Help on this writing problem please.

<p>[Of] the two options, [neither] the system of appointing judges to the bench nor the process [of electing] judges [are] entirely satisfactory. [No error]</p>

<p>Which is the right answer?</p>

<p>Could you explain why?</p>

<p>Thank you guys in advance.</p>

<p>[are] should be "is"</p>

<p>could you explain why.....?</p>

<p>Whenever a subject consists of two nouns, joined by or/nor, the verb is determined by the noun closest to it.</p>

<p>For ex: Neither the banana nor the monkeys are in the box. "Are" because monkeys (which is plural) is closest to the verb and the the subject consists of a nor.</p>

<p>In your example: [Of] the two options, [neither] the system of appointing judges to the bench nor the process [of electing] judges [are] entirely satisfactory. [No error]</p>

<p>the closest noun to the verb (are) is process. Since process is singular, it must be is, not are.</p>

<p>What if it was
[Of] the two options, [both] the system of appointing judges to the bench and the process [of electing] judges [are] entirely satisfactory. [No error]?</p>

<p>In that case "are" would be correct because it is a compound subject joined by and thus requiring a plural verb.</p>