Submit your question here. }; * OCOLL I think strictly "neither" should be used with a singular verb. { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971143', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, Also, if the recipe items themselves were plural, you would use "are" after neither regardless of "and" or "or". googletag.pubads().setTargeting("old_l", "en-us"); { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '12529666' }}, In formal speech and in writing, you use a singular verb: In speech and informal writing, people sometimes use a plural verb: used to add another negative statement about someone or something, to steal money from the place where you work. **CORRECT BUT AWKWARD**Neither Jane Jones nor the Harmers are coming to visit tomorrow. { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '12529673' }}, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'old_topslot' }}, googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); The only problem we have is that there are an awful lot of English people using incorrect grammar (even the BBC omit the definite article as in "As he travelled to conference" "speaking at rally" "going to meeting" etc. { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a9690ab01717182962182bb7e310013', pos: 'old_btmslot_mobile_flex' }}, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'old_btmslot' }}, { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'old_btmslot' }}]}, })();   Report Abuse. 'cap': true 24-Hour Proofreading Service—We proofread your Google Docs or Microsoft Word files. * false || true*/ { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb7c220017', pos: 'old_topslot_728x90' }}, In the sentence "neither of the boys IS going to the game," one is implied after neither and so the verb is singular. 'increment': 1, } (it's important to say it like a cheer). e.g. ( the verb is singular although the plural verb can also be possible ) Example: Neither the green dress nor the pink dress is available for now in our shop. https://www.google.com/search?biw=1432&bih=955&tbm=bks&ei=seSMWs6CEYa00gS8mpYo&q=%22neither+is+to+blame%22&oq=%22neither+is+to+blame%22&gs_l=psy-ab.3...49546.50825.0.51465.5.5.0.0.0.0.328.637.3-2.2.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..3.0.0....0.6mXbV0-cCT0. expires: 60 { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '12526109' }}, window.__tcfapi('addEventListener', 2, function(tcData, success) { m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) }; So what do you do when one is plural and the other is not? var pbAdUnits = getPrebidSlots(curResolution); /*academic :) By "the bodies," he meant somebody, anybody, etc and by "the ones" he meant anyone, someone, noone, etc. This is because the word "them" is plural. This would leave us with:"...neither ONE is ideal". bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162046', zoneId: '776306', position:'btf' }}, before a singular noun, with a singular verb: before a plural noun or pronoun. addPrebidAdUnits(pbAdUnits); * false || true*/ iasLog("criterion : old_l = en-us"); neither … nor. { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'old_leftslot' }}, { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '12529703' }}, googletag.pubads().set("page_url", pageUrlSetting); bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162064', zoneId: '776446', position:'btf' }}, googletag.pubads().setTargeting("sfr", "old_dict_english"); Both are acceptable beyond serious criticism." * OAAD,OALD9,OALD10 name: "_pubcid", var arrayFn = []; * OALD9,OALD10 bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162046', zoneId: '776322', position:'atf' }}, window.__tcfapi('removeEventListener', 2, function(success){ { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb7c220017', pos: 'old_btmslot_300x250' }}, description : 'Search Oxford Advanced American Dictionary', Do you mean "neither vodka nor rum is ideal"? { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '220610', size: [160, 600] }},   Permalink bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162046', zoneId: '776322', position:'atf' }}, }); not any ... plural. iasLog("criterion : old_dc = english"); {code: 'ad_topslot', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'old_topslot', adUnitPath: '/70903302/topslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[728, 90]] } }, No agreement to deal with. 'increment': 0.05, storage: { },{ ", I neither approve nor disapprove any other aspect of the agreement. 'https:' : 'http:') +'//www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js'; I wanted to say that "neither of us are cardplayers", but I know that in that case, I should use "is". In closing. A plural verb is more informal. Neither in this use refers to the implied word "choice" therefore is singular. Almost none of my friends are going to see the film because none of the people like that actor. ga('create', 'UA-13175707-1', It is little wonder that non-native speakers get confused. }, Also, if the recipe items themselves were plural, you would use "are" after neither regardless of "and" or "or". In this case, the general rule is that the verb should agree with the closest noun. To say "neither is" would be incorrect, unless the sentence read "For this recipe, an apple or an orange can be used, though neither is ideal. Then say "neither one is ideal." }, tcData.listenerId); { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'old_topslot' }}]}, iasLog("__tcfapi removeEventListener", success); Who would have known? name : 'Practical English Usage', { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'old_btmslot' }}]}]; (it helps), Neither Harry nor his friends see the danger. var useSSL = 'https:' == document.location.protocol; FInally, it's the same if we substitute "neither" and "nor" for "either" and "or":Neither Harry Harmer nor Jane Jones is coming to visit tomorrow.Neither the Harmers nor the Joneses are coming to visit tomorrow.NeIther the Harmers nor Jane Jones is coming to visit tomorrow. url : 'schulwoerterbuch_German-English',   Permalink "Neither one is ideal" is the only correct form. Articles cover topics from English description : 'Search Das Oxford Schulw\u00F6rterbuch', (he sees). * free /*american_english iasLog("exclusion label : scp"); For example, "For this recipe, vodka or rum can be used, though none of them are ideal." /*collocations As used in the sample sentence, "neither" unquestionably takes the singular. So, it seems that “neither” should also get “are”. 23 votes You can change your cookie settings at any time. None i.e. When neither… nor… or either… or… are used with two singular nouns, the verb can be singular or plural. bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162046', zoneId: '776308', position:'atf' }}, {code: 'ad_btmslot_a', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'old_btmslot', adUnitPath: '/70903302/btmslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250]] } }, {code: 'ad_btmslot_a', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'old_btmslot', adUnitPath: '/70903302/btmslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250]] } }, The answer is that "neither [one]" still takes a singular verb. url : 'schulwoerterbuch_English-German', {code: 'ad_leftslot_a', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'old_leftslot', adUnitPath: '/70903302/leftslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[160, 600]] } }, {code: 'ad_topslot', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'old_topslot', adUnitPath: '/70903302/topslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 50], [320, 50]] } }, { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'old_btmslot' }}]}, googletag.pubads().setCategoryExclusion('scp'); name : 'Collocations', Maybe that is why we "joined forum", Spanish-English Grammar / Gramática Español-Inglés. var pbMobileLrSlots = [ * SWB The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. My comment was (for the avoidance of doubt) "I don't accept the. (it is), Neither a cup of tea nor a bottle of pop (it) helps at this point.   Report Abuse. I disagree with ngmacmillan's take based on reasoning stated by Mike and others. { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a9690ab01717182962182bb7e310013', pos: 'old_btmslot_mobile_flex' }}, **PREFERRED**, 3. Articles about learning, using and teaching the English language, * free None here refers to a plural entity so the verb is plural. type: "cookie", Resources and materials for ESL teachers including free ESL handouts Test your knowledge of the English language. It therefore requires singular verb. var mapping_topslot = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([745, 0], [[728, 90]]).addSize([0, 550], [[300, 50], [320, 50], [320, 100]]).addSize([0, 0], [[300, 50], [320, 50]]).build(); Word Origin Middle English: alteration (by association with either ) of Old English nawther , contraction of nāhwæther (from nā ‘no’ + hwæther ‘whether’). bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162064', zoneId: '776476', position:'atf' }}, * false || false*/ On google books "neither are to blame" shows up just nineteen times, whereas "neither is to blame" has over five thousand results. name: "unifiedId", In your example, neither is a pronoun that is standing in for a noun or noun phrase. I seem to have been here before - well almost, However I don't not accept the phrase in Alex Gadd's post - ", Oh dear me! 'min': 3.05, Look for the either/or and neither/nor constructions. The singular form of the verb is used as it can be assumed that only one of the two possible substitute ingredients would be used. pbjs.que = pbjs.que || []; Ah well, to each their own. A plural verb is more informal. name : 'English-German', { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195396', size: [300, 250] }}, description : 'Search Das Oxford Schulw\u00F6rterbuch', or. What if you were to recast it as "neither one"? If you can’t tell from the context, the usual default is to use a plural verb. var mapping_btmslot_b = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([745, 0], []).addSize([0, 0], [[300, 250], [320, 50], [300, 50], 'fluid']).build(); In other words, when the either/neither phrase comes before the verb, the verb should agree with the second option. If both subjects are singular or both plural, the choice for the verb is easy. If you want to refer to the duo and reject them, you should say something like "both are not". If I were to cast it, “both are not ideal”, it is “are”. Believe it or not, this is actually a rule, and therefore to be cherished for its rarity. From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, not one or the other of two people or things. url : 'american_english', { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb7c220017', pos: 'old_topslot_728x90' }},