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Jack112 Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Neither

0 1. It looks like neither 01b00have02b00 windows. (Is 'have' correct here? Should it be 'has' ? What is the subject for 'have'?) 02br
02br
002. It looks either one of them 01b00has02b00 it. (Is 'has' correct here? What is the subject for 'has'?) 02br
02br
00Thanks. 0-
  

Top answer

0 The prescriptive rule has it that 'neither' and 'either' take the singular verb, so "Neither has windows" ('neither' is the subject) and "Either one of them has it" ('one' is the subject). 02br 02br 00In everyday conversation, however, it is quite common to hear the plural verb with 'neither' if a plural word ends the entire noun phrase which forms the subject. 02br 02br 00Neither is very good.

— CalifJim

  • 0 The prescriptive rule has it that 'neither' and 'either' take the singular verb, so "Neither has windows" ('neither' is the subject) and "Either one of them has it" ('one' is the subject).
  • 02br 02br 00In everyday conversation, however, it is quite common to hear the plural verb with 'neither' if a plural word ends the entire noun phrase which forms the subject.
  • 02br 02br 00Neither is very good.
  • 02br 00Neither of the boys are very well behaved.
  • (More properly, "is") 02br 02br 00Either is acceptable.
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1 Answers
0
0 The prescriptive rule has it that 'neither' and 'either' take the singular verb, so "Neither has windows" ('neither' is the subject) and "Either one of them has it" ('one' is the subject). 02br
02br
00In everyday conversation, however, it is quite common to hear the plural verb with 'neither' if a plural word ends the entire noun phrase which forms the subject. 02br
0

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