Verb with Òneither ... norÓ

Dear Dr English,

Which is the correct answer for the sentence below: is, am, or are?
Neither Tom nor I ... going out tonight.
IÕve asked this of some native speakers but the answers I got were different. Please explain your answer. Clarification would be greatly appreciated.

Pongsak Sakda

The rule is that if the element, which is the word that follows ÒneitherÓ or ÒeitherÓ is singular, then you need to use the singular form of the verb; but if one of the elements or both is plural, then the verb needs to be in plural form.
Neither William nor Matthew likes to eat sushi.
Neither William nor his parents like to eat sushi.
Neither the organisers nor the exhibitors know of the sudden closure of the exhibition centre.
So in your case, certainly the verb must be in singular form, and since the second element, which is closer to the verb, is ÒIÓ, the verb should be ÒamÓ.
Neither Tom nor I am going out tonight.
And since we are on the topic of verb-subject agreement with ÒneitherÓ, I would like to mention the verb form used with Òneither ... norÓ as well.
According to Collins Cobuild English Usage, ÒneitherÓ is used in front of the singular form of a count noun and Òneither ofÓ in front of the plural noun or plural noun group. In conversation, using a plural form of a verb after Òneither ofÓ and a noun group is acceptable but in formal writing, you should always use a singular form of a verb after Òneither ofÓ.

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Thin and beautiful

Dear Dr English

Which word is more appropriate to describe somebody who is thin and rather tall? Can I use ÒslenderÓ or ÒslimÓ? Please also suggest other adjectives that describe thin people. Thanks.

Wattana Suthongsook

ÒSlenderÓ and ÒslimÓ are words we use to describe people who are thin positively; words in this group are ÒleanÓ, ÒspareÓ and ÒtrimÓ with ÒslimÓ being the commonest among them, but they do not give any impression of the height of the person.
Johnny introduced his girlfriend to us yesterday; she is pretty and slim.
You are looking at ÒlankyÓ and ÒwillowyÓ. The first is slightly humorous while the latter is used to show approval.
ThatÕs Hayden, the lanky boy with long skinny legs walking across the football field.
While the words mentioned earlier show a positive attitude towards the people described, the following are used to show disapproval; ÒskinnyÓ, ÒbonyÓ and ÒscrawnyÓ
Did you see the new girl next door? I saw her watering her garden yesterday, she is as skinny as a broomstick.

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