Rules to solve spot the error english questions part 1. Neithernor when two subjects are joined by neithernor or eitheror, choosing the right. How to use either, neither, nor and or kaplan blog. Ask them to list any sleep disorders they are aware of, such as snoring, narcolepsy the disorder. Subjects joined by or or nor when two or more subject are joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the subject part closest to the verb. Either and neither, singular or plural the editors blog. Learn english with lets talk free english lessons 474,020 views 12. Both, so do i, neither do i all our lessons and exercises. So, too, neither and either perfect english grammar. If you prefer to use a negative, then you want to use either. Janes bag wasnt where she had left it, so nor neither but too either was it anywhere else in the house. The words or and nor is nearly always a conjunction, except in technical use the nor logical gate. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb. We can either eat now or after the show its up to you 2.
Enten eller is the first published work of the danish philosopher soren kierkegaard. Either and neither can be used in a few different ways, and to mean a few different things. Use of either and neither, and their associated words or and nor, is complicated by disagreements about proper usage. Neither nor can be used to mean not this thing, and not that thing. When one of the words is used to modify the single subject of a sentence, it takes. So neither the men nor the woman is a good surfer is correct, as is neither the woman nor the men are good surfers. She has neither eaten anything nor slept in two days. Either sue or the girls are going to prepare dinner tonight. Use neither in a sentence neither sentence examples. They never take any chances, andbut nor do they trust anybody, i.
But if you use neither, then make sure your sentence does not have any other negatives preceding it. But for the negative case, i would use and neither. 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. Additions and responses so, too, neither, not either, yesno questions. So, neither, nor, either english grammar step by step. In the first example, neither molly nor john is the. Neithernor is used when the choice is negative or the person wants to say that more than one thing is not true. Lewis part of speech noun naming words forms that can function as nouns. What is the difference between neither and either, and how. Subject verb agreement exercises with rules for advanced students. Each entry starts with a simple explanation and basic examples before moving to reallife, entertaining examples.
If you already know how to use these words, you can skip the explanation and go directly to the exercises. When used as an adjective either means one or the other of two people or things, and neither means not one or the other of two people or things. The women, as well as the men singsings beautifully. Eitheror neithernor either or used when referring to a choice between two possibilities. So do i me too neither do i i dont either speaking. Either is usually placed at the end of the sentence in these cases.
Neither in general nor in detail do i agree with you. From grammar and spelling to style and tone, grammarly helps you eliminate errors and find the perfect words to express yourself. Correct each of the boy and girl was in straight line. 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. A conjunction and a coordinating conjunction differ in that a conjunction joins grammatically alike subclausal elements, whereas a coordinating conjunction joins grammatically alike clausal elements.
The verb in an or, either or, or neither nor sentence agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it. Although not a major grammatical error, the grouping of more than two things is frowned upon by followers of some style conventions. Usually they will take a singular verb if both parts of the structure are singular, as in neither he nor his friend is ready, and if the first element is plural but the second element remains singular, the structure may still take a singular verb, as in neither my friends. Two singular subjects connected by eitheror or neithernor require a singular. He either keeps the keys himself or leaves them with his wife. Try our interactive game to practice the difference between both, either and neither. Two or more singular subjects connected by or, nor, either or, neither. If you found this english grammar about both either neither interesting or useful, let others know about it. So, too, neither and either so do i and neither do i download this explanation in pdf here. The most common correlative conjunctions are eitheror, neithernor, not onlybut also, asso, and notbut. Both of the carpenters isare planning to do the job.
Either or can be used to mean this thing or that thing. 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. Neither my dad nor my mom wears fashionable clothes. See more about so, neither and either as short answers.
Im not very good in grammar but this really confuses me. Subjectverb agreement grammar rules the blue book of. However, if one of the elements is plural, then use a plural verb. The last one got neither of my nor thiagos changes.
For example, if i is one of two or more subjects, it could lead to this. Either orneither nor a free english exercise to learn english. Nor, and transitional devices instructions for the teacher this exercise is a supplement to the exercises of in charge 2, unit 2, pages 17 through 20. Plural subjects cows or oxen are grazing in the field. Grammarians differ on this point, but theres a long history of both either or and neither nor being used for three or more items. Mignon fogarty is the founder of the quick and dirty tips network and creator of grammar girl, which has been named one of writers digests 101 best websites for writers multiple times.
They say the place where you are born is not a choice, nor is the family into which you are born. Jan 01, 2010 so neither the men nor the woman is a good surfer is correct, as is neither the woman nor the men are good surfers. In most cases, it is clear whether a pronouns antecedent is singular or plural. Grammar lessons either or and neither nor my english pages. Either or neither english grammar guide grammatica inglese. It would be incorrect to use an or anywhere in that sentenceor to leave out either case of nor. Neither is used with nor to indicate two or more people, things, actions, etc. Check your spelling past simple or present perfect although in spite of despite again back for and its use. From the american copy editors society a tricky agreement problem. 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 usually used with no article, though some is sometimes used before it. 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. They say the place where you are born is not a choice, and neither is the family into which you are born. This is a free beginner english grammar quiz and esl worksheet.
Describes a noun or pronounfor example, a tall girl, an interesting book, a big house. He will neither come here nor send a representative. Neither nor used in a sentence in the negative sense when you want to say that two or more things are not true. However, if one of the things is plural, use a plural verb. The following is a minitutorial on the use of the words also, too and either. While either has a positive connotation, neither holds a negative significance. Confusing grammar neithernor, eitheror, etc person of. This page includes examples of correlative conjunctions and an interactive exercise. How to use nor correctly grammar girl quick and dirty tips. Eitheror and neithernor beware double negatives the pairings eitheror and neithernor can be used to group two people or things.
Both john and fred dont like doing the dishes i want neither the red shirt nor the blue shirt. Fill in the blanks with so, nor, neither, but, too, or either. When two plural subjects are joined by or, neither nor, eitheror the subject is plural. Incorrect each of the boy and girl were in straight line. Neither my mother nor my father went to university. Be careful with sentences that have either or and neither nor. Grammar girl wasnt very helpful with these subjectcomplement agreement sentences. English grammar guide neither nor can be used to mean not this thing, and not that thing.
If two or more singular subjects are connected by or, nor, either or, neither. The grammar girl podcast has also won best education podcast multiple times in the podcast awards, and mignon is an inductee in the podcasting hall of fame. If a sentence has two subjects connected by ornor, eitheror, or neithernor, the verb must. Either julia or her friends isare planning to attend. Home page for english grammar today on cambridge dictionary. Heres a discussion of the words and the opinions about their appropriate use. Whether english is your first language or second language, grammar girls punctuation, style. In english grammar, words that refer to people, places or. Nor doesnt necessarily have to appear in a sentence with the word neither. But they can also be conjunctions correlative, adjectives, determiners, and even adverbs. Students pose a question to a partner to elicit a response that will allow them to use a particular phrase such as so do i. To book a lecture event with mignon fogarty for your company or. Both and can be used to mean this thing and that thing. Confusing grammar neither nor, eitheror, etc person of verb.
For example, you might say, i like neither hot dogs nor mustard. Either, neither or both exercise a fill the gaps with both, either, either. The last one didnt get either of my or thiagos changes. Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that shelf. Her archenemy is the evil grammar maven, who inspires terror in the untrained and is neither friendly nor helpful.
In spoken language, the plural form of the verb is more usual. Grammar rules can seem quirky, but there are 20 simple rules of subjectverb agreement that will help this topic make sense. If both elements are singular, then the verb is singular too. If either is used with a negative verb, its meaning is the same as neither. When or or nor joins two things, use a singular verb if both things are singular. Note how we use the plural word surfers at the end there to keep everything in agreement. Neither of the twin brothers took their books would be correct if the books were jointly owned, but it requires some context to make this clear. We show you the rules, the exceptions, and example sentences to clarify the concept. As above, but using either to make it clearer what the or is joining. After you have studied the tutorial, complete the associated exercises. Neither is paired with nor as either is with or, and in those uses as conjunctions they pose usage problems of agreement. Screenscriber, as a general rule, either goes with or and neither goes with nor. Whether you are using either or neither, you can only frame two alternativeselements. The last one didnt get either my changes or thiagos.
On the other hand, the word girl is singular, so it clearly needs a singular pronoun like she or her. Neither nor used when referring to the fact that two. 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. Everyone can be a great writer grammarly allows me to get those communications out and feel confident that im putting my best foot forward. Correlative conjunctions are used in pairs to link equivalent elements e. For instance, the word girls is plural, so it needs a plural pronoun like they or them or their. He neither attends the class regularly nor learns his lessons. Here are two explanations of using eitheror and neithernor taken form different sources. When using either or and neither nor, note the following rules. It doesnt matter which of the two coats you choose 2. 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. Either or used in a sentence in the affirmative sense when referring to a choice between two possibilities.
Neither sarah nor peter was to blame for the mistake. Neither is used as a determiner before a single noun. He neither ate the cake himself nor allowed others to eat it. Jay had seen neither the snake nor the wasp s nest on the next tree, and was preparing to stake his tarp in that lessthansafe location. For example, incorrect neither he nor i were there.
Appearing in two volumes in 1843 under the pseudonymous editorship of victor eremita latin for victorious hermit, it outlines a theory of human existence, marked by the distinction between an essentially hedonistic, aesthetic mode of life and the ethical life, which is predicated. Doesnt is a contraction of does not and should be used only with a singular subject. Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf. Neither indicates that the two ideas are linked together. When the subjects joined by ornor are of different numbers, the verb must be plural, and the plural subject must be placed next to. Jay had seen neither the snake nor the wasps nest on the next tree, and was.
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