Two nouns connected by or or nor are followed by a singular verb.
- Either Janet or John is available to answer your questions this afternoon.
(singular verb/is) - Neither tea nor coffee is sold here.
When a singular noun and a plural noun are joined by or or nor the verb agrees with the nearest noun.
- Neither the zoo keeper nor the police were able to find the missing snake.
(zoo keeper/singular noun – police/plural noun – plural verb/were) - Neither the police nor the zoo keeper was able to find the missing snake.
(police/plural noun – zoo keeper/singular noun – singular verb/was)
