Question

Choose the grammatically correct sentence.

• A. Neither of the proposals were accepted by the committee.
• B. Neither of the proposals have been accepted by the committee.
• C. Neither of the proposals was accepted by the committee.
• D. Neither of the proposals are accepted by the committee.

Hint:

Neither, Either, Each, Everyone, Anybody, Somebody, Nobody and Every are grammatically singular and take singular verbs.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: Questions involving subject-verb agreement are among the most frequently asked grammar questions in CUET English. The examiner often uses words such as neither, either, each, everyone, someone, and everybody because many students incorrectly identify the subject. The key idea is that Neither is grammatically singular and therefore takes a singular verb.

Step 1: Identify the actual subject. The phrase given is: \[ \text{Neither of the proposals} \] Many students incorrectly think that the noun \[ \text{proposals} \] is the subject. However, the true grammatical subject is: \[ \text{Neither} \] which is singular.

Step 2: Determine the correct verb form. Since the subject is singular: \[ \text{Neither} \] the correct verb must also be singular: \[ \text{was} \] and not \[ \text{were} \] or \[ \text{have} \]

Step 3: Evaluate all options. Option (A): \[ \text{Neither ... were} \] Incorrect because of subject-verb disagreement. Option (B): \[ \text{Neither ... have} \] Again incorrect. Option (C): \[ \text{Neither ... was} \] Perfect agreement. Option (D): \[ \text{Neither ... are} \] Incorrect.

Step 4: Final conclusion. The only grammatically correct sentence is: \[ \boxed{\text{Option (C)}} \]