Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank.
Neither John _____ his friends were able to attend the party.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. nor.
Context: The sentence shows that both John and his friends did not attend the party. The word neither always pairs with nor to express this kind of negative connection.
Meaning of the words:
-
And = adds two things together (wrong, because “neither” does not go with “and”).
-
Nor = used with “neither” to show negative connection (correct).
-
But = shows contrast (does not fit here).
-
Or = used with “either” (not correct with “neither”).
Correct word: The correct word is nor, because the correlative pair is neither … nor.
Reason: The grammar rule is that neither is always followed by nor when connecting two subjects or ideas in a negative sense.
Final Sentence: “Neither John nor his friends were able to attend the party.”
Hence, the chosen option is correct.