Multiple choice

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Neither the students nor their teacher or the school came forward to tender an apology.

  1. Neither the students nor their teacher or the school came forward to tender an apology.

  2. None of the students or their teacher or the school came forward to tender an apology.

  3. Neither the students nor their teacher nor the school came forward to tender an apology.

  4. Neither the students nor their teacher nor even the school came forward to tender an apology.

  5. None including the students, their teacher, or the school came forward to tender an apology.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): The usage of neither is incorrect in this sentence. 'Neither'' can be used as a standalone, or be followed by 'nor', but as per the rules of parallelism nor cannot be substituted the next time by 'or'. Also, since there are three subjects, the choice of 'neither... nor' is inappropriate.

Explanation for (2): The sentence has error of redundancy, 'or' before the teacher is inappropriate.

Explanation for (3): The sentence has error of redundancy, 'nor' before the teacher is inappropriate
Explanation for (4): Since there are three subjects, the choice of 'neither... nor' is inappropriate Justification for (5): 'Neither'' can be used as a standalone, or be followed by 'nor', but as per the rules of parallelism nor cannot be substituted the next time by 'or'. Also, since there are three subjects, the choice of 'neither... nor' is inappropriate. This option rectifies the error of parallelism by using 'none'.

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