Verb agreement with “either” and “neither”

Either and neither are masters of disguise! They can be pronouns; and if so, they're always singular. Or they can be part of a two-part conjunction (either … or, neither … nor) joining two or more subjects. In that case, the verb must agree with the nearer subject.

In the questions below, decide whether either and neither are singular subjects or conjunctions joining subjects. And when you’ve figured that out and you know what the subject is, pick the verb that agrees.

1. Neither of them how to get to Red Deer.

know

knows

2. It will be hard for them to get there, as neither Kate nor her friends how to drive.

know

knows

3. Usually, either my niece or my nephew me up at the airport.

picks

pick

4. either of you speak Russian?

Do

Does

5. Did you know that neither Norway nor Switzerland in the European Union?

is

are

6. Either Tracy or her sisters supposed to prepare dinner, but nothing is ready.

was

were

7. Neither of my daughters old enough to go on that amusement ride.

looks

look

8. It’s a shame that neither the pink one nor the white one in size 16.

come

comes

9. Either he or you to clean up this room.

has

have

10. Either fine with me.

is

are