Almost always, the noun phrase is of shorthand for neither one of two items, and in this usual case, the correct form is neither is. Eitheror and neithernor beware double negatives the pairings eitheror and neithernor can be used to group two people or things. Either and neither are singular either and neither are singular concepts. Neither she, my friends, nor i am going to the festival. How to use either, neither, or and nor kaplan blog. Although it is rather easy to make the english verb agree with the subject. These two defining events formed the core of his being. Sep 30, 2017 not really, no, any more than you could use either for more than two items. Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence. Phoebe and hannah are twins, they are four and they make me very happy. In this situation, another way to say it would be i wont go and wont talk about it. The verb in an or, eitheror, or neithernor sentence agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it examples. Neither the question, nor the answers, nor the comments.
Subjectverb agreement can be confusing when we use eitheror or neithernor couplets. Although either and neither are both used as a negative too, they follow different rules. If a verb is already in the negative then either or is used and not neither nor. You may also use nor if youre talking about more than two items, but you must repeat nor after each element 2. In spoken language, the plural form of the verb is more usual. Conjunction you use neither nor when you are talking about two or more things that are not true or that do not happen. The more modern usage does prefer none with more than two things. They are used together to offer a choice between two things. So if you want to add ketchup to your list of dislikes, you have to say, i like neither hot dogs nor mustard nor ketchup. The question though about the books, is based on what happened in the show eventually and thats where it all falls apart.
Merriamwebster unabridged, for example, says either can be used before two or more coordinate words, phrases, or clauses joined usually by or. It replaced the practices of lord kaans brotherhood of darkness, which claimed equality among sith lords and forbade the use of the title darth. According to context and to the grammar book you consult, they can be considered as quantifiers, adjectives, pronouns, correlating coordinators or adverbs. I want to buy either a new desktop computer or a laptop, but i have neither the cash nor the credit i need. Two dozen eggs two gross of pencils three hundred pounds a threefoot rule. Parents is plural, so the plural verb were is correct. The eighth and largest group, which in its enormous numbers was to the others as ninetynine to one, consisted of men who desired neither peace nor war, neither an advance nor a defensive camp at the drissa or anywhere else, neither barclay nor the emperor, neither pfuel nor bennigsen, but only the one most essential thingas much advantage. It says that it is informal to use either on more than two options, but is used widely especially in oral communication. You use neither nor when you are talking about two or more things that are not true or that do not happen. Two singular subjects connected by or, eitheror, or neithernor require a. The cambridge grammar of the english language notes that the duality of either and neither is weakened.
Neither, neither nor and not either english grammar. However, bare either or neither, without further specification, should only be used of two options. 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 paired with nor and either is paired with or. Although not a major grammatical error, the grouping of more than two things is frowned upon by followers of some style conventions. Can we use neither and nor when speaking of more than two. Neither nor mistakes this rule of parallel construction applies to all the correlative conjunctions. The traditional rule also holds that neither is grammatically singular. Jan 27, 2012 neither man nor woman has been to mars.
The play was neither as funny nor as exciting as she said it was. When the subjects joined by ornor are of different numbers, the verb must be plural, and the plural subject must be placed next to. Problems also arise when the speaker or writer is faced with more than one noun or. May 24, 2012 neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds in short, place neither before the first item and nor before all the rest. Even if it is, is it so rarely used that it would be better to reword the sentence, or is it fine to use as is. She will have to choose either monday, tuesday, or wednesday. Sometimes you can use either one and sometimes you have to choose either one or the other, but neither one is very difficult.
In english, does nor just mean or but used only with a negation do not, neither at the beginning. Neither leila nor nancy is going to write the report. For example, incorrect neither he nor i were there. How to use nor correctly grammar girl quick and dirty tips.
Do not use eitherneither when there are more than two things involved. Note that neither is only used once, no matter how many times you use nor. Singular and plurals a singular noun indicates one object. Earl doherty, through his website and first book, the jesus puzzle, is regarded by many as having given jesus mythicism its most legitimate and convincing expression in over a generation. Anyone who has read the books and watched the show know how theyre two different entities after a point and one has got not. Grammarians differ on this point, but theres a long history of both either or and neither nor being. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. Singular nouns go with singular verbs while plural nouns go with plural verbs. Neither definition, not either, as of persons or things specified usually followed by nor.
Standard dictionaries generally accept the use of either or neither to introduce a series of more than two items. The rule of two doctrine, also called the banite system and known as chwayatyun in sith, was the guiding principle of the order of the sith lords after the internecine new sith wars. Neither my mother nor my father went to university. You cannot mix them, but often the word either is omitted. Notice that neithernor becomes eitheror in that case, because you wouldnt want to use a. Jan 01, 2010 for example, you might say, i like neither hot dogs nor mustard. Anyway im not too sure whats the confusing thing i said i was confused over, since i just use 1 or 2 most of the time. The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone. In your example, neither is a pronoun that is standing in for a noun or noun phrase. Subjectverb agreement grammar rules the blue book of. Understanding either or and neither nor daily writing tips. Is it correct to use more than one nor clause in a neither expression. Eitheror and neither nor beware double negatives the pairings eitheror and neither nor can be used to group two people or things. Two singular nouns or pronouns separated by either or or neither nor take a.
Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds in short, place neither before the. The book, including all the chapters in the first section, is boring. Neither candidate is having an easy time with the press. Is it ok to use either or neither with more than two choices. The word of is the culprit in many, perhaps most, subjectverb mistakes. The word neither can also be a determiner or a pronoun. Either, neither, nor, or, both, so a free english exercise to learn english. The rule of two was instituted by darth bane, once a student at. The proscription against using or, rather than nor, with neither i was neither here or there instead of i was neither here nor there is likewise not absolute, but nor is most common, and in this case i support the restriction. Can we use neither and nor when speaking of more than. Two or more singular subjects connected by or, nor, either or, neither. Home page for english grammar today on cambridge dictionary. However, it was neither her spirit nor her willingness that made her worthy of being his apprentice.
If you prefer to use a negative, then you want to use either. Important subject verb agreement rules pdf english punch. Compare your responses to the feedback by clicking the check or check 110 button. You know neither me, yourselves nor any thing from coriolanus, c. The word either can be a pronoun or an adjective more specifically, a determiner, which is a kind of adjective. Subjectverb agreement grammar rules blue book of grammar.
If both elements are singular, then the verb is singular too. Agreement between the subject and the verb english language. If you want to take your english education even further, find out more about kaplans english courses today and see how fast your skills improve. Singular and plural verbs with eitheror and neithernor. Book recommendations common english mistakes grammar rules. Its now more important than ever to develop a powerful writing style. Whats the best way to use either on more than two options. The thing is that in mathematics, nor means exclusive or.
You might wonder whether sentences like these are permissible. Either sue or the girls are going to prepare dinner tonight. Plural and neither nor, english grammar, advanced english. When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns. Apr 12, 2020 although some suggest that using the word neither with more than two items is incorrect, it has been commonly used to refer to more than two subjects since the 17th century. This article is about rule of parallel structure enjoy your reading. Can we use neither and nor when speaking of more than two subjects. As were presenting a noun phrase with multiple objects, it seems natural to use a plural, but the verb may often be in the singular. He spent the first two decades of his life coming to terms with being neither deaf nor hearing a neithernor. When making comparisons, either goes with or and neither with nor.
However, if one of the elements is plural, then use a plural verb. Neither did i take vacation, nor did i ask for sick leave. The problem is that both, either and neither and in particular both have different functions. Neither god nor man is a new and revised expansion of that work. Neither, neither nor and not either english grammar today uma referencia a gramatica e uso do ingles escrito e falado cambridge dictionary cambridge dictionary plus meu perfil. However, he didnt mention that what is the best alternative to either in three or more options in formal context, and hence i posted this question here. I seem to remember convincing myself that three work the same as two. Complete the sentence with or, nor, eitheror, neithernor or verb agreement.
The english words either and neither can cause some problems for native and nonnative speakers of english. May 25, 2016 either or, neither nor may 25, 2016 yanira. The neithernor combination gets rid of the need for not and it adds further emphasis that neither will be done even more than wont. Moremost important neither nor new years resolution noncount subjectverb. Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf this rule can lead to bumps in the road. And check out our books about the english language. I want to buy either a new desktop computer or a laptop, but i have neither the cash nor the credit i. He spent the first two decades of his life coming to terms with being neither deaf nor hearing a neither nor, an inbetween and a.
When using eitheror and neithernor, note the following rules. With either or and neither nor, the noun closest to the verb determines the agreement. A nor usually follows a neither when theyre used in the same sentence 1. I have two daughters, their names are phoebe and hannah.
When neither is used at the beginning of a clause and is not paired with nor, but follows a previous negative statement, we must invert word order, meaning that the subject and the. When neithernor begins a sentence and joins two verbs, the axillary verb precedes the subject. After all, most communication takes place in reports, emails, and instant. Either and neither are used in negative sentences to mean too. If youre presenting two alternatives, youll often use an either or. If one or both of the alternatives are plural, use a plural verb. Grammarians differ on this point, but theres a long history of both either. You may also use nor if youre talking about more than two items, but you must repeat nor after each element.
Eitheror is used for a binary choice one or the other. How to use either, neither, nor and or guest writer. I suppose a corollary of this is that or and nor may be mixed. When three or more elements are joined, a comma is used. But if you use neither, then make sure your sentence does not have any other negatives preceding it. If each or every, each of, either of, neither of comes before two or more than two subjects, connected by and singular verb should be used. Whether youre writing your first book or your tenth, you can benefit from a critique. You may either go to the library or a book store to get a copy of the required. If neither jon snow nor daenerys end up ruling in the end. It is also implied that only one of the two will happen but not both. The quick answer the pairing neither nor plays a negative role, so take care to avoid an unintended double negative. Although some suggest that using the word neither with more than two items is incorrect, it has been commonly used to refer to more than two subjects since the 17th century. Related content whether or not, prefer x to y, adv for focus eitheror neithernor when or connects two sentence elements, no comma is used.
They are used to compare two alternatives or optionsnot more than two. When using eitheror and neither nor, note the following rules. Get the grammar girls take on correctly using nor in a sentence. Eitheror is used when making a positive decision between two or more things. When two subjects are connected by neither nor, the subject that is closest to the verb determines whether the verb is. Use neither in a sentence neither sentence examples. It would be incorrect to use an or anywhere in that sentenceor to leave out either case of nor. For example, if i is one of two or more subjects, it could lead to this odd sentence.
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