Which is the Correct Verb Tense?

Question

I've provided my answers to the following exercise questions. Please let me know if I'm on the right track. Thanks!!

Which of the following sentences have correct verb tenses?

a) Neither Sandra nor Pauline is are able to join the dance classes on Mondays, but they maybe able come to the Friday afternoon sessions.

---> No is incorrect

b) Ogden Nash wrote, "The sound of canaries never varies, and when they're moulting, they're pretty revolting."

---> Yes is correct

c) I've attempted to understand the philosphy of existentialism, but frankly I'm finding its precepts too depressing.

---> Yes is correct

d) I opened a letter from my uncle in England to learn that he will be coming to see me next June.

---> Yes is correct

e) Our alarm system is reasonably effective, but sometimes it went off accidentally.

---> No is incorrect

f) With the famous words, "Frankly Scalett, I don't give a damn," Rhett turned away walked out the door and leaves Scarlett forever.

---> Yes is correct

g) My cousin is going to order the airline tickets, but i promised that I'll pay for them when they arrive.

---> Yes is correct

h) I would like to host the bbq this summer, however, I don't think we have adequate space to accomodate everyone.

----> Yes is correct

i) There's a superstition that says anyone who received a knife as a gift from a friend has to pay something for it, or the ties of friendship will be cut.

----> Yes is correct

Dimsumexpress · Accepted Answer

ooloongchaI've provided my answers to the following exercise questions. Please let me know if I'm on the right track. Thanks!!

Which of the following sentences have correct verb tenses?

a) Neither Sandra nor Pauline is are able to join the dance classes on Mondays, but they maybe able come to the Friday afternoon sessions.
---> No is incorrect You have two choices her. Which is it?

b) Ogden Nash wrote, "The sound of canaries never varies, and when they're moulting, they're pretty revolting."
---> Yes is correct

c) I've attempted to understand the philosphy of existentialism, but frankly I'm finding its precepts too depressing.
---> Yes is correct

d) I opened a letter from my uncle in England to learn that he will be coming to see me next June.
---> Yes is correct

e) Our alarm system is reasonably effective, but sometimes it went off accidentally.
---> No is incorrect. Logically yes, it should be: " it goes off accidentally...", but the context can express to the past just affectively and as much as the present. It is not wrong to use "went".

f) With the famous words, "Frankly Scalett, I don't give a ****," Rhett turned away walked out the door and leaves Scarlett forever.
---> Yes is correct. I may be wrong, there seems to be issues with commas here.

g) My cousin is going to order the airline tickets, but i promised that I'll pay for them when they arrive.
---> Yes is correct

h) I would like to host the bbq this summer, however, I don't think we have adequate space to accomodate everyone.
----> Yes is correct

i) There's a superstition that says anyone who received a knife as a gift from a friend has to pay something for it, or the ties of friendship will be cut.
----> Yes is correct

Looked fine except for a couple of questions in my head which I wasn't too sure of.

Ooloongcha · Answer

Thanks for your help. Actually with the first question, the original sentence was :

a) Neither Sandra nor Pauline is able to join the dance classes on Mondays, but they maybe able come to the Friday afternoon sessions.

---> I'm thinking that the sentence is incorrect because starting with " Neither, nor" it refers to a singular tense, and then with the use of "they" it changes to a plural tense.

Dimsumexpress · Answer

ooloongchaThanks for your help. Actually with the first question, the original sentence was :

a) Neither Sandra nor Pauline is able to join the dance classes on Mondays, but they maybe able come to the Friday afternoon sessions.
---> I'm thinking that the sentence is incorrect because starting with " Neither, nor" it refers to a singular tense, and then with the use of "they" it changes to a plural tense.

The question was: Neither Sandra nor Pauline is able to join the dance classes on Mondays....

Either or / Neither nor - By rule is always a singular reference. But I made a note in your question "is or are?", and I left "is" in blue as the correct answer. "They" was introduced as a confusion.

Which is the Correct Verb Tense?

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