[Grammar] Which one is correct?

[honey03]

Hi,

Can u tell me which sentence between the following two is correct?

1. Neither I nor my wife is ready to accept who the culprit is.
2. Neither I nor my wife is ready to accept who is the culprit.

Thanks.

 

[charliedeut]

Hi,

Can u tell me which sentence between the following two is correct?

1. Neither I nor my wife is ready to accept who the culprit is.
2. Neither I nor my wife is ready to accept who is the culprit.

Thanks.

I'd say none of them (subject-verb agreement).

As a member (especially one who claims to be a teacher), please use proper English words, not chatspeak.

charliedeut

 

[Chicken Sandwich]

I'd say none of them (subject-verb agreement).

NOT A TEACHER

Actually, there is a subject-verb agreement. In either/or and neither/nor sentences, the verb should match the closest subject. Since "wife" is singular, "is" is the correct verb.

I would go for #1.

 

[charliedeut]

NOT A TEACHER

Actually, there is a subject-verb agreement. In either/or and neither/nor sentences, the verb should match the closest subject. Since "wife" is singular, "is" is the correct verb.

I would go for #1.

Well then, that's something that needs be re-learnt here (I've always used "are" in such cases; looks like I've been wrong for a loooooong time ;-)). Thank you, CS. :up:

charliedeut

 

[tom3m]

Actually, there is a subject-verb agreement. In either/or and neither/nor sentences, the verb should match the closest subject. Since "wife" is singular, "is" is the correct verb.

I thought we could choose between singular and plural in this case. Another surprise.

 

[Chicken Sandwich]

Well then, that's something that needs be re-learnt here (I've always used "are" in such cases; looks like I've been wrong for a loooooong time ;-)). Thank you, CS. :up:

charliedeut

:up: Here are two more examples, taken from English Grammar Workbook for Dummies:

Either Josh or his partners are going to jail.
Either his partners or Josh is going to jail.

 

[Barb_D]

The standard word order, to the point of the original question, is "who the culprit is."

 

[Rover_KE]

A better title would be Neither I nor my wife.

Extract from the Posting Guidelines:

'Thread titles should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.'