Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment. If no substitution is required select 'No substitution'. Each of the two brothers wants the cake but neither have any manners.
neither has any manners
Grammar Focus: Subject-Verb Agreement with 'Neither'
This question tests understanding of subject-verb agreement, specifically how the pronoun 'neither' functions in a sentence.
Analyzing the Sentence Structure
The sentence is:
Each of the two brothers wants the cake but neither have any manners.
The sentence consists of two independent clauses joined by the conjunction 'but'.
- Clause 1: "Each of the two brothers wants the cake" - This clause is grammatically correct. 'Each' takes a singular verb ('wants').
- Clause 2: "neither have any manners" - This clause contains the potential error.
Understanding 'Neither' and Subject-Verb Agreement
The pronoun 'neither' is used to refer to two people or things, indicating that both are not the case. Crucially, 'neither' is considered a singular pronoun when it acts as the subject of a sentence.
Singular subjects require singular verbs. The singular form of the verb 'to have' is 'has'. The plural form is 'have'.
Therefore, when 'neither' is the subject, it should be followed by a singular verb.
Evaluating the Options
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either have no manners: 'Either' is generally used in positive statements or with 'or'. Furthermore, 'have' is a plural verb, which is incorrect with a singular subject like 'neither' (even if 'either' were appropriate here).
-
No substitution: The original sentence contains a subject-verb agreement error ('neither have'), so a substitution is necessary.
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neither has any manners: This option correctly uses the singular pronoun 'neither' with the singular verb 'has'. This aligns with the rules of subject-verb agreement. 'Any' is also appropriate in this negative context.
The corrected sentence reads: "Each of the two brothers wants the cake but neither has any manners."
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neither have some manners: This option still uses the incorrect plural verb 'have' with the singular subject 'neither'. While 'some manners' is grammatically possible, 'any manners' is more idiomatic in negative sentences like this.
Conclusion
The most appropriate substitution corrects the subject-verb agreement error. The pronoun 'neither' requires the singular verb 'has'. Therefore, option 3 is the correct choice.
Similar Questions
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”
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Important Questions from Phrase Replacement
- Select the option that will improve the underlined part of the given sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select 'No improvement required'.
The doors and windows will have painted by afternoon. Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, No substitution required.
Not knowing the language and having no acquaintances in the city, he found it hard getting work.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.
Gayatri informed one of the directors that she has sent the material for printing.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select option No substitution required.
We had been almost halfway there when the left rear tyre blew out
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select option No substitution required.
The man spent a lot because he had so large amount of money.
