Neither Was vs. Neither Were – Which is Correct?
While “neither” is inherently singular, the choice between “neither was” and “neither were” depends on context, particularly in “neither…nor” constructions. “Neither was” is generally correct when “neither” acts as a singular pronoun or the closest subject is singular. “Neither were” is often accepted when the subject closest to the verb in a “neither…nor” structure is plural, following the proximity rule.
Neither Was or Were – Which is Correct?
The choice between “neither was” and “neither were” hinges on the grammatical role of “neither” and the structure of the sentence, especially when used with “nor.” “Neither” as a standalone pronoun always takes a singular verb, making “neither was” the correct form. However, in a “neither…nor” construction, the verb agreement often follows the subject closest to it, leading to situations where “neither were” might be grammatically acceptable or even preferred by some style guides if the nearest subject is plural.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
To determine whether to use “was” or “were” with “neither,” apply the “proximity rule” for “neither…nor” constructions. If “neither” acts as a singular pronoun (e.g., “Neither of them…”), always use was. If you are using “neither…nor” with two subjects, look at the subject immediately preceding the verb. If that subject is singular, use was. If that subject is plural, use were (though some traditional grammarians still prefer singular agreement in all “neither…nor” cases, the proximity rule is widely accepted in modern English).
| Phrase | Grammatical Rule | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither Was | “Neither” as singular pronoun; or closest subject singular in “neither…nor” | Not one of two options existed/applied; not either. | Neither of the books was available. Neither John nor Mary was present. |
| Neither Were | Closest subject plural in “neither…nor” construction (proximity rule) | Not one of two options existed/applied (when the nearest subject is plural). | Neither the teacher nor the students were prepared. |
How to Use Neither Was
The phrase “neither was” is used when “neither” functions as a singular indefinite pronoun, meaning “not one of two.” In this context, it always takes a singular verb. It is also used in “neither…nor” constructions when the subject immediately preceding the verb is singular. This usage emphasizes the individual singularity of the options, even if there are two.
Example 1: Neither of the answers was correct.
Example 2: Neither the principal nor the teacher was aware of the incident.
Example 3: When I asked about the twins, I found that neither was home.
What are the different forms of neither was?
As “neither was” is a specific phrasal construction, it doesn’t have different forms in the same way a single verb or noun does. “Neither” can function as a pronoun, a determiner, or a conjunction. “Was” is the past tense, singular form of the verb “to be.” The key variation comes from the subject it refers to, which dictates “was” (singular) or “were” (plural) in “neither…nor” constructions.
Etymology of the word Neither
The word “neither” originates from Old English “nāhwæðer,” a compound of “nā” (no, not) and “hwæðer” (which of two, whether). Over time, it evolved through Middle English “neithir” or “nother,” retaining its meaning of “not either” or “not one of two.” Its role as a negative correlative conjunction developed later, pairing with “nor.”
How to Use Neither Were
The phrase “neither were” is primarily used in “neither…nor” constructions where the subject immediately preceding the verb is plural. This follows the principle of subject-verb agreement known as the “proximity rule,” where the verb agrees with the closer of the two subjects. While some traditionalists argue for singular agreement in all “neither…nor” cases, “neither were” is widely accepted and common in modern usage when the plural subject is closer to the verb.
Example 1: Neither the manager nor the employees were happy with the new policy.
Example 2: Neither the cat nor the dogs were allowed on the furniture.
Example 3: When the fire alarm sounded, neither the students nor the teachers were in their classrooms.
What are the different forms of neither were?
Similar to “neither was,” “neither were” is a specific grammatical construction. “Were” is the past tense, plural form of the verb “to be,” also used for the subjunctive mood. The forms of “neither” remain consistent (pronoun, determiner, conjunction). The choice between “was” and “were” is determined by the subject’s number in the sentence, specifically in “neither…nor” structures.
Etymology of the word Were
The word “were” is a past tense, plural form of the verb “to be.” Its origins can be traced back to Proto-Germanic “*wesanan,” meaning “to remain, to be.” It shares roots with Old English “wæron” and Old Norse “váru.” The verb “to be” is highly irregular, with forms derived from several distinct Proto-Indo-European roots, making “were” a unique and ancient component of English grammar.
Related Concepts
Understanding these broader grammatical concepts will help clarify the usage of “neither was” and “neither were.”
- Subject-Verb Agreement: This fundamental rule dictates that a verb must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject. The complexity with “neither” arises because “neither” itself is singular, but “neither…nor” constructions can introduce plural subjects.
- Correlative Conjunctions: These are pairs of conjunctions that work together to connect two words, phrases, or clauses of equal grammatical weight. “Neither…nor” is a correlative conjunction, and the verb agreement rule for these pairs often depends on the proximity of the second subject to the verb.
- Indefinite Pronouns: Words like “neither,” “each,” “every,” “everyone,” “no one,” and “anyone” are indefinite pronouns. Most indefinite pronouns are singular and thus take singular verbs, which explains why “neither was” is often the default choice when “neither” acts alone.
Examples from Media and Literature
Here are some examples illustrating the usage of “neither was” and “neither were” in various contexts:
- “Neither of the twins was particularly fond of early mornings.”
- “Neither the sun nor the moon was visible through the thick fog.”
- “Neither the parents nor the children were consulted before the decision was made.”
- “In the debate, neither candidate was able to fully articulate a clear plan for the economy.”
- “The report stated that neither the equipment nor the technicians were at fault, pointing instead to a software error.”
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.
- Neither of the proposals ______ accepted by the committee. (was/were)
- Neither the coach nor the players ______ happy with the referee’s call. (was/were)
- Neither the car nor the truck ______ damaged in the minor collision. (was/were)
- Neither she nor her brothers ______ interested in attending the family reunion. (was/were)
- It became clear that neither of the explanations ______ satisfactory. (was/were)
Answer Key
- was
- were
- was
- were
- was
Neither Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Not either | Used to express the negative of both options. |
| Nor | Used after “neither” to introduce the second part of a negative correlation. |
| No one of two | Emphasizes the singular negative choice between two items. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “neither” always singular?
Yes, “neither” as an indefinite pronoun is always singular and takes a singular verb (e.g., “Neither of them is here”). However, in a “neither…nor” construction, the verb can be plural if the subject closest to it is plural, following the proximity rule.
Question 2: When should I use “neither…nor” instead of “either…or”?
Use “neither…nor” to express a negative correlation, meaning “not one and not the other.” Use “either…or” to express a positive choice between two options, meaning “one or the other.”
Question 3: Can I say “neither of them were”?
While commonly heard in informal speech, grammatically “neither of them was” is preferred because “neither” itself is singular. The plural verb “were” is generally reserved for “neither…nor” constructions where the second subject is plural.
Conclusion
Navigating the nuances of “neither was” versus “neither were” requires an understanding of subject-verb agreement, particularly with indefinite pronouns and correlative conjunctions. Remember that “neither” as a pronoun is singular and takes “was.” In “neither…nor” constructions, apply the proximity rule: the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. While some traditionalists prefer singular agreement always, modern usage widely accepts the proximity rule for plural subjects. Mastering this distinction ensures clarity and grammatical precision in your writing.
Pro Tip: When in doubt, especially in formal writing, consider rephrasing or opting for the singular verb if “neither” acts as the primary subject, as it is generally considered the safest and most traditionally correct approach.
