Question

Use the appropriate conjunctional phrase to form a sentence:
Praveen did not remember Smita's birthday. His wife also did not remember it.

• A. Either Praveen or his wife remembered Smita's birthday.
• B. Neither Praveen nor his wife remembered Smita's birthday.
• C. Either Praveen or his wife did not remember Smita's birthday.
• D. Neither Praveen nor his wife did not remember Smita's birthday.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Neither Praveen nor his wife remembered Smita's birthday.

'Either... or' and 'Neither...'nor' are called correlative conjunctions, which are used to introduce alternatives. 'Either ...or' is used to connect two affirmative (or positive) alternatives. 'Neither....nor' is used to connect two negative alternatives.

Both the given sentences are negative and contain the word, 'not'. Hence, 'either .. or' cannot be used and both options A and C are incorrect.

When the conjunction, 'Neither... nor' is used, it already indicates that the verb is negative. Hence, the negative verb in the original sentence (for example: did not remember) is changed into an affirmative verb (remembered).

Option C: 'Neither... nor' connects two sentences and the negative verb is changed to its affirmative form. Hence, this is correct.

Option D: The conjunction, 'Neither... nor' is used. However, the negative verb, 'did not remember' continues and is not changed to its affirmative form. This is grammatically incorrect. and hence, option D is incorrect.