16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsMediumAgreement with 'neither … nor'

Standard English Conventions practice question

Neither the frost nor the late rains ____ done the crop much harm this year.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. haveCorrect
  2. B. has
  3. C. is
  4. D. was

Answer: A. have

With 'neither … nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject, 'rains', which is plural.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. has
'Has' agrees with 'frost', but the nearer subject is 'rains'.
C. is
'Is done' is the wrong form and singular.
D. was
'Was done' is the wrong form and singular.

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