Adaanist Grammar Rule #5 | Either...or and Neither...nor
Rule #5: When using “either...or” or “neither...nor”, the main verb matches the subject after “or/nor”.
Shah Adaan Uzzaman
July 06, 2025
Rule #5: When using “either…or” or “neither…nor”, the main verb matches the subject after “or/nor”.
❌ Neither the students nor the teacher were late.
✅ Neither the students nor the teacher was late.
🤔 Why "was" is correct?
Because the verb agrees with the subject that follows “nor.”
Subject after “nor” → “the teacher” → singular subject
Therefore, the main verb should also be singular.
🧨Trap #5: Assuming that the First noun is Always the Real Subject.
Tests often confuse students by placing a plural subject first (after “either” or “neither) and a singular subject closer to the main verb (“or” and “neither”), or vice versa.
This is done deliberately to trick you into choosing the wrong verb.
Example Trap:
Either my brothers or my sister are/is coming to the event
Correct: "is" (The verb matches the subject after “or”, "sister," which is singular.)
🚫 Ignore the first subject if it's far from the verb. Focus only on the subject after “or/nor” to pick your main verb correctly.
🔁 Shortcut
🎯 Neither/Either + 1st subject + nor/or + 2nd subject + verb matches 2nd subject
💥 Examples
Gif by primevideo on Giphy
🔸 Example #1
Neither the guests nor the host knows/know how the incident occurred.
✅ Correct: knows, because the verb matches the singular noun after “nor”, "host.")
🔸 Example #2
Does/Do either the apples or the watermelon need to be refrigerated?
✅ Correct: Does, matching the closest noun "watermelon," singular.
🔸 Example #3
Neither the principal nor the teachers was/were satisfied with the exam results.
✅ Correct: were, matching the closest noun "teachers," plural.
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