Mastering Grammatical Precision: Resolving the 'Neither' and 'Either' Dilemma

When it comes to mastering grammatical rules, the proximity to verb rule is a fundamental principle. This rule states that the verb in a sentence should agree with the subject closest to it. Let's dive into how this impacts sentences with 'neither' and 'either', along with practical examples to clarify these often-confusing constructions.

Understanding the Proximity to Verb Rule

The proximity to verb rule is a straightforward concept: the verb in a sentence must agree with the subject that is nearest to it. For example, if the sentence is structured such that 'I' is closer to the verb than 'you', the correct form would be 'I am' rather than 'you are'.

Examples of Proximity to Verb Rule in Action

Example 1: Not only I but also you are wrong. Example 2: Neither he nor they have solved the problem.

These examples illustrate how the proximity to the verb determines the correct form of the verb in relation to the subjects mentioned in the sentence.

Resolving 'Neither' and 'Either' Constructions

When dealing with 'neither' and 'either', the grammar gets a bit more complex. The primary challenge lies in ensuring subject-verb agreement based on the proximity rule.

Nether as a Subject

The sentence structure involving 'neither' presents a unique challenge. Consider the sentence:

Neither the first nor the second is correct.

Here, both sentences are constructed to highlight that neither option is correct. The verb 'is' correctly agrees with the nearest subject 'the second,' highlighting the proximity rule.

The Best Approach to 'Neither'

It's important to note that using 'neither' can sometimes lead to ambiguity or awkwardness in sentence structure. The best approach is to rephrase the sentence to avoid these issues:

Either you or I are wrong.

However, there is a slight debate about the correctness of this construction. Many grammarians suggest:

Either you are wrong or I am.

But as The Grammar Book suggests, it can sound a bit contrived. An alternative approach is to rephrase the sentence to make it clearer:

Someone is wrong here, and it is either you or me.

This phrasing removes the ambiguity while maintaining grammatical correctness.

Either and Or Rule

When using 'either' and 'or', the rule changes slightly. The verb agrees with the subject that is nearest the verb. For example:

Either you or I am wrong.

Here, 'I' is closer to the verb 'are'; hence the verb form 'am' is used. A similar example is:

Either they or he is wrong.

In this case, 'he' is closer to the verb, so the verb form 'is' is appropriate.

Resolving Contradictions: A Positive Approach

Handling grammatical contradictions can be challenging. Here are some strategies to address these issues:

Reframe the sentence: Rephrase to avoid ambiguities, like changing 'neither' to 'either' or reworking the sentence structure. Remove negatives: Simplify the sentence by removing negative components, which can make the sentence cleaner and more straightforward. Use clear alternatives: Instead of 'neither' or 'either', use phrases like 'one of us' or 'someone':

One of us is wrong.

No matter the approach, remember that good grammar should avoid dilemmas and contrived rules. Using the simplest and most elegant phrasing often results in the clearest communication.