer and orator ……………………. no more.
Here both nouns refer to the same person and hence we use a singular verb. If they referred to different persons, we would use the article before each noun.
6. The man as well as his wife …………………….. guilty.
When we connect two nouns with as well as, the verb agrees with the former in number and person.
7. Being bilingual ……………………….. an advantage in the modern world.
Here the subject is the gerund phrase being bilingual. It is considered singular.
8. Trespassing ……………………… prohibited.
9. When we were children, we ……………………… long hours playing.
10. How they escaped ……………………. a mystery.
When the subject is a noun clause, the verb is singular.
11. Despite ………………………. rich, he is not happy.
12. Neither you nor I ………………………….. right.
When we connect two pronouns with neither/nor, the verb agrees with the pronoun following nor.
Answers
- Neither James nor his children speak English.
- Neither Sam nor his brother works.
- The farmer along with his children toils hard day and night.
- Neither you nor he is capable of doing this.
- The writer and orator is no more.
- The man as well as his wife is guilty.
- Being bilingual is an advantage in the modern world.
- Trespassing is prohibited.
- When we were children, we would spend long hours playing.
- How they escaped is a mystery.
- Despite being rich, he is not happy.
- Neither you nor I am right.
