Subject-verb agreement: “Either” and “neither”

Either and neither are masters of disguise! They can be pronouns, in which case they’re singular. Or they can belong to a two-part conjunction (either … or, neither … nor) joining two or more subjects. In that case, the verb must agree with the nearer subject.

In the questions below, decide whether either and neither are singular subjects, or conjunctions joining subjects. And once you’ve figured out which word is the subject, pick the verb that agrees.

1. Neither of them ever been to Red Deer.

have

has

2. It will be hard for them to get there, as neither Kate nor her friends how to drive.

know

knows

3. Usually, either my niece or my nephew me up at the airport.

picks

pick

4. either of you speak Inuktut?

Do

Does

5. Did you know that neither Norway nor Switzerland in the European Union?

is

are

6. Either Tracy or her brothers supposed to prepare dinner, but nothing is ready.

was

were

7. Neither of my daughters tall enough to go on that roller coaster.

looks

look

8. It’s a shame that neither the green dress nor the white dress in size 16.

come

comes

9. Either he or you to clean the kitchen.

has

have

10. Either fine with me.

is

are