Eitheror and neither nor are correlative conjunctions. It is used in positive structure but the meaning is negative. Either is always considered singular in a sentence. Compare your responses to the feedback by clicking the check or check 110 button. In english, there are words that link positive or negative phrases or ideas with the meaning this is also true. Either and neither download this explanation in pdf here. Neither nor used in a sentence in the negative sense when you want to say that two or more things are not true. My grandpa neither likes nor cares about the technology. Either jacy or myra will help you with your children. So, too, neither and either so do i and neither do i download this explanation in pdf here. If youre writing for a particularly formal publication, though, you might want to stick to just two items when youre using either or or neither nor. Neither the first book nor the second book was very good. Jay had seen neither the snake nor the wasps nest on the next tree, and was.
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. Neither the blue one nor the red is available in size 4. The quantifiers either and neither are a kind of determiner. When neither is used in a sentence, a singular verb is used as well as a singular noun. Eitheror neithernor either or used when referring to a choice between two possibilities. We use either or for connect things which are the same types, phrases, clauses or words. Two singular nouns connected by or or nor take a singular verb neither charles nor benjamin was present there neither he nor his dad is good at driving when one of the nouns connected by or or nor is plural, the verb must be plural, and the plural subject must be placed next to the verb. Kathy, some people do say me either when they mean me neither. Yet if you use either in place of neither in such a case and without another negative word, youre omitting the negative part of your reply. Neithernor when they are used together, they negate both parts of the statement. Neither my friends nor my relatives could help me when we were in the hospital.
If you want to lose weight, you should both do exercises and go on a diet. This is because it is an example of a double negative, which, though standard in some other languages such as spanish and. Use either when you talk about two things or people. We can go to either greece or spain for our holiday. S either excludes we could go either to the beach or to the mountains s neither for nothing i like neither heavy metal nor techno music.
English grammar tips with gymglish, online english lessons. Neither my mother nor my father went to university. Either is used in negative constructions, while neither is used in affirmative constructions. He either keeps the keys himself or leaves them with his wife. Home page for english grammar today on cambridge dictionary. Neither or nor the use of neither with another negative, as in.
Understanding grammar is key to understanding a language. She has neither eaten anything nor slept in two days. Both this and that either this or that neither not this and not that. For example, you can play tennis on the tennis court or watch birds on. He will neither come here nor send a representative. May 27, 2011 on the other hand, the word neither is used before a singular noun when there is no article. I will neither call you nor send you a message before midday. Neither sarah nor peter was to blame for the mistake. Both michael and sarah got their christmas presents. Neither, neither nor and not either english grammar. Neither or nor the use of neither with another negative, as in i dont like him neither hes not much good at reading neither is recorded from the 16th century onwards, but is not considered standard english. Either the father or the mother has to attend the meeting. Either means both, one and neither means not either, none. Using either or vs neither nor in english lessons for.
These conjunctions connect two balanced clauses, phrases, or words. Both emma and megan went to the party both of usthem went to the party. Neither nor is used when the choice is negative or the person wants to say that more than one thing is not true. Father and mother are singular so the verb has is singular too. Either and neither, singular or plural the editors blog. He neither attends the class regularly nor learns his lessons. From the american copy editors society a tricky agreement problem.
Exercise on both, either, neither, nor and so english. Neither, neither nor and not either english grammar today uma referencia a gramatica e uso do ingles escrito e falado cambridge dictionary. This is because it is an example of a double negative, which, though standard in some other languages such as spanish and found in many dialects of english, is not. Correlative conjunctions are pairs such as neither. Using both and, either or, neither nor english study here. See more about so, neither and either as short answers. Grammarians differ on this point, but theres a long history of both either or and neither nor being used for three or more items. Complete the sentence with or, nor, eitheror, neithernor or verb agreement. Neithernor when two subjects are joined by neithernor or eitheror, choosing the right. If you prefer to use a negative, then you want to use either.
In all examples below, a and b are the same parts of speech. If you found this english grammar about both either neither interesting or useful, let others know about it. Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence. From what i can tell, this is more common in ame than in bre. Neithernor is used when the choice is negative or the person wants to say that more than one thing is not true.
So, too, neither and either perfect english grammar. Although not a major grammatical error, the grouping of more than two things is frowned upon by followers of some style conventions. Neither does mary nor does mary mary doesnt eat meat either. English lesson how to use both, either and neither. Using either or in english either refers to any one of the two things or people. I used to like playing bothfootball andbasketball when i was young. The verb agrees with the noun that is closer to it. Neither the school nor the parents want to take responsibility for the problem. Although, these words have the same meaning, they are used in different positions in a sentence and link either positive or negative statements. Here are some rules to remember when using both, neither or either. Neither indicates that the two ideas are linked together. Neither makes a negative statement about two people or things. Two singular nouns connected by or or nor take a singular verb neither charles nor benjamin was present there neither he nor his dad is good at driving when one of the nouns connected by or or nor is plural, the verb must be plural, and the plural subject must be placed next to the verb neither peter nor his parents were aware of this. We use them to talk about possible choices between two people or things when used as a determiner, either and neither must come before a singular countable noun.
I use so do i to say that a positive sentence is also true for me, and i use neither do i to say that a negative sentence is also true for me. But if you use neither, then make sure your sentence does not have any other negatives preceding it. Written by bob wilson robert clifford mcnair wilson 2008. Either either has the same meaning as too but its used in negative sentences not either at the end of a sentence. To connect negative ideas adding an agreeing thought, we use the words either and neither. The two elements that correlative conjunctions connect are usually similar in length and grammatical structure. In my examples above, i use do because the first sentence is in the present simple tense. Whether you are using either or neither, you can only frame two alternativeselements. The verb after so or neither changes depending on the tense of the verb in the first sentence. Try our interactive game to practice the difference between both, either and neither. Either, neither or both exercise a fill the gaps with both, either, either.
We can either eat now or after the show its up to you 2. Connect these sentences using the conjunction in parenthesis. Eitheror and neithernor beware double negatives the pairings eitheror and neithernor can be used to group two people or things. On the other hand, the word neither is used before a singular noun when there is no article. Well then, neither peter nor john will be able to come. Either or used in a sentence in the affirmative sense when referring to a choice between two possibilities. To convey the negative, use me neither responses that would mean something similar all. This structure, neither nor, is used to connect the same kind of word or phrase in the sentence.
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