【问】 (1)Neither of the boys who have been helping us know when this game is over. (TOEFL，71.1)
 (2) Neither of the alteratives that had been outlined at the last meeting were acceptableto the executive committee。(《硕士研究生英语入学考试复习与指导》，北京航空航天大学出版社，P.15)
 试题(1)要求将B改为knows，试题(2)要求将were(C)改为was。但是我却经常读到动词用复数的句子：
 1. Neither of us are much good.(Mis)
 2. I quite agree with you that neither are suitable for a newspaper.
 如何解释这两种不同的用法。
 【答】 到目前为止，语言学家们仍然认为，在正式用法中，动词与neither连用时只能使用单
 数。这一点尤其为各类考题的编写者们所坚持。例如：
 “Did Jack and Tom understand her?”
 杰克和汤姆理解她吗?
 “No._______of them is bright. ”
 不，他们两个都不够聪明。
 A. Not either B. Not one
 C. Neither D. No one(TOEFL，71. 1)
 但是，CGEL编著者们指出，当neither后面跟有复数意义的词语时，因概念一致原则和接近原则的影响，在非正式用法中，有时也会出现复数动词：
 1. Neither of them are welcome.(CGEL)(非正式用法)
 他们俩都不受欢迎。
 2. John and Mary will have to walk. Neither of them have brought their cars. (Dear)
 约翰和玛丽将不得不步行，他们俩谁也没把车开来。
 3. Neither of my sisters are very tidy. (PEU)
 我的两个妹妹都不太整洁。
 4. Neither of the books are/is very interesting. (LDCE)
 这两本书没有一本是有趣的。