Neither of the two — Sentence Correction Aptitude Question
Neither of the two: Choose the correct sentence: Answer and worked solution on CodeKairo.
- Topic: Sentence Correction
- Section: Verbal Ability
- Difficulty: Medium
- Time target: 60 seconds
Question
Choose the correct sentence:
Options
- Neither of the two candidates were selected.
- Neither of the two candidates was selected.
- Neither of the two candidate was selected.
- Neither of the two candidates have selected.
Show the answer and the worked solution
Correct answer: B. Neither of the two candidates was selected.
Worked solution
- Neither is the subject and is singular, so the verb is was.
- After of the two the noun is plural, so candidates is right and candidate is not.
Answer: Neither of the two candidates was selected.
The idea
Neither, each and every take a singular verb even when a plural noun sits between them and the verb.
Shortcut. Read neither as 'not one': 'not one of the two candidates was selected' — a singular verb with a plural noun after 'of the two'. Only one option has both.
Common trap. "Neither of the two candidates were selected." — the verb agrees with the plural candidates beside it instead of the singular subject, neither.