Which choice correctly completes the sentence? Neither the coach nor the players ___ ready for the early practice.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. were
- Step 1: With "neither ... nor", the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
- Step 2: The nearer subject is "players", which is plural, so the verb is "were".
Answer
were.
Why not the others: "was" and "has been" are singular and would agree with "coach"; "is" is singular and in the wrong tense.
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More Usage and mechanics questions
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