Correct use of neither nor and either or pdf

Either is used when you are making a comparison between two ideas, and only one of the ideas will come to pass. Although i found that in spoken english, it can sound a little odd to use neither nor in some cases blade on november 22, 2017 7. If both elements are singular, then the verb is singular too. The word neither always appears before its associated clause.

Either my dog or your cats like to eat porridge every day and either your cats or my dog likes to eat porridge every day negative sentences. So do i and neither do i 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. Either the father or the mother has to attend the meeting. It is quite harsh to mark this as wrong, but grouping three things is an unpopular practice.

The auxiliary needs to agree with the verb tense in the original statement. Neither my mother nor my father went to university. We use too for affirmative sentences and either for negative sentences. The forms bothand, neithernor, and eitheror are used to introduce two subjects. An interactive grammar test on using either or and neither nor with a plural or singular verb. Read more about using a singular or plural verb with eitheror and neithernor. If you found this grammar guide about the difference between so, neither and either useful, let others know.

Remember that we are talking about the verb and not the meaning of the message. For all those instances when either and neither behave like pronouns, the structure of the sentence would be. I cannot find the tool, it is neither in the kitchen nor in the bathroom. I will remember that neither or will be found in spoken english, whereas the correct form remains neithernor. Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that work together to connect two equal sentence parts in a way that shows the. Neither does david david doesnt either david neither. How do these word pairs change the meaning of a sentence. Most of all i am interested in interrogative sentences. But if the sentence is interpreted that way then it only has a minor punctuation issue, while the use of neither and nor is actually correct. With bothand, and neithernor, both subjects do or feel the same way about something. Neither, neither nor and not either english grammar today uma referencia a gramatica e uso do ingles escrito e falado cambridge dictionary. Both john and fred dont like doing the dishes i want neither the red shirt nor the blue shirt. So whats the difference between either and neither. 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.

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. 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. So, too, neither and either perfect english grammar. Well, said frank, either you start fearing, or you are camping by. He either keeps the keys himself or leaves them with his wife. So here is an online exercise where students have to link sentences and choose the correct paired conjunctions. The word neither is used when there are two choices but none of the two choices are available. We can either eat now or after the show its up to you 2. Either or neither nor either or used when referring to a choice between two possibilities. Neither sarah nor peter was to blame for the mistake. We can use neither on its own in replies when referring to two things that have already. Instead of choosing one of them, you can use the word neither to show that you do not want one or the other.

We use either before the first of two alternatives specified. What is the correct way to use neither and nor in a. It is generally accepted or at least suggested that neither should be paired with nor and either with or. The english words either vs neither can cause some problems for native and nonnative speakers of english. Both john and fred dont like doing the dishes i want neither. Neithernor is used when the choice is negative or the person wants to say that more than one thing is not true. Either jacy or myra will help you with your children. So neither either differences and use english grammar rules.

Have you had difficulty using eitherneither and ornor. Fill in the blanks with so, nor, neither, but, too, or either. The words or and nor is nearly always a conjunction, except in technical use the nor logical gate. Either or english grammar today a reference to written and spoken english grammar and usage cambridge dictionary. Eitheror, neithernor and bothand by shmoop youtube. Jan 01, 2010 it would be incorrect to use an or anywhere in that sentenceor to leave out either case of nor. So, too, neither and either so do i and neither do i download this explanation in pdf here. Neither his cat nor his dogs share the same food bowl. May 30, 2017 we use either before the first of two alternatives specified. Informally, in british english, a plural verb is sometimes used when a singular verb is logically correct. Neither the forwards nor the scrumhalf, all of whom were within 10 metres of the tackle, nor the crowd appealed for a foul.

Unlike with rule 4, singular nouns remain singular even with the use of eitheror nor. Always use neither with nor to ensure you sound pompous. When they act as pronouns either means one or the other while neither indicates not one or the other both these roads go to rome. Eitheror neithernor either or used when referring to a choice between two possibilities. Each entry starts with a simple explanation and basic examples before moving to reallife, entertaining examples. Buy our book smashing grammar 2019 written by the founder of grammar monster, smashing grammar includes a glossary of grammar essentials from apostrophes to zeugma and a chapter on easily confused words from affecteffect to whetherif. Neither the french nor the germans are happy about this. Use either when you talk about two things or people. We use either or neither when adding a comment of agreement. Jay proclaimed as frank stared at the python coiled on the branch over his head. When either word is used as a pronoun and as the subject of a sentence or clauseand its the only subjectit takes a singular verb.

This video covers how to use eitheror, neithernor, and bothand. John can sing will and his brother can sing well too neither. Test your understanding with this grammar exercise. Either can be paired with or, and neither can be paired with nor. A clause with a negative verb but a positive meaning still has negative polarity. On the other hand, either and neither can function like a determiner neither answer was correct, a pronoun there were two answers, but neither was correct or a special type of conjunction used with nor neither dog nor cat is. Try our interactive game to practice the difference between these words at. Father and mother are singular so the verb has is singular too. Neither must be preceded by a positive statement as we never use two negative forms in the same sentence. Both, so do i, neither do i all our lessons and exercises. But they can also be conjunctions correlative, adjectives, determiners, and even adverbs.

How to use either, neither, nor and or kaplan blog. Either or used in a sentence in the affirmative sense when referring to a choice between two possibilities. I dislike that punctuation and i would either use a semicolon or make it two sentences. The word neither is used with an affirmative positive verb e. The first thing to resolve is the issue of pronunciation, either and neither can be pronouns two ways and they are both equally correct. Neither, neither nor and not either english grammar.

If a verb comes after this phrase, that verb is in the singular form sometimes you will hear it used in the plural form though it is not grammatically correct neither john nor fred likes doing the dishes. Lets look at how to use these words in english correctly. For example, neither the man nor the woman is a good surfer is nice and balanced. For example, they can be used as adverbs, determiners, pronouns. Either orneither nor a free english exercise to learn english. Neithernor when two subjects are joined by neithernor or eitheror, choosing the right. He will neither come here nor send a representative. I cant help reading this book, and he ca nt either. After looking at various sources, the author of the post concludes with. Complete the sentence with or, nor, eitheror, neithernor or verb agreement. May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.

The english words either and neither can cause some problems for native and nonnative speakers of english. Either and neither, singular or plural the editors blog. Either means one or the other of two people or things. So do i and neither do i i use so do i to say that a positive sentence is also true for me, and i use neither. Compare your responses to the feedback by clicking the check or check 110 button. Check your spelling past simple or present perfect although in spite of despite again back for and its use differences between like and as bill, tip, fare, fine, fee tall, high, great. Conjunctions are normally not very easy for students.

Either or english grammar today cambridge dictionary. While either has a positive connotation, neither holds a negative significance. When using either or and neither nor, note the following rules. Neither nor is used when the choice is negative or the person wants to say that more than one thing is not true. Neither of you isare correct if we are speaking of two groups, then a plural verb is correct. But in order to write more complex sentences they have to know how to join their ideas more effectively. Neither his cat nor his dogs shares the same food bowl. Whether you are using either or neither, you can only frame two alternativeselements. Janes bag wasnt where she had left it, so nor neither but too either was it anywhere else in the house. Sep, 2014 this video covers how to use either or, neither nor, and both and. From the american copy editors society a tricky agreement problem. When one of the words is used to modify the single subject of a sentence, it takes. Neither can appear at the beginning of a sentence as well as the middle.

It would be incorrect to use an or anywhere in that sentenceor to leave out either case of nor. Sometimes you can use either one and sometimes you have to choose either one or the other, but neither one is very difficult. Unlike either, neither is a negative statement about a choice between two things. Neither alice nor peter wants to come to the party. As an example, the sentence neither coffee nor tea is available is correct while the sentence nor coffee neither tea is available is incorrect. Neither nor used in a sentence in the negative sense when you want to say that two or more things are not true. Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence. First of all, either and neither can be used in various ways. Grammarians differ on this point, but theres a long history of both either or and neither nor being used for three or more items.