Clarifying the Proper Use of ‘Neither the Books nor the Shelf Were Delivered Today’ in English Grammar
Understanding the subtleties of English grammar can often be challenging, especially when it comes to complex constructions like those involving 'neither... nor.' This article aims to clear up any confusion surrounding the correct usage of this phrase in sentences. Specifically, we will explore whether the correct usage should be 'Neither the books nor the shelf were delivered today' or 'Neither the books nor the shelf was delivered today.'
Understanding the Grammar Rule
The rule of verb agreement with 'neither... nor' is a common point of confusion. According to this rule, the verb in the sentence should agree with the subject that is closest to it. In this context, the subjects are 'the books' and 'the shelf.'
Example 1: Neither the Books Nor the Shelf Were Delivered Today
The sentence 'Neither the books nor the shelf were delivered today' implies that both the books and the shelf were not delivered today. However, in terms of verb agreement, this is incorrect. The verb 'were' should be used when the subjects are plural, but in this case, the shelf is a singular subject.
Thus, the correct sentence should be:
Example 2: Neither the Books Nor the Shelf Was Delivered Today
'Neither the books nor the shelf was delivered today' is the correct sentence. In this case, the subject closest to the verb is 'the shelf,' which is singular. Therefore, the verb should be 'was.'
Rule Explanation
The rule for verb agreement with 'neither... nor' can be summarized as follows:
If the subjects on both sides of 'neither... nor' are singular, the verb must agree with the subject closest to the verb. If the subjects are different in number (one is singular and the other is plural), the verb should agree with the nearest subject, which in this case is singular (the shelf).Common Confusion with ‘Me’ and ‘I’
It's worth noting that similar confusion can arise with pronoun usage, such as 'me' and 'I.' For example, it's incorrect to say 'Me went to the store' and 'Bob and me went to the store.' Instead, the correct usage is:
Example 3: Bob and I Went to the Store
When in doubt, try to construct the sentence without the other person’s name. If you would say 'I went to the store,' then it is correct to say 'Bob and I went to the store.'
Further Examples and Applications
The rule of verb agreement with 'neither... nor' applies to various contexts. Here are a few more examples to illustrate its usage:
Example 4: Neither the Key nor the Wallet Was Found
Here, the key and the wallet are both singular, and the key is the closest subject to the verb. Therefore, 'was' is the correct verb form.
Correct: Neither the key nor the wallet was found.
Example 5: Neither the Sun nor the Moon Were Visible Today
In this case, the usage is incorrect because both 'sun' and 'moon' are singular, and the moon is the closest subject to the verb.
Correct: Neither the sun nor the moon was visible today.
Conclusion
In summary, the correct sentence is 'Neither the books nor the shelf was delivered today.' The verb should agree with the singular subject 'the shelf' as it is the closest to the verb. Understanding these rules can help improve your grammar and make your writing clearer and more accurate.
Additional Resources and Further Reading
For those who want to delve deeper into English grammar, here are some recommended resources:
Reference Books Online Grammar Tools Practice ExercisesReferences
1. The Grammar Book
2. Purdue Online Writing Lab
Online Tools
1. Grammarly
2. GBQ
3. English Grammar Online
Practice Exercises
1. Rewrite the following sentences to correct the verb agreement with 'neither... nor': Neither the car nor the keys were lost yesterday. Neither the flowers nor the vase were delivered on time.