Correct Answer:
B. Neither of the boys is coming.
This question tests subject-verb agreement, specifically with indefinite pronouns like "neither."
- Foundational Fact: The pronoun "neither" is always singular, even when followed by a prepositional phrase like "of the boys." Therefore, the verb must also be singular.
- Correct Answer (B): "Neither of the boys is coming." The singular verb "is" correctly agrees with the singular subject "Neither." This sentence structure correctly conveys that not one of the boys is coming.
- Why Distractors are Wrong:
- (A) "Neither of the boys are coming" is incorrect because "are" is a plural verb, which does not agree with the singular "Neither."
- (C) "Neither of the boys were coming" uses a plural past tense verb, which is also grammatically incorrect for the singular subject "Neither."
- (D) "Neither of the boys have coming" is grammatically flawed. "Have" is a plural verb, and the phrasing "have coming" is not a standard English construction in this context; it should be "is coming" or "has come."