Question:
Identify the part containing the error.
(A) Neither of the players
(B) were willing
(C) to accept
(D) the decision.
Identify the part containing the error.
(A) Neither of the players
(B) were willing
(C) to accept
(D) the decision.
(A) Neither of the players
(B) were willing
(C) to accept
(D) the decision.
Show Hint
When a sentence starts with "Neither of" or "Either of" followed by a plural noun, the subject is still singular ("Neither" or "Either").
Ignore the plural noun in the prepositional phrase when deciding the singular/plural form of the verb.
Ignore the plural noun in the prepositional phrase when deciding the singular/plural form of the verb.
Updated On: Jun 16, 2026
- Neither of the players
- were willing
- to accept
- the decision.
Show Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
This is an English grammar question focusing on spotting grammatical errors in a sentence.
The sentence is divided into four parts, and we need to identify which part contains a grammatical error.
The focus here is on the rules of Subject-Verb Agreement.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
$\bullet$ Let us analyze the grammatical components of the sentence:
"Neither of the players were willing to accept the decision."
$\bullet$ The subject of the sentence is the pronoun "Neither".
$\bullet$ The phrase "of the players" is a prepositional phrase that modifies the subject.
$\bullet$ According to English grammar rules, the pronoun "Neither" is a singular indefinite pronoun.
$\bullet$ A singular subject must always be followed by a singular verb to maintain subject-verb agreement.
$\bullet$ In part (B), the auxiliary verb used is "were", which is plural.
$\bullet$ To correct this error, the plural verb "were" must be replaced with the singular verb "was".
$\bullet$ Let us verify the other parts:
$\bullet$ Part (A) "Neither of the players" is grammatically correct.
$\bullet$ Part (C) "to accept" is a correct use of the infinitive verb form.
$\bullet$ Part (D) "the decision" is a grammatically correct noun phrase acting as the object.
$\bullet$ Thus, the error lies in part (B).
Step 3: Final Answer:
The error is in part (B). The correct sentence should be: "Neither of the players was willing to accept the decision."
Therefore, the correct option is (B).
This is an English grammar question focusing on spotting grammatical errors in a sentence.
The sentence is divided into four parts, and we need to identify which part contains a grammatical error.
The focus here is on the rules of Subject-Verb Agreement.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
$\bullet$ Let us analyze the grammatical components of the sentence:
"Neither of the players were willing to accept the decision."
$\bullet$ The subject of the sentence is the pronoun "Neither".
$\bullet$ The phrase "of the players" is a prepositional phrase that modifies the subject.
$\bullet$ According to English grammar rules, the pronoun "Neither" is a singular indefinite pronoun.
$\bullet$ A singular subject must always be followed by a singular verb to maintain subject-verb agreement.
$\bullet$ In part (B), the auxiliary verb used is "were", which is plural.
$\bullet$ To correct this error, the plural verb "were" must be replaced with the singular verb "was".
$\bullet$ Let us verify the other parts:
$\bullet$ Part (A) "Neither of the players" is grammatically correct.
$\bullet$ Part (C) "to accept" is a correct use of the infinitive verb form.
$\bullet$ Part (D) "the decision" is a grammatically correct noun phrase acting as the object.
$\bullet$ Thus, the error lies in part (B).
Step 3: Final Answer:
The error is in part (B). The correct sentence should be: "Neither of the players was willing to accept the decision."
Therefore, the correct option is (B).
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