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Either–Or / Neither–Nor

Introduction

“either-or” மற்றும் “neither-nor” என்ற expressions, இரண்டு Subjects-ஐ இணைக்க பொதுவாக பயன்படுத்தப்படுகின்றன. இவ்வகை constructions, தேர்வு அல்லது மறுப்பு உள்ளபோது subject-verb agreement பற்றிய உங்கள் புரிதலை சோதிக்கின்றன.

முக்கியமான rule எளிதானது ஆனால் சிக்கலானது - Verb எப்போதும் அதற்கு அருகில் உள்ள Subject-க்கு ஏற்ப மாற வேண்டும்.

Pattern: Either–Or / Neither–Nor

Pattern

either-or அல்லது neither-nor மூலம் Subjects இணைக்கப்பட்டால், Verb எப்போதும் அதற்கு அருகில் உள்ள Subject-க்கு ஒத்துப்போக வேண்டும்.

Example 1: Either Ravi or his friends are coming.
Example 2: Neither the students nor the teacher was present.

✅ Rule: Verb-க்கு அருகில் உள்ள Subject எது என்பதை எப்போதும் சரிபாருங்கள் - அதுவே singular அல்லது plural என்பதை தீர்மானிக்கும்.

Step-by-Step Example

Question

Choose the correct verb:

Either the teacher or the students _______ responsible for the decorations.

(A) is    (B) are    (C) was    (D) has

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify the two subjects.

    இங்கு Subjects: the teacher (singular) மற்றும் the students (plural).

  2. Step 2: Locate the verb position.

    Verb, the students என்ற Subject-க்கு பிறகு வருகிறது; இது plural.

  3. Step 3: Apply the rule.

    either-or பயன்படுத்தும்போது, Verb அருகிலுள்ள Subject-க்கு ஒத்துப்போக வேண்டும் - இங்கு plural ‘students’ → plural verb ‘are’.

  4. Step 4: Substitute and check.

    ‘Either the teacher or the students are responsible for the decorations.’

  5. Final Answer:

    are → Option B

  6. Quick Check:

    அருகிலுள்ள Subject (students) → plural → ‘are’. ✅

Quick Variations

1. இரண்டு Subjects-உம் singular ஆக இருந்தால் → singular verb.

2. இரண்டு Subjects-உம் plural ஆக இருந்தால் → plural verb.

3. ஒன்று singular, மற்றொன்று plural ஆக இருந்தால் → Verb அருகிலுள்ள Subject-க்கு ஒத்துப்போக வேண்டும்.

4. இந்த rule, either-or மற்றும் neither-nor இரண்டிற்கும் ஒரே மாதிரியாக பொருந்தும்.

Trick to Always Use

  • Step 1: Verb-க்கு அருகிலுள்ள Subject-ஐ கண்டறியுங்கள்.
  • Step 2: அந்த Subject-க்கு ஏற்ப Verb (singular/plural) தேர்வு செய்யுங்கள்.
  • Step 3: Verb agreement தீர்மானிக்கும் போது முதல் Subject-ஐ புறக்கணியுங்கள்.

Summary

Summary

  • “Either-or” மற்றும் “Neither-nor” இரண்டு Subjects-ஐ இணைக்கின்றன.
  • Verb எப்போதும் இரண்டாவது (அருகிலுள்ள) Subject-க்கு ஒத்துப்போகும்.
  • அருகிலுள்ள Subject singular ஆக இருந்தால் → singular verb.
  • அருகிலுள்ள Subject plural ஆக இருந்தால் → plural verb.
  • Examples:
    ✅ Either my friends or my brother is coming.
    ✅ Either my brother or my friends are coming.

Practice

(1/5)
1. Choose the correct verb:<br><br>Either Ramesh or his friend _______ going to the function.
easy
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify both subjects.

    The subjects are Ramesh (singular) and his friend (singular).

  2. Step 2: Find the subject nearest the verb.

    The subject nearest the verb is his friend, which is singular.

  3. Step 3: Apply the rule.

    With either-or, the verb agrees with the nearest subject → singular → use is.

  4. Final Answer:

    is → Option A

  5. Quick Check:

    Both subjects are singular and the nearer one is singular → use singular verb ‘is’. ✅
Hint: With either-or, match the verb to the noun closest to it.
Common Mistakes: Matching the verb to the first subject instead of the nearest one.
2. Fill in the blank:<br><br>Neither the students nor the teacher _______ present today.
easy
A. was
B. is
C. are
D. has

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify both subjects.

    The subjects are the students (plural) and the teacher (singular).

  2. Step 2: Find the subject nearest the verb.

    The nearest subject is the teacher (singular).

  3. Step 3: Apply the rule.

    With neither-nor, the verb agrees with the nearest subject → singular → use is.

  4. Final Answer:

    is → Option B

  5. Quick Check:

    Nearest subject is singular → use singular verb ‘is’. ✅
Hint: For neither-nor, match the verb to the noun just before it.
Common Mistakes: Using a plural verb by matching the first subject instead of the nearest.
3. Choose the correct verb:<br><br>Either my brother or his friend _______ coming tomorrow.
easy
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify both subjects.

    Subjects: my brother (singular) and his friend (singular).

  2. Step 2: Find the nearest subject.

    The nearest subject to the verb is his friend (singular).

  3. Step 3: Apply the rule.

    With either-or, agree with the nearest subject → singular → use is.

  4. Final Answer:

    is → Option A

  5. Quick Check:

    Nearest subject singular → singular verb ‘is’. ✅
Hint: Look at the noun right before the verb - that decides singular/plural.
Common Mistakes: Using plural ‘are’ because the sentence mentions more than one person overall.
4. Select the correct sentence:<br><br>
medium
A. Either the boys or the teacher are going to the museum.
B. Either the boys or the teacher is going to the museum.
C. Either the boys or the teacher were going to the museum.
D. Either the boys or the teacher have gone to the museum.

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify both subjects.

    The boys (plural) and the teacher (singular).

  2. Step 2: Find which subject is nearest the verb.

    The nearest subject is the teacher (singular).

  3. Step 3: Apply the rule.

    With either-or, agree with the nearest subject → singular → use is. Option B is correct.

  4. Final Answer:

    Either the boys or the teacher is going to the museum. → Option B

  5. Quick Check:

    Nearest subject singular → singular verb ‘is’. ✅
Hint: Verb matches the nearest subject in either-or constructions.
Common Mistakes: Matching the verb to the first (plural) subject and using ‘are’.
5. Choose the correct option:<br><br>Neither the witnesses nor the jurors _______ been informed about the change in schedule.
medium
A. has
B. is
C. was
D. have

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify both subjects.

    The witnesses (plural) and the jurors (plural).

  2. Step 2: Find the subject nearest the verb.

    The nearest subject is the jurors (plural).

  3. Step 3: Apply the rule.

    With neither-nor, the verb agrees with the nearest subject → plural → use the plural perfect auxiliary have (as in ‘have been informed’).

  4. Final Answer:

    have → Option D

  5. Quick Check:

    Nearest subject plural → plural auxiliary ‘have’ (→ ‘have been informed’). ✅
Hint: When both possible subjects are plural and nearest is plural, use plural verb/auxiliary.
Common Mistakes: Using singular auxiliaries like ‘has’ by mistake.

Mock Test

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