Grammar Lessons: Either or And Neither nor

Either Or and Neither Nor

1. Either/or – used in a sentence in the affirmative sense when referring to a choice between two possibilities:

We can either eat now or after the show – it’s up to you.

2. Neither/nor – used in a sentence in the negative sense when you want to say that two or more things are not true;

Neither my mother nor my father went to university.

Singular or plural

When using “either or and neither nor”, note the following rules:

1. If both elements are singular, the verb is also singular.

• Either the father or the mother has to attend the meeting. (The nouns “father” and “mother” are singular; so the verb “has” is singular too)
• Neither Leila nor Nancy is going to write the report. (“Leila” and “Nancy” are singular; so the verb ” is” is singular too)

2. However, if one element is plural, use a plural verb.

• Either Sue or the girls are going to prepare dinner tonight. (The noun “girls” is plural; so the verb “are” is plural too)
• Neither the teacher nor the students were in the classroom this morning. (The noun “students” is plural; so the verb “were” is plural too)

Using “Neither” and “Nor” for “Also Not”:

“Neither” and “nor” are powerful expressions when conveying agreement or concurrence with a negative statement, essentially meaning “also not.” This construction uses the structure neither/nor + auxiliary/modal verb + subject. Let’s explore how this is applied:

Example 1:

• A: “I haven’t Alan him lately!”
• B: “Neither have I”/”Nor have I”

In this exchange, B is expressing agreement with A’s negative statement about Alan.

Example 2:

• A: “John doesn’t horror movies.”
• B: “Neither does his wife”/”Nor does his wife.”

Here, B is affirming A’s negative statement about John’s hatred for horror movies. The use of “Nor does his wife” reinforces the idea that his wife shares the same hatred for such movies.

“Neither” and “Nor” in the above examples succinctly convey shared negations and reinforce the agreement with a preceding negative statement.

Common Mistakes in Using Either/Or and Neither/Nor:

While either/or and neither/nor are valuable tools for expressing choices and negations, they can be sources of confusion if not used correctly. Here are some common errors to be aware of:

1. Misplacement of “Either” and “Or”:

• Error: “Either we can eat now or after the show – it’s up to you.”
• Correction: “We can eat either now or after the show – it’s up to you.”

Ensure that “either” is correctly positioned before the options to maintain the proper structure of the expression.

2. Incorrect Verb Agreement:

• Error: “Neither Jane nor her friends was at the party.“
• Correction: “Neither Jane nor her friends were at the party.”

Pay careful attention to the number of both subjects to determine whether it should be singular or plural.

2. Double Negatives:

• Error: “He can’t neither sing nor dance.“
• Correction: “He can neither sing nor dance.”

Avoid using a double negative, such as “nor he can,” as it can lead to awkward and confusing constructions.

3. Inconsistent Pairing (Parallelism):

• Error: “My book is either on my desk or I forgot it in my car.”
• Correction: “My book is either on my desk or in my car”

Remember to maintain consistency in verb usage based on the plurality of the closer element to the verb.

Be aware of these common mistakes resulting from the misuse of either or and neither nor. Refine your usage of either/or and neither/nor by avoiding potential errors and enhancing the clarity and correctness of your language.

Examples With Either Or And Neither Nor

Examples with “Neither/Nor”:

1. Neither John nor Mary wants to attend the party tonight.
2. The project was neither well-planned nor efficiently executed.
3. Neither the cat nor the dog is allowed on the furniture.
4. I have neither the time nor the inclination to engage in that discussion.
5. The movie was neither entertaining nor thought-provoking.
6. Neither the teacher nor the students were aware of the upcoming test.
7. She speaks neither French nor Spanish fluently.
8. The restaurant serves neither vegetarian nor vegan options.
9. Neither the car nor the bike is suitable for long-distance travel.
10. The weather forecast predicts neither rain nor snow for the weekend.

Examples with “Either/Or”:

1. You can either choose the red shirt or the blue one for the event.
2. We can either go to the beach or visit the mountains for our vacation.
3. The company allows employees to work either from home or the office.
4. You can either complete the assignment today or submit it tomorrow.
5. The menu offers either fish or chicken for the main course.
6. She can either buy a new laptop or upgrade the existing one.
7. The team can either practice in the morning or in the afternoon.
8. You can either join us for dinner or meet us later at the movie theater.
9. Students can either take the bus or walk to school.
10. You can either pay with cash or use a credit card for the purchase.

More about either or and neither nor here.

FAQs

Related Pages:

• Either/Or and Neither/Nor
• Either, neither, both (exercise)
• Exercise on either/or and neither/nor (exercise)