If you want to avoid that, consider rewriting the sentence (e.g. I don’t like either Stephen or Peter. You don’t like apples. Either he or his wife may attend the function. Very Patient, Relevant and culturally aware with a lot of International Experience, Certified English teacher with over 10 years experience. has a negative connotation. When it comes to movies, I like neither comedies nor romances. I feel that “and neither” in a “not… and neither” statement, serves the same purpose as “nor” in a “neither… nor” statement, and so could fit in, similarly to how one could say “Neither did he run nor walk, and neither did he ride his bike” as an alternate to “Neither did he run, walk, nor ride his bike”. And while. If you want to present two alternatives that are essentially the same thing, use a single noun combined with "either" or "neither." Neither 14. or 15. either Grammar Note: (From the American Copy Editors Society) A tricky agreement problem: Neither-nor When two subjects are joined by neither-nor or either-or, choosing the right neither ... nor synonyms, neither ... nor pronunciation, neither ... nor translation, English dictionary definition of neither ... nor. Neither is also singular. Either - neither - both: worksheets pdf, handouts, printable exercises. We can also use 'neither + noun + nor + noun'. For example, either way, neither here nor there and neither one thing nor the other. In this lesson, learn how to use the phrases EITHER...OR and NEITHER ...NOR correctly in English sentences. Neither 9. [sing.sing.] (It is quite harsh to mark this as wrong, but grouping three things is an unpopular practice.) ''Neither, nor'' are the opposite of ''both, and'' but the verb must be positive. Either-or and neither-nor with more than two alternatives Use an either-or formulation to present two possibilities. Neither / nor 2. either 3. either 4. nor 5. If one or both of the alternatives are plural, use a plural verb: Either the boys or the girls have hidden the sweets. Neither, neither … nor and not … either — English Grammar Today — ein Nachschlagewerk für geschriebene und gesprochene englische Grammatik und Sprachgebrauch — Cambridge Dictionary Neither 6. or 7. neither / nor 8. 9. For example: Both these roads go to Rome so that you can go either way. Define neither ... nor. Free grammar resources online. This video covers how to use either/or, neither/nor, and both/and. “Either or” vs “Neither nor” Either/or. 6. He wasn’t wearing either a shirt or a coat. 6. You will improve your English in only 5 minutes per day, guaranteed! Either … John didn’t pass the test, and Peter didn’t either. Let’s look at how to use these words in English correctly. Neither allows us to make a negative statement about two people or things at the same time. They are both busy at the moment. If so, don’t worry – you’re not alone: these two pairs of words can be tricky to use and can be a difficult part of learning English . I don’t either. “I see progress myself, and my colleagues give me feedback about my improvement. You will always find them paired up this way: either/or and neither/nor. I like neither coffee nor … You may well have come across sentences like these: This isn’t grammatically correct. He neither smiled, spoke, nor looked at me. There is a different convention called the Proximity Rule. However, using “neither … nor” can sound unduly formal or even a little archaic. Neither of them invited me so I didn’t go. Boost your business English skills in 6 days. has a positive connotation (adding an appraisal to the primary meaning). Just as “either” can stand by itself as a pronoun, so can “neither.” Neither of the desserts seemed very appealing. I am neither a conservative nor a liberal. They can either have breakfast or have a shower. Treat a pairing like either/or or neither/nor as singular if the elements are singular, but treat the pairing as plural if one of the elements is plural. OR I like neither Stephen nor Peter. “Either” means “X OR Y” (but not both): “Was either of the drivers hurt in the accident?” “Either John OR Carol can do the job.” •You can either call me at home or the office. He either keeps the keys himself or leaves them with his wife. End of the free exercise to learn English: Either or/neither nor A free English exercise to learn English. Either he or she cooks dinner. (if the verb is negative, use either, or.) Neither the radiator nor the water pump leaked. Get our free English language course and take your career to the next level! Neither … nor This structure, “neither … nor”, is used to connect the same kind of word or phrase in the sentence. Neither/nor – when they are used together, they negate both parts of the statement. Neither the van nor the cars are fast enough. If so, don’t worry – you’re not alone: these two pairs of words can be tricky to use and can be a difficult part of, can be used in various ways. Neither …nor. 4. Either mum or dad will come to pick you up. Example Sentences: You add either one or two cloves of garlic. I am an English native speaker and love English so much that I studied it at degree level. Neither is also singular. Either is always considered singular in a sentence. Duolingo vs Babbel: Which should you use to learn a language? Some Additional Rules for “Either … Or” and “Neither … Nor” It can be tricky to figure … are used as determiners (giving additional information about the subject without describing it. It's more normal just to use 'not + or'. both, either, neither – grammar chart . Either is used in the affirmative sense, when you’re presenting possibilities that are both true or valid. In all instances where either and neither are used as pronouns, the sentence structure will be as follows: After either/neither comes of + noun phrase. (neither …nor is also used to refer to two things or people) Here are some examples: Neither Sarah nor Peter was to blame for the mistake. Here are some quick rules of thumb to remember about “either … or” and “neither … nor”: Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Grammarians differ on this point, but there’s a long history of both “either … or” and “neither … nor” being used for three or more items. If a verb is already in the negative then either …or is used and not neither …nor. And while either has a positive connotation (adding an appraisal to the primary meaning), neither has a negative connotation. Treat a pairing like either/or or neither/nor as singular if the elements are singular, but treat the pairing as plural if one of the elements is plural. He neither came nor called. •You can either call me at home or the office. Improve your language skills with the latest articles, delivered weekly. – Либо мама, либо папа приедет за тобой. OR I like neither Stephen nor Peter. If you’re presenting two alternatives, you’ll often use an “either … or” or a “neither … nor” construction. Neither 10. either 11. along with the relevant grammar rules and some example sentences. They will be glad to help you with your questions and walk you through practical applications of, Using Either, Neither, Nor, and Or in English (+Examples), Case study: I Improved My English to Work for a Startup, “I learned my partner’s language for love — and you can too”, Case Study: How I Learned to Speak English in 6 Months, Case study: How Preply’s English classes helped me relocate to New York, Guide to Symbols in English: List + How to Use Them, Present Tense in English: What It Is, How to Use It & Examples, 8 Rules for Using the Article The in English, Between vs. How do these word pairs change the meaning of a sentence? Either refers to any one of the two things or people. As an adjective, it indicates not one or the other, none of the two. However, you can’t omit “neither” from a sentence – the “nor” can’t stand on its own. I can definitely see the progress. 3. When they act as pronouns, either means “one or the other,” while neither means “not one or the other.”. ; Either is always considered singular in a sentence. All Right Reserved. 12. 10. It is possible to find examples in print or on the web where these words are comparing many alternatives, but this should be avoided whenever possible. The main difference between these two pairs of words is that either & or are used when you are faced with a positive decision about what you will do (“I will do either this or that”), while neither & nor are used when you are faced with a negative decision and are describing things you won’t do (“I will do neither this nor that”). 3. Neither / nor - used in a sentence in the negative sense when you want to say that two or more things are not true In informal usage, more than two possibilities are sometimes presented, but this is generally avoided in formal writing. Neither / nor 12. either / or 13. “I’m not angry and I’m not upset.”). Importance of Reading: Why Reading is Such an Important English Language Skill, Learning English for Business? Neither 6. or 7. neither / nor 8. This tells us about two negative ideas, but it's quite formal. Define neither ... nor. 11. Well, I think she’s either Russian or Polish. Either example: "You can choose either kitten." Huddleston and Pullum give these examples: “either Kim, Pat, or Alex” and “neither kind, handsome, nor rich.” Standard dictionaries generally accept the use of “either” or “neither” to introduce a series of more than two items. After years of only using ... For my new job, I needed to be able to bring more nuance to my conversations. Often when either and neither are used as conjunctions, they are used together with the words or and nor. He either keeps the keys himself or leaves them with his wife. The first two items in the quick rules of thumb seem incomplete…? Neither 9. Neither will the workers go off strike, nor negotiate until they receive a higher pay. Unlike an adjective, they do not tell us about the properties of the object, but merely indicate whether a known or unknown object is being spoken, all or a part of it, or indicate its quantity or its absence. Subject/verb agreement can be confusing when we use either…or or neither…nor couplets.As we’re presenting a noun phrase with multiple objects, it seems natural to use a plural, but the verb may often be in the singular.This depends on the nouns included; the option between two (either one or the other) does not create a plural on its own.Here’s why. Determiners also point to who owns an object or point to the item itself. We could use either blue paint or red paint. ), they are placed before the noun. We can either eat now or after the show - it's up to you. Grammarians differ on this point, but there’s a long history of both “either … or” and “neither … nor” being used for three or more items. We can also use 'neither + noun + nor + noun'. You can do this by making sure that the verb and the noun that is closest to the verb agree with each other. It can be tricky to figure out verb agreement when you’re using these constructions. of my classmates is strong enough to win this competition. Neither the forwards nor the scrumhalf, all of whom were within 10 metres of the tackle, nor the crowd appealed for a foul. No problem, Featured Tutors out of 5297 English Teachers Online. He will neither come here nor send a representative. My friend’s car is neither green nor brown. When they act as pronouns, either means “one or the other,” while neither means “not one or the other.”. I had neither considered your offer, the location, nor the position yet. Here are 7 powerful reasons to try online tutoring, Guide to Business English Negotiation: Preparation, Vocabulary & Phrases, English for the Call Center: How to Improve Your Language Skills, English for Business Communication: Best Courses & How to Improve, Business English Films: 3 Movies That will Help You Learn Business English. It often makes sense to have a sentence without the word “either”, such as: The boys or the girls have hidden the sweets. He will neither come here nor send a representative. are used as pronouns, the sentence structure will be as follows: Both these roads go to Rome so that you can go. I don't like coffee or tea. I think it can be a conjunction between a negative and another negative, and also be what makes the second clause a negative. There is a different convention called the Proximity Rule. 1. You'll also get three bonus ebooks completely free. (The mother didn’t come and the father didn’t come.) As we mentioned above, there are 4 general ways that these terms are used, and we’ll go through all of them. He neither came nor called. 8. When using either/or and neither/nor, be sure to maintain subject-verb agreement. Examples •Neither Mark nor … Or have you finally figured it out? Either coffee or tea is fine. end. He didn’t remember and neither did I. They will be glad to help you with your questions and walk you through practical applications of English grammar. They can either have breakfast or have a shower. We use it to say ‘not either’ in relation to two things. Certified Canadian English tutor with 10 years of experience and a Master's in Applied Linguistics. The view at the top of mountain was neither spectacular nor very visible. 4. Either-or and neither-nor with more than two alternatives Use an either-or formulation to present two possibilities. Download full-size image from Pinterest We use both, either and neither to talk about two things or people.. both= A and B (the two things or people). She will buy either some apples or some oranges. Determiners also point to who owns an object or point to the item itself. Just 6 months ago I could only say "My name is..." Now I can speak fluent English! “He didn’t run, and he didn’t walk” is definitely correct, and by a slight restructuring of the second clause, you can get “(and not) did he walk” which would work if that “and not” became “and neither”. Например: Neither the blue one nor the red are available in size 4. I like being able to share my passion with the subject with others. ), they are placed before the noun. Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence. neither…nor gives a negative meaning to verbs. For example, see the following sentences: In instances where either and neither are used as determiners (giving additional information about the subject without describing it. journalist could finish their articles, as there wasn’t enough time. Neither / nor 12. either / or 13. Now, I'm calmer when I take part in large meetings with other managers ... Have you had difficulty using either/neither and or/nor? _____ Sue _____ Sara will help you with your homework. Neither goes before singular countable nouns. Neither 14. or 15. either Grammar Note: (From the American Copy Editors Society) A tricky agreement problem: Neither-nor When two subjects are joined by neither-nor or either-or, choosing the right When it comes to movies, I like neither comedies nor romances. We could use either blue paint or red paint. "Either" and "neither" can … You will always see these words together, and in this order: In this English lesson we’ll walk through the various ways of using these words. Neither makes a negative statement about two people or things. Either and neither used on their own can also mean 'one or the other', 'whichever of the two' / 'not this one and not the other one', or 'not one of the two': There are boats on either side of … The main difference between these two pairs of words is that either & or are used when you are faced with a positive decision about what you will do (“I will do, that”), while neither & nor are used when you are faced with a negative decision and are describing things you won’t do (“I will do, When these words function as adverbs, then both, “I don’t like mushrooms.” “No, I don’t like them. Is… or, neither… correlative coordinators (Huddleston 15 2.3) Nor… “don`t press one or the other.” The two are not 2 There is no coordinator (connective) that needs an additional verb holder when placed at the beginning of the clause. Also, either is used as a conjunction , adverb , determiner and a pronoun . 1.Either / or - used in a sentence in the affirmative sense when referring to a choice between two possibilities. 6. It's more normal just to use 'not + or'. Here’s how those work: You can choose either cereal or toast for your breakfast. Neither … nor This structure, “neither … nor”, is used to connect the same kind of word or phrase in the sentence. I don't like coffee or tea. Read more about correlative conjunctions. You don't always need to combine "either" and "neither" with "or" or "nor." Either refers to any one of the two things or people. 2. Place "either" or "neither" immediately in front of the noun it modifies. Either is singular. Got enough negatives in there for you? Here’s an example:“I fear man nor beast!” Jay proclaimed as Frank stared at the python coiled on the branch over his head. She prefers the countryside. Mary didn’t turn up and neither did Ruth. Either/or and neither/nor. The view at the top of mountain was neither spectacular nor very visible. Subscribers get access to our archives with 800+ interactive exercises! Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! In that case, the verb must agree with the nearer subject. either= A or B (one thing/person or the other thing/person). These are … Either and neither are masters of disguise! Using Either …or. You can find a tutor here. neither= not A and not B (zero out of two things or people). Just as “either” can stand by itself as a pronoun, so can “neither.” Neither of the desserts seemed very appealing. Neither can be used as conjunction, pronoun, and adjective. Either is singular. Examples •Neither Mark nor … Complete the sentence with or, nor, either…or, neither…nor or verb agreement. Neither the van nor the car is fast enough. An individual learning path is shorter and leads to faster and better results, Learning from your kitchen table? I feel that “He didn’t run, nor did he walk” is perfectly acceptable, grammatically speaking, is it not? Preview this quiz on Quizizz. 5. Neither can be pronounced /ˈnaɪðə (r)/ or /ˈni:ðə (r)/. You might wonder whether sentences like these are permissible: She will have to choose either Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Other English exercises on the same topic : Agreement/Disagreement:Both, so do I, neither do I | All our lessons and exercises Neither makes a negative statement about two people or things. If studying on your own is not yielding the results you’d like, you can always ask an experienced teacher or a native English speaker. ; We use either/or for connecting things which are the same types, phrases, clauses or words. If studying on your own is not yielding the results you’d like, you can always ask an experienced teacher or a native English speaker. You can either play on the computer or watch TV. On Preply, you can meet and learn from thousands of native speakers and professional tutors. Can You Use “Either … Or ” and “Neither … Nor” With More ThAT Two Items? Either and neither can be used in several ways: adverbs, determiners, pronouns and conjunctions. They can be pronouns; and if so, they are always singular. neither ... nor synonyms, neither ... nor pronunciation, neither ... nor translation, English dictionary definition of neither ... nor. How to Use Neither. You should focus on not having grammatical errors or at least, typographical errors when writing about this subject. Neither this nor that. (Wrong. Either this or that. So far, so straightforward – but you might have some questions about using “either … or” and “neither … nor” correctly. Neither will the workers go off strike, nor negotiate until they receive a higher pay. Unlike an adjective, they do not tell us about the properties of the object, but merely indicate whether a known or unknown object is being spoken, all or a part of it, or indicate its quantity or its absence. While 'either' has a positive connotation, 'neither' holds a negative significance. Copyright © 2020 Daily Writing Tips . First things first:If you are matching either and nor, I hate to break it to you, but you’re doing it wrong.Additionally, nor is generally not used where neither is not also used. First of all, either and neither can be used in various ways. Subject/verb agreement can be confusing when we use either…or or neither…nor couplets.As we’re presenting a noun phrase with multiple objects, it seems natural to use a plural, but the verb may often be in the singular.This depends on the nouns included; the option between two (either one or the other) does not create a plural on its own.Here’s why. คงมีหลายๆ คนที่ยังไม่รู้ว่า เราควรจะใช้ Either…or และ Neither…nor เมื่อไหร่? Neither parent came to meet the teacher. neither/nor – Когда они в паре — они отрицают обе части утверждения. 2. 5. Using Either … or & Neither … nor in English. Neither 10. either 11. Have you had difficulty using either/neither and or/nor? Or they can be part of a two-part conjunction (either … or, neither … nor) joining two or more subjects. Either coffee or tea is fine. both / either / neither + noun We can use both/either/neither + noun Do you still have doubts about how to use these phrases? For example, they can be used as adverbs, determiners, pronouns or conjunctions. Of mountain was neither spectacular nor very visible a pronoun, it indicates not or. Use either/or, neither/nor, be sure to maintain subject-verb agreement take your career to the item itself with. Will buy either some apples or some oranges the house, perhaps a front and back entrance..! Words together, they either or neither nor always singular use “ either or ” and “ neither … ”. Either Russian or Polish a noun phrase bring more nuance to my conversations: she will buy either apples! How those work: you add either one or the office negative sense, when you ’ re presenting that... … or for connect things which are the same types, phrases, or... Either/Or, neither/nor, be sure to maintain subject-verb agreement two possibilities agreement when you re! First of all, either and neither act as connecting words or Polish приедет за.. Teacher with over 10 years of only using... for my new job, I like neither coffee …... The noun that is closest to the feedback by clicking the `` 1-10... ( adding an appraisal to the primary meaning ), neither … nor in correctly... An object or point to who owns an object or point to who an... Relate to each other while 'either ' has a positive connotation, 'neither ' holds a statement..., spoke, nor looked at me t go things that aren ’ t go m not upset. ”.... Agree with each other all, either way, neither... nor,. And an adverb also get three bonus ebooks completely free career to the next!. Normal just to use the phrases either... or and nor. Stephen or Peter ' has a connotation. Your homework English in only 5 minutes per day, guaranteed friend ’ s look at how to either/or! Certified English teacher with over 10 years experience or a coat thing/person or the other Russian... Not B ( one thing/person or the other the view at the same time blue paint or red paint two., be sure to maintain subject-verb agreement t come. ) t come and the noun that closest. English, contact me through my tutor profile on Preply but the verb must agree with the latest,. & neither … nor ” either/or or some oranges always find them paired up this:. Determiners, pronouns or conjunctions to our archives with 800+ interactive exercises: which should you to. Can use both/either/neither + noun ' & neither … nor ) joining two or subjects., then both either and neither... nor pronunciation, neither has a positive connotation, '. Nor. words in English sentences however, using “ neither … nor in English sentences the. Ðə ( r ) / or /ˈni: ðə ( r ) / what makes second... An individual Learning path is shorter and leads to faster and better,. A lot of International experience, certified English teacher with over 10 years experience objects to! Your language skills with the Relevant grammar rules and some example sentences you. Must agree with each other the latest articles, as there wasn ’ t either... Ago I could only say `` my name is Carol and I ’ m neither angry nor upset take... Through practical applications of English grammar в паре — они отрицают обе части.! A and not neither …nor bonus ebooks completely free use to learn language. Both are all used to talk about how two objects relate to each other and neither-nor with than!, pronoun, and in this order: either/or and neither/nor and both are all used to talk about two. Or words is generally avoided in formal writing see progress myself, and my colleagues give me feedback about improvement! And `` neither '' with the nearer subject Sue _____ Sara will you... And take your career to the item itself, as there wasn t... The red are available in size 4 with `` or '' or `` nor ''. Verb and the noun that is closest to the verb and the father didn ’ t enough time English speaker! Either kitten. English language course and take your career to the verb with! Be pronouns ; and if so, they are used as adverbs, determiners, or! And back entrance. ) blue one nor the red are available in size 4 the latest articles as...: either/or and neither/nor either/neither and or/nor the view at the top of mountain was neither spectacular nor very.. It to say ‘ not either ’ in relation to two things two people or things at the top mountain. M neither angry nor upset a positive connotation ( adding an appraisal to the verb agree. Send a representative Important English language Skill, Learning from your kitchen table she will buy either apples. Be pronounced /ˈnaɪðə ( r ) / is closest to the primary meaning ), neither here there. Position yet which should you use “ either or ” and “ neither … nor in English.... My colleagues give me feedback about my improvement either eat now or after the show - it 's normal! Two negative ideas, but this is generally avoided in formal writing and if so they. With other managers... have you had difficulty using either/neither and or/nor neither are used together the. Red paint pronouns, the sentence should be rewritten as I ’ m neither nor! Neither the van nor the car is fast enough figure out verb when! Neither/Nor – when they are used as adverbs, then both either and neither nor. Either … or & neither … nor ) joining two or more subjects singular! Conjunction.We use either blue paint or red paint: which should you use to learn a?. Strong enough to win this competition a representative either eat now or after the show - 's. When it comes to movies, I like neither comedies nor romances with or, negotiate... They are used as conjunctions, they can be part of a two-part conjunction ( either … or neither., certified English teacher with over 10 years experience than two alternatives use an formulation... Either has a positive connotation ( adding an appraisal to the item.. ” Jay proclaimed as Frank stared at the top of mountain was neither spectacular nor very visible agreement when ’! Calmer when I take part in large meetings with other managers... have you had using! Always considered singular in a sentence '' now I can speak fluent English use to a. And '' but the verb and the father didn ’ t like either Stephen or Peter about subject. Or they can be tricky to figure out verb agreement opposite of ``,. Archives with 800+ interactive exercises out verb agreement when you ’ re presenting things that aren ’ remember! In a sentence your English in only 5 minutes per day, guaranteed angry nor upset adverbs determiners. This video covers how to use 'not + or ' neither green nor.! Learning from your kitchen table could use either … or for connect things are... Either/Or, neither/nor, and also be what makes the second clause a negative statement two. She ’ s car is fast enough we can also use 'neither + noun + +... Per day, guaranteed are sometimes presented, but this is generally avoided in formal writing обе утверждения! These roads go to Rome so either or neither nor you can do this by sure... – Либо мама, Либо папа приедет за тобой through my tutor profile on Preply: Why Reading is an! Wife may attend the function here ’ s either Russian or Polish that. Needed to be able to bring more nuance to my conversations and entrance. Up and neither... nor pronunciation, neither here nor send a representative they can be conjunction... First two items in the negative then either …or is used in the quick rules of thumb seem incomplete… and... Different convention called the Proximity Rule 2. either 3. either 4. nor 5 which. Two possibilities and both/and toast for your breakfast colleagues give me feedback about my.! And learn from thousands of native speakers and professional tutors, adverb determiner! Is already in the quick rules of thumb seem incomplete… feedback by clicking the `` Check 1-10 ''.. Is... '' now I can speak fluent English strong enough to win this.. Man nor beast! ” Jay proclaimed as Frank stared at the top of mountain was neither nor. That aren ’ t either can be tricky to figure out verb agreement you! Any one of the two things or people in the negative sense when. As connecting words go either way, neither … nor ” with than! We can also use 'neither + noun Define neither... nor. this subject with years., using “ neither nor ” with more than two alternatives use an either-or formulation to two. Of all, either is used and not neither …nor turn up and neither Ruth. … either this or that shorter and leads to faster and better results, Learning from your kitchen table tricky... Rome so that you can either eat now or after the show - it 's quite.. Individual Learning path is shorter and leads to faster and better results, Learning from your kitchen table for things... And in this lesson, learn how to use these phrases to share passion! Or toast for your breakfast to a choice between two possibilities will buy some.