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Df2006 Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Subject Verb Agreement when using correlative conjunctions
I understand that when two subjects, one singular and one plural, are joined by either/or or neither/nor, the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
e.g. Either Mary or her parents ARE wrong.
Neither her parents nor Mary IS going.
However, what about these two?
1. Neither of us is wrong.
2. Neither of us are wrong.
Which is correct?
Thank you.
Donna
e.g. Either Mary or her parents ARE wrong.
Neither her parents nor Mary IS going.
However, what about these two?
1. Neither of us is wrong.
2. Neither of us are wrong.
Which is correct?
Thank you.
Donna
Top answer
In a way both! Your second example is one of proximity concord. This happens frequently in natural speech and is the tendency for concord to be linked to the closest noun or pronoun rather than the head or subject noun.
- In a way both!
- Your second example is one of proximity concord.
- This happens frequently in natural speech and is the tendency for concord to be linked to the closest noun or pronoun rather than the head or subject noun.
- ” Grammatical Concord Although frequently used in speech by native speakers, proximity concord is considered “incorrect” in formal written English.
- ) Hope that helps...
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7 Answers
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In a way both!
Your second example is one of proximity concord. This happens frequently in natural speech and is the tendency for concord to be linked to the closest noun or pronoun rather than the head or subject noun. Therefore:
“None of them were good enough.” Proximity Concord
Versus
“None of them was good enough.” Grammatical Concord
Althou
Your second example is one of proximity concord. This happens frequently in natural speech and is the tendency for concord to be linked to the closest noun or pronoun rather than the head or subject noun. Therefore:
“None of them were good enough.” Proximity Concord
Versus
“None of them was good enough.” Grammatical Concord
Althou
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Df2006I must admit, I would say "are" in the 2nd examp
I understand that when two subjects, one singular and one plural, are joined by either/or or neither/nor, the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
e.g. Either Mary or her parents ARE wrong.
Neither her parents nor Mary IS going.
00
Not at all! But then again it wouldn't, would it?
That's it's called proximity concord and is used by 'most' native speakers when we speak...
That's it's called proximity concord and is used by 'most' native speakers when we speak...
00
Sorry, TS, I meant I would use "are" in this example, not your second one:
1. Neither her parents nor Mary ___ going.
Which should be "is", by the rule of proximity. Yet "are" sounds more natural to me.
MrP
1. Neither her parents nor Mary ___ going.
Which should be "is", by the rule of proximity. Yet "are" sounds more natural to me.
MrP
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It doesn't sound terrible. Logically, we know we are talking about three people, so "are" sounds right.
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I would probably say Neither her parents nor Mary are going (Not her parents AND not Mary are going), but write Neither her parents nor Mary is going on an exam, although it's not very likely that I'll ever be taking such an exam.
CJ
CJ
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