Subject-Verb Agreement: Either...Or / Neither...Nor Quiz | Beginner Level | 10 Questions & Answers with Explanations
10 questions
This beginner-level quiz focuses on the Nearer-Subject Rule for Either...Or and Neither...Nor — one of the most reliably tested Subject-Verb Agreement patterns in SSC CGL, IBPS PO, Railways, Bank Clerk, and State PSC exams. At this level, the key concepts tested are: understanding that when two subjects are joined by either...or or neither...nor, the verb agrees with whichever subject is closer to it, applying the simpler case where both subjects are singular (which always takes a singular verb), and recognising that the order of the subjects directly determines whether the verb ends up singular or plural. Before you attempt this quiz, read through the Subject-Verb Agreement — it'll make these questions much easier to crack. The core skill here is simple but easy to forget under exam pressure: always look at the subject immediately before the verb, not the first one in the sentence.
Either Rahul or Priya ___ the class monitor this year.
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Correct Answer is
Both "Rahul" and "Priya" are singular, and when both subjects joined by either...or are singular, the verb is singular.
Correct sentence: "Either Rahul or Priya is the class monitor this year."
Memory hook: two singular subjects joined by either...or or neither...nor always take a singular verb — no need to check which one is nearer in this simple case.
Neither the manager nor the employees ___ informed about the sudden change in policy.
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Correct Answer were
The verb agrees with the nearer subject, "employees" (plural), so a plural verb is correct.
Correct sentence: "Neither the manager nor the employees were informed about the sudden change in policy."
Memory hook: always look at the subject closest to the verb — here, "employees" sits right before "were," so it governs the agreement.
Neither the employees nor the manager ___ informed about the sudden change in policy.
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Correct Answer was
This reverses the order from the previous question — now "manager" (singular) is the nearer subject, so the verb is singular.
Correct sentence: "Neither the employees nor the manager was informed about the sudden change in policy."
Memory hook: compare this directly with Q2 — same two subjects, but reversing their order flips the verb from plural to singular; the nearer subject always decides.
Either the students or the teacher ___ responsible for organising the event.
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Correct Answer is
The verb agrees with the nearer subject, "teacher" (singular), so a singular verb is correct.
Correct sentence: "Either the students or the teacher is responsible for organising the event."
Memory hook: even though "students" appears first and is plural, it doesn't matter — only the subject right before the verb counts.
Either the teacher or the students ___ responsible for organising the event.
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Correct Answer are
This reverses the order — now "students" (plural) is the nearer subject, so the verb is plural.
Correct sentence: "Either the teacher or the students are responsible for organising the event."
Memory hook: this pairs directly with Q4 — same two subjects, reversed order, opposite verb form.
Neither Rohan nor his friends ___ interested in watching the movie tonight.
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Correct Answer are
The verb agrees with the nearer subject, "friends" (plural), so a plural verb is correct.
Correct sentence: "Neither Rohan nor his friends are interested in watching the movie tonight."
Memory hook: reinforcing the nearer-subject test once more — "friends" sits closest to the verb, so it governs.
Either the coach or his players ___ likely to be fined for the delay.
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Correct Answer are
The verb agrees with the nearer subject, "players" (plural), so a plural verb is correct.
Correct sentence: "Either the coach or his players are likely to be fined for the delay."
Memory hook: continue applying the same test — find the subject directly before the verb, ignore the first one.
Neither Sameer nor Anjali ___ available for the meeting tomorrow.
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Correct Answer is
Both "Sameer" and "Anjali" are singular, so the verb is singular, following the simple both-singular case.
Correct sentence: "Neither Sameer nor Anjali is available for the meeting tomorrow."
Memory hook: when both names/subjects are clearly singular, you don't even need to check nearness — the answer is automatically singular.
Either the doctor or the nurses ___ available to answer questions during visiting hours.
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Correct Answer are
The verb agrees with the nearer subject, "nurses" (plural), so a plural verb is correct.
Correct sentence: "Either the doctor or the nurses are available to answer questions during visiting hours."
Memory hook: reinforcing the pattern one more time — the plural noun sitting directly before the verb governs the agreement.
Neither the players nor the coach ___ satisfied with the referee's decision.
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Correct Answer was
The verb agrees with the nearer subject, "coach" (singular), so a singular verb is correct.
Correct sentence: "Neither the players nor the coach was satisfied with the referee's decision."
Memory hook: even though "players" appears first and is plural, "coach" is the one immediately before the verb, so it decides the agreement.