Question

Neither food nor water ________ to be found there.

• A. was
• B. have
• C. are
• D. were

Answer 1

Answer:

A. was

• When two subjects are joined by neither...nor, the verb generally agrees with the subject nearest to it.

• This is known as the Proximity Rule.

• Here, the nearest subject to the verb is water.

• Water is an uncountable singular noun.

• Therefore, the singular verb was is used.