Question:
Choose the sentence that is grammatically correct.
Choose the sentence that is grammatically correct.
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With “neither...nor,” ensure that the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. When both subjects are singular, the verb should also be singular.
Updated On: Aug 13, 2025
- Neither this nor that machine is working.
- Neither this nor that machine are working.
- Neither this and that machine is working.
- Neither this but that machine is working.
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
We need to identify the sentence with correct use of correlative conjunctions and subject–verb agreement:
(A) Correct — “Neither...nor” is the appropriate correlative conjunction here, joining two singular subjects (“this” and “that machine”). When two singular subjects are joined by “neither...nor,” the verb must be singular (“is”).
(B) Incorrect because “are” is plural, which conflicts with the singular nature of each subject. The grammatical agreement should follow the subject closest to the verb — here, “that machine” (singular) — requiring “is.”
(C) Incorrect because “neither...and” is not a valid correlative conjunction pair.
(D) Incorrect because “neither...but” is also not a valid correlative conjunction in standard English grammar. Therefore, (A) is the only option that is both grammatically correct and logically precise.
(A) Correct — “Neither...nor” is the appropriate correlative conjunction here, joining two singular subjects (“this” and “that machine”). When two singular subjects are joined by “neither...nor,” the verb must be singular (“is”).
(B) Incorrect because “are” is plural, which conflicts with the singular nature of each subject. The grammatical agreement should follow the subject closest to the verb — here, “that machine” (singular) — requiring “is.”
(C) Incorrect because “neither...and” is not a valid correlative conjunction pair.
(D) Incorrect because “neither...but” is also not a valid correlative conjunction in standard English grammar. Therefore, (A) is the only option that is both grammatically correct and logically precise.
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