Sure! Let’s solve the worksheet “Using Either/Or and Neither/Nor” step by step.
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Key Grammar Rule:
When using
“Either...or” or
“Neither...nor”, the verb must agree with the subject that is
closest to it (the “proximity rule”).
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Let’s go through each sentence:
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1. Either Josi or Betty ________ on the stage.
- Subjects: Josi (singular), Betty (singular)
- Verb must agree with
Betty (closest subject) → singular
- Options: *send, sends, sent*
- Correct:
sends ✔
> ✔️
Answer: sends
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2. Neither the director nor the actors ________ ready.
- Subjects: director (singular), actors (plural)
- Verb must agree with
actors (closest subject) → plural
- Options: *is, are*
- Correct:
are ✔
> ✔️
Answer: are
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3. Neither Patty nor her classmates ________ a script.
- Subjects: Patty (singular), classmates (plural)
- Verb must agree with
classmates (closest subject) → plural
- Options: *has, have*
- Correct:
have ✔
> ✔️
Answer: have
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4. Either Arlen or we ________ in charge of props.
- Subjects: Arlen (singular), we (plural)
- Verb must agree with
we (closest subject) → plural
- Options: *am, are, is*
- Correct:
are ✔
> ✔️
Answer: are
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5. Either the playwright or her agent ________ the school.
- Subjects: playwright (singular), agent (singular)
- Verb must agree with
agent (closest subject) → singular
- Options: *is taking, are taking*
- Correct:
is taking ✔
> ✔️
Answer: is taking
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6. Neither the singers nor the actors ________ their parts.
- Subjects: singers (plural), actors (plural)
- Both plural → verb should be plural
- Options: *is learning, are learning*
- Correct:
are learning ✔
> ✔️
Answer: are learning
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7. Either Dole or the twins ________ scenery.
- Subjects: Dole (singular), twins (plural)
- Verb must agree with
twins (closest subject) → plural
- Options: *is making, are making*
- Correct:
are making ✔
> ✔️
Answer: are making
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8. Either Honey or Will ________ costumes twice.
- Subjects: Honey (singular), Will (singular)
- Verb must agree with
Will (closest subject) → singular
- Options: *changes, change*
- Correct:
changes ✔
> ✔️
Answer: changes
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✔ Final Answers:
1.
sends
2.
are
3.
have
4.
are
5.
is taking
6.
are learning
7.
are making
8.
changes
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💡 Tip:
Always look at the subject
immediately before the verb — that’s the one that determines whether the verb should be singular or plural when using “either/or” or “neither/nor.”
Let me know if you’d like a printable version or more practice! 😊
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of either or neither nor worksheet.
