In English, the phrase ‘neither of them seems’ can cause some confusion when it comes to subject-verb agreement. The verb ‘seems’ is singular, even though ‘neither’ refers to two items. This article will explore why ‘seems’ remains in the singular form in this context and how subject-verb agreement works with phrases like ‘neither of them’.
1. Understanding the Structure of ‘Neither of Them Seems’
In the sentence ‘neither of them seems’, ‘neither’ functions as the subject of the sentence. While ‘neither’ might sound like it should take a plural verb, it is actually treated as singular. This is because ‘neither’ refers to one item at a time, even when talking about two items. The phrase ‘neither of them’ refers to a singular entity when combined with the verb ‘seems’.
Although ‘them’ refers to two people, the word ‘neither’ ensures the sentence remains singular because it is addressing each individual separately.
2. Subject-Verb Agreement with ‘Neither’
Subject-verb agreement in English is determined by the subject’s number, not the noun that follows it. In the case of ‘neither’, it is singular, which means the verb must also be singular. Therefore, we use ‘seems’ instead of ‘seem’. For example:
- Neither of the books seems interesting.
- Neither of them seems happy.
In both cases, ‘neither’ is the subject, and the verb stays in the singular form.
3. Why Not ‘Seem’ in This Case?
Some might wonder why the verb does not change to the plural form ‘seem’ when referring to two items. The key lies in understanding that ‘neither’ means ‘not one or the other’ and is treated as a singular pronoun. The word ‘seem’ would only be used with a plural subject, which ‘neither’ does not qualify as. Even though ‘neither’ refers to two items, the construction is still singular.
4. Other Examples of ‘Neither’ with Singular Verbs
Here are more examples to help clarify the usage of ‘neither’ with singular verbs:
- Neither of the options seems ideal.
- Neither of the people was available for comment.
In each case, ‘neither’ is treated as singular, and the verb follows suit, staying in the singular form.
Conclusion
The reason ‘seems’ is used instead of ‘seem’ in ‘neither of them seems’ lies in the singular nature of the word ‘neither’. Despite referring to two items, ‘neither’ is treated as singular, which calls for a singular verb. Understanding this rule of subject-verb agreement is crucial when constructing sentences with ‘neither’ in English.
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