Question

Mercury and Venus _____ relatively close to the sun, and neither Mercury nor Venus _____ to support life. Which pair of verb forms correctly completes the sentence? are; appears is; appear are; appear is; appears

Answer 1

Number one:are
Number two: I think appears

Answer 2

Answer:

Mercury and Venus are relatively close to the sun, and neither Mercury nor Venus appears to support life.

Explanation:

Mercury and Venus _____ relatively close to the sun, and neither Mercury nor Venus _____ to support life.

The first blank will be filled by "ARE" for the subjects "Mercury and Venus" is plural. And the second blank will be filled with 'appears' for the subject closest to the verb is a singular noun.

In the first case, the verb will take the form of the two subjects, thus plural so the use of "are". In the second case, the verb is in the singular form for, whenever there is the use of "neither/nor" in a sentence, the verb will take the form of the nearest noun/pronoun to it. Thus, the verb will be according to the noun "Venus", which is singular, thus, 'appears'.

Thus, the final sentence will read as-

(Mercury and Venus) are relatively close to the sun, and neither Mercury nor (Venus) appears to support life.