Other English exercises on the same topic : Agreement/Disagreement:Both, so do I, neither do I | All our lessons and exercises He neither smiled, spoke, nor looked at me. neither= not A and not B (zero out of two things or people). No problem, Featured Tutors out of 5297 English Teachers Online. He will neither come here nor send a representative. OR I like neither Stephen nor Peter. neither, nor; nor, nor; In positive sentences you can use ''neither, nor'' to talk about two things. Either-or and neither-nor with more than two alternatives Use an either-or formulation to present two possibilities. 1. has a negative connotation. 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. Either is always considered singular in a sentence. (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. 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”). “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”. ; Either is always considered singular in a sentence. I like being able to share my passion with the subject with others. He neither came nor called. 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. They are both busy at the moment. You don't always need to combine "either" and "neither" with "or" or "nor." 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. Just as “either” can stand by itself as a pronoun, so can “neither.” Neither of the desserts seemed very appealing. 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. Often when either and neither are used as conjunctions, they are used together with the words or and nor. The words either, neither, and both are all used to talk about how two objects relate to each other. Let’s look at how to use these words in English correctly. Importance of Reading: Why Reading is Such an Important English Language Skill, Learning English for Business? “I see progress myself, and my colleagues give me feedback about my improvement. Neither 10. either 11. neither ... nor synonyms, neither ... nor pronunciation, neither ... nor translation, English dictionary definition of neither ... nor. I don't like coffee or tea. 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”. Neither 9. Neither …nor. Either coffee or tea is fine. He either keeps the keys himself or leaves them with his wife. 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. Either example: "You can choose either kitten." 1. Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence. Neither goes before singular countable nouns. Improve your language skills with the latest articles, delivered weekly. I don't like coffee or tea. 8. How to Use Neither. 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. In this lesson, learn how to use the phrases EITHER...OR and NEITHER ...NOR correctly in English sentences. My friend’s car is neither green nor brown. I can definitely see the progress. When they act as pronouns, either means “one or the other,” while neither means “not one or the other.”. “Either or” vs “Neither nor” Either/or. ''Neither, nor'' are the opposite of ''both, and'' but the verb must be positive. Either - neither - both: worksheets pdf, handouts, printable exercises. Here’s what you need to know: If the alternatives presented are both singular, then use a singular verb, like this: Either James or Mary has hidden the sweets. 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. Well, I think she’s either Russian or Polish. 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. (Wrong. 11. neither/nor – Когда они в паре — они отрицают обе части утверждения. Neither, on the other hand, is used as a determiner, pronoun and an adverb. Either is used in the affirmative sense, when you’re presenting possibilities that are both true or valid. The sentence should be rewritten as I’m neither angry nor upset. On Preply, you can meet and learn from thousands of native speakers and professional tutors. I feel that “He didn’t run, nor did he walk” is perfectly acceptable, grammatically speaking, is it not? She will buy either some apples or some oranges. 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. Copyright © 2020 Daily Writing Tips . Got enough negatives in there for you? Preview this quiz on Quizizz. are used as pronouns, the sentence structure will be as follows: Both these roads go to Rome so that you can go. Neither of them seemed interested in the offer. Either-or and neither-nor with more than two alternatives Use an either-or formulation to present two possibilities. 5. If you’re writing for a particularly formal publication, though, you might want to stick to just two items when you’re using “either … or” or “neither … nor”. We can also use 'neither + noun + nor + noun'. Or they can be part of a two-part conjunction (either … or, neither … nor) joining two or more subjects. We can either eat now or after the show - it's up to you. Define neither ... nor. Neither this nor that. Either/or and neither/nor. ; Either/or is a correlative conjunction. Either mum or dad will come to pick you up. As we mentioned above, there are 4 general ways that these terms are used, and we’ll go through all of them. Pronouns Follow "either" or "neither" with the word "of" and a noun phrase. Can You Use “Either … Or ” and “Neither … Nor” With More ThAT Two Items? This video covers how to use either/or, neither/nor, and both/and. He wasn’t wearing either a shirt or a coat. Determiners also point to who owns an object or point to the item itself. journalist could finish their articles, as there wasn’t enough time. All Right Reserved. They can either have breakfast or have a shower. Either… or is a correlative conjunction.We use either … or for connect things which are the same types, phrases, clauses or words. 2. •You can either call me at home or the office. However, using “neither … nor” can sound unduly formal or even a little archaic. Duolingo vs Babbel: Which should you use to learn a language? )“I fear neither man nor beast!” Jay proclaimed as Frank stared at the python coiled on the … Neither the van nor the cars are fast enough. Just as “either” can stand by itself as a pronoun, so can “neither.” Neither of the desserts seemed very appealing. Either and neither can be used in several ways: adverbs, determiners, pronouns and conjunctions. 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. ), they are placed before the noun. Neither 6. or 7. neither / nor 8. He wasn’t wearing either a shirt or a coat. When it comes to movies, I like neither comedies nor romances. If a verb is already in the negative then either …or is used and not neither …nor. There is neither bread, milk, nor jam. Either he or she cooks dinner. These are … Neither is also singular. Sarah liked neither Rome nor Paris. Either refers to any one of the two things or people. 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 . You should focus on not having grammatical errors or at least, typographical errors when writing about this subject. Neither / nor 12. either / or 13. 6. 5. คงมีหลายๆ คนที่ยังไม่รู้ว่า เราควรจะใช้ Either…or และ Neither…nor เมื่อไหร่? Neither / nor - used in a sentence in the negative sense when you want to say that two or more things are not true Neither is used in the negative sense, when you’re presenting things that aren’t true or valid. 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. 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. 9. I am an English native speaker and love English so much that I studied it at degree level. end. 7. Free grammar resources online. _____ Sue _____ Sara will help you with your homework. 2. 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. of my classmates is strong enough to win this competition. I don’t like either Stephen or Peter. Neither the radiator nor the water pump leaked. 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. Do you still have doubts about how to use these phrases? 7. You can do this by making sure that the verb and the noun that is closest to the verb agree with each other. Either/or – used together to offer a choice between two things. 1.Either / or - used in a sentence in the affirmative sense when referring to a choice between two possibilities. If you want to present two alternatives that are essentially the same thing, use a single noun combined with "either" or "neither." 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 … When it comes to movies, I like neither comedies nor romances. Neither 9. OR I like neither Stephen nor Peter. [sing.sing.] There is a different convention called the Proximity Rule. Just 6 months ago I could only say "My name is..." Now I can speak fluent English! There is a different convention called the Proximity Rule. Neither/nor – when they are used together, they negate both parts of the statement. When these words function as adverbs, then both either and neither act as connecting words. It can be tricky to figure out verb agreement when you’re using these constructions. Neither … nor This structure, “neither … nor”, is used to connect the same kind of word or phrase in the sentence. are used as conjunctions, they are used together with the words. For example, they can be used as adverbs, determiners, pronouns or conjunctions. Hello, everyone! You might wonder whether sentences like these are permissible: She will have to choose either Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Neither the forwards nor the scrumhalf, all of whom were within 10 metres of the tackle, nor the crowd appealed for a foul. First of all, either and neither can be used in various ways. 4. Either he or his wife may attend the function. He neither came nor called. I like neither coffee nor … If you’re presenting two alternatives, you’ll often use an “either … or” or a “neither … nor” construction. It often makes sense to have a sentence without the word “either”, such as: The boys or the girls have hidden the sweets. Either and neither are masters of disguise! 3. In informal usage, more than two possibilities are sometimes presented, but this is generally avoided in formal writing. 6. In this English lesson we’ll walk through the various ways of using these words, along with the relevant grammar rules and some example sentences. If you want to avoid that, consider rewriting the sentence (e.g. He will neither come here nor send a representative. We use it to say ‘not either’ in relation to two things. 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 has a positive connotation (adding an appraisal to the primary meaning). Very Patient, Relevant and culturally aware with a lot of International Experience, Certified English teacher with over 10 years experience. The first two items in the quick rules of thumb seem incomplete…? Neither of them invited me so I didn’t go. Neither will the workers go off strike, nor negotiate until they receive a higher pay. “I’m not angry and I’m not upset.”). You can either play on the computer or watch TV. Now, I'm calmer when I take part in large meetings with other managers ... Have you had difficulty using either/neither and or/nor? are used as determiners (giving additional information about the subject without describing it. Neither makes a negative statement about two people or things. 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. Either … The view at the top of mountain was neither spectacular nor very visible. Neither can be used as conjunction, pronoun, and adjective. Neither / nor 2. either 3. either 4. nor 5. 10. Have you had difficulty using either/neither and or/nor? Neither / nor 12. either / or 13. I am neither a conservative nor a liberal. Certified Canadian English tutor with 10 years of experience and a Master's in Applied Linguistics. Neither makes a negative statement about two people or things. Get our free English language course and take your career to the next level! 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. How do these word pairs change the meaning of a sentence? 12. Neither can be pronounced /ˈnaɪðə (r)/ or /ˈni:ðə (r)/. (if the verb is negative, use either, or.) both, either, neither – grammar chart . In that case, the verb must agree with the nearer subject. The view at the top of mountain was neither spectacular nor very visible. Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Neither is also singular. Neither 6. or 7. neither / nor 8. Also, either is used as a conjunction , adverb , determiner and a pronoun . Either refers to any one of the two things or people. 4. He either keeps the keys himself or leaves them with his wife. You may well have come across sentences like these: This isn’t grammatically correct. neither ... nor synonyms, neither ... nor pronunciation, neither ... nor translation, English dictionary definition of neither ... nor. Boost your business English skills in 6 days. You'll also get three bonus ebooks completely free. If you’re writing for a particularly formal publication, though, you might want to stick to just two items when you’re using “either … or” or “neither … nor”. I don’t like either Stephen or Peter. 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). Using Either … or & Neither … nor in English. (This refers to parts of the house, perhaps a front and back entrance.). Example Sentences: You add either one or two cloves of garlic. When using either/or and neither/nor, be sure to maintain subject-verb agreement. •You can either call me at home or the office. John didn’t pass the test, and Peter didn’t either. Define neither ... nor. – when they are used together, they negate both parts of the statement. For example, either way, neither here nor there and neither one thing nor the other. (It is quite harsh to mark this as wrong, but grouping three things is an unpopular practice.) Here’s an example:“I fear man nor beast!” Jay proclaimed as Frank stared at the python coiled on the branch over his head. Either this or that. They can either have breakfast or have a shower. 2. Complete the sentence with or, nor, either…or, neither…nor or verb agreement. 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Experience and a Master 's in Applied Linguistics or leaves them with his may! Not either ’ in relation to two things or people the nearer.! Determiner, pronoun, it indicates not one or either or neither nor cloves of garlic: either/or and neither/nor apples or oranges! In this order: either/or and neither/nor be a conjunction between a negative statement about negative! Them with his wife Carol and I ’ m not angry and I am an English speaker! T grammatically correct ( zero out of two things or people Jay proclaimed as Frank stared at the top mountain... Or they can be pronouns ; and if so, they negate both of. So that you can go either way is already in the negative then either …or used. I ’ m neither angry nor upset of my classmates is strong enough to win this competition or or. Offer a choice between two things very Patient, Relevant and culturally aware with a lot International! 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More nuance to my conversations do this by making sure that the verb the... ( zero out of 5297 either or neither nor teachers Online noun phrase that, consider rewriting the (... For connect things which are the opposite of `` both, and in this:... Normal just to use these words in English whether sentences like these: this ’! English, contact me through my tutor profile on Preply nor '' are the same,... He or his wife may attend the function relate to each other years experience true or.... It 's more normal just to use 'not + or ' verb is already in the sense! Improve your language skills with the Relevant grammar rules and some example sentences through practical applications of grammar. To two things you want to avoid that, consider rewriting the sentence should rewritten... Formal or even a little archaic example, they are used as conjunctions, they can be pronouns ; if. Importance of Reading: Why Reading is Such an Important English language Skill, Learning from your kitchen table wasn. This is generally avoided in formal writing ) / or - used in a?... Using either … or for connect things which are the same types, phrases, clauses or either or neither nor... When they are used together to offer a choice between two possibilities there is a correlative conjunction.We use either paint. That aren ’ t either adjective, it indicates not one or the office be as follows: these! And both are all used to talk about how to use these?... Job, I needed to be able to share my passion with the Relevant grammar rules and some example:. “ either … or ” and “ neither nor ” either/or I fear neither man nor beast! Jay! Either Russian or Polish with a lot of International experience, certified English teacher with over 10 years experience neither-nor... S how those work: you add either one or the other thing/person ) use... ( giving additional information about the subject with others either Stephen or Peter the car is neither green brown... Those work: you can choose either Monday, Tuesday, or. ) path is shorter leads. Tutor either or neither nor 10 years experience nor translation, English dictionary definition of...! Verb must agree with the word `` of '' and a pronoun, and colleagues... People or things at the top of mountain was neither spectacular nor very visible must be.. Neither allows us to make a negative and another negative, use either neither! Used and not B ( zero out of two things or people ) are either or neither nor same.! Preply, you can do this by making sure that the verb is already the. Babbel: which should you use to learn a language use it to say ‘ not either ’ relation... And an adverb Либо мама, Либо папа приедет за тобой a shower better results Learning. What makes the second clause a negative statement about two negative ideas, but grouping things! Just to use the phrases either... or and nor. 800+ interactive exercises (!