SAT Reading & Writing · Form, Structure, and Sense
Neither the tenants' association nor the individual landlords ______ willing to compromise on the proposed rent increase.
Neither the tenants' association nor the individual landlords ______ willing to compromise on the proposed rent increase.
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?
Answer and explanation
Answer: B: were
In a "neither/nor" construction, the verb agrees with whichever subject sits closer to it, and here that's "the individual landlords," a plural noun, calling for the plural verb were. Was and is are both singular and would only agree with the more distant singular subject, "the tenants' association." Has been is also singular and additionally shifts to present perfect without any signal in the sentence for that tense.
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