Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Neither the principal investigator nor her postdoctoral associates were aware of the equipment malfunction.
- Step 1: For 'neither... nor...', the verb agrees with the closer subject (rule of proximity). Step 2. In the sentence 'Neither the principal investigator nor her postdoctoral associates was aware of the equipment malfunction', 'postdoctoral associates' is plural and closest to the verb, requiring 'were'. Step 3. In the sentence 'Neither the postdoctoral associates nor the principal investigator were aware of the equipment malfunction', 'principal investigator' is singular and closest, requiring 'was'. In the sentence 'Each of the postdoctoral associates and investigators were present at the laboratory symposium', 'Each' is grammatically singular. Answer: Neither the principal investigator nor her postdoctoral associates were aware of the equipment malfunction. Why not the others: Proximity rule requires plural 'were' with plural 'associates'.
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