Which sentence correctly uses NOR to join two negative subjects?

Which sentence correctly uses NOR to join two negative subjects?

• A. Neither the coach nor the players were ready.
• B. Neither the coach or the players were ready.
• C. The coach nor the players were ready.
• D. Neither the coach and the players were ready.

Answer: (A)

The sentence uses a correlative negative pairing: neither... nor. When joining two negative subjects, this construction is the standard way to negate both parts. The verb should agree with the nearer subject to maintain proper number, so the closer noun is players, which is plural, and the verb correctly reads were. This makes the sentence correct: Neither the coach nor the players were ready. The other forms break the rule in a few ways. Using or instead of nor disrupts the established correlative pair. Leaving out neither and starting with The coach... is ungrammatical for this construction. Linking with and after neither also mismatches the required pattern, so the sentence becomes incorrect.

The sentence uses a correlative negative pairing: neither... nor. When joining two negative subjects, this construction is the standard way to negate both parts. The verb should agree with the nearer subject to maintain proper number, so the closer noun is players, which is plural, and the verb correctly reads were.

This makes the sentence correct: Neither the coach nor the players were ready.

The other forms break the rule in a few ways. Using or instead of nor disrupts the established correlative pair. Leaving out neither and starting with The coach... is ungrammatical for this construction. Linking with and after neither also mismatches the required pattern, so the sentence becomes incorrect.