Mastering the intricacies of conjunctions can significantly enhance your proficiency in English grammar. “Neither” and “nor” are two such conjunctions that often work hand in hand to express negative alternatives.
In this article, we will unravel the nuances of using “neither” and “nor,” exploring their meaning and usage rules and providing illustrative examples.
Neither Nor Meaning
“Neither” and “nor” join forces to express a negative choice between two alternatives. They are used to convey that none of the mentioned options is selected. Let’s delve into this with various examples:
Examples:
- She neither likes coffee nor tea.
In this example, the speaker is expressing a negative choice, indicating that the person doesn’t prefer coffee or tea.
- Neither the cat nor the dog is allowed on the furniture.
Here, “neither…nor” connects two negative alternatives, highlighting that both the cat and the dog are prohibited from being on the furniture.
- He neither understands the assignment nor cares about it.
This sentence communicates that the person lacks both comprehension and interest in the given assignment.
- Neither the parents nor the teachers were informed about the event.
In this instance, “neither…nor” is used to convey that neither parents nor teachers were informed about the event.
When to Use Neither Nor
“Neither nor” is employed when expressing a negative choice between two options. It indicates that none of the mentioned alternatives is applicable or chosen.
What is the Rule of Neither Nor
When using “neither nor,” consider the following rules:
- Singular Elements:
If both elements connected by “neither nor” are singular, the verb accompanying them should also be singular.
- Neither the car nor the bike is suitable for the trip.
- One Plural Element:
If one of the elements is plural, the verb should be plural.
- Neither the books nor the magazine are interesting to me.
Neither Nor Example Sentences
- Neither the movie nor the play was entertaining.
- She can neither swim nor dive.
- Neither the laptop nor the desktop is functioning properly.
- They neither accepted nor rejected the proposal.
- Neither the manager nor the employees were satisfied with the decision.
- The project is neither delayed nor ahead of schedule.
- She neither cooked dinner nor ordered takeout.
- Neither the storm nor the heavy rain affected the event.
- He neither apologized nor explained his actions.
- The dress is neither too casual nor too formal for the occasion.
Is Neither You Nor I Plural or Singular?
The phrase “Neither you nor I” is considered singular. Despite involving two individuals, the conjunction “nor” creates a singular subject requiring a singular verb.
Examples:
- Neither you nor I am attending the event.
- Neither you nor I is interested in the new policy.
In both examples, the singular verbs “am” and “is” are used because “neither you nor I” together represent a singular entity.
“Neither nor” is a powerful conjunction to express a negative choice between two alternatives. Understanding the rules for subject-verb agreement when using this conjunction ensures grammatical accuracy. Whether you’re indicating preferences, actions, or conditions, incorporating “neither nor” adds clarity and precision to your expressions of negation.
