Select the most appropriate option to identify the incorrect segment in the following sentence.
The judge concluded that (A) / either the maid or the driver were (B) / responsible for the murder (C).

Correct option is A

The error lies in option (a), i.e., Segment (B).

Explanation:
The error is in Segment (B): either the maid or the driver were. The verb were is incorrect here.

When two subjects are joined by either...or, the verb agrees with the subject that is nearest (closest) to it. In this sentence, the two subjects are the maid and the driver. The subject nearest to the verb is the driver, which is a singular noun. Therefore, the verb must be singular: was, not were.

Corrected Sentence:
The judge concluded that either the maid or the driver was responsible for the murder.

Grammatical Rule (English):

• With either...or and neither...nor, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
• Singular noun nearest to the verb → singular verb (was/is/has).
• Plural noun nearest to the verb → plural verb (were/are/have).

• (b) Segment (C) responsible for the murder – Grammatically correct; no error here.
• (c) No error – Incorrect; there is a subject-verb agreement error in Segment (B).
• (d) Segment (A) The judge concluded that – Grammatically correct; no error here.