Read each sentence to find out whether there is an error or errors in any…
2023
Read each sentence to find out whether there is an error or errors in any underlined part(s). If there is no error in a sentence, select ‘None of the above’.
Neither you nor he are guilty.
Answer: C. are guilty. — ConceptIn correlative constructions such as neither…nor and either…or, the finite verb generally agrees with the subject nearest to it. A singular nearer…
- A.
Neither you
- B.
nor he
- C.
are guilty.
- D.
More than one of the above
- E.
None of the above
Attempted by 13 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
In correlative constructions such as neither…nor and either…or, the finite verb generally agrees with the subject nearest to it.
A singular nearer subject takes a singular verb; a plural nearer subject takes a plural verb.
Application
The correlative subjects are “you” and “he”.
The subject nearest to the verb is “he”, which is third-person singular.
The sentence uses “are guilty”; agreement with “he” requires “is guilty”.
Contrast
“Neither you” correctly begins the correlative pair.
“nor he” correctly completes the pair and supplies the nearer subject.
“More than one of the above” would require errors in at least two listed segments, whereas the agreement analysis isolates the verb phrase.
“None of the above” would require the sentence to be error-free, but the verb form needs correction.
Result
Therefore, the error is in “are guilty.” The corrected sentence is: “Neither you nor he is guilty.”