Question

Neither the boy nor his parents____ present.

• A. was
• B. is
• C. were
• D. has

Answer 1

Answer:

C. were

When two subjects are joined by neither…nor, the verb generally agrees with the subject nearest to it. This is called the proximity rule.

Here:

• First subject: the boy — singular.

• Second subject: his parents — plural.

• The subject nearest to the verb is his parents, so the plural verb were is correct.