When or or nor joins two things, use a singular verb if both things are singular. 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. It should be neither of the boys was in the library just now. Neither is paired with nor and either is paired with or. For each of the following, choose the sentence in which the subject and verb agree. But if you use neither, then make sure your sentence does not have any other negatives preceding it. Either and neither, singular or plural the editors blog. So neither the men nor the woman is a good surfer is correct, as is neither the woman nor the men are good surfers. I placed the two bags of groceries on either sideboth sides of my laptop. 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. Use each, every, either, neither, such, same, all, whole. Use a plural verb only if the sense is no two or no amount. Home page for english grammar today on cambridge dictionary.
So, neither, nor, either english grammar step by step. Additions and responses so, too, neither, not either. If both elements are singular, then the verb is singular too. If you found this grammar guide about the difference between so, neither and either useful, let others know.
On the other hand, the word girl is singular, so it clearly needs a. However, if one of the elements is plural, then use a plural verb. Grammar maven, who inspires terror in the untrained and is neither friendly nor helpful. Many aspirants find difficulty in english grammar section while preparing for competitive exams like ssc cgl, ssc chsl, rrb, ibps, sbi and other competitive exams. Grammar girl wasnt very helpful with these subjectcomplement agreement sentences. But by itself, meaning neither do i, in reply to previous negative statement, it has to be me neither. Neither my mother nor my father went to university. If you had gone to university, you could have got a better job more easily. When one of the words is used to modify the single subject of a sentence, it takes. Although not a major grammatical error, the grouping of more than two things is frowned upon by followers of some style conventions. So neither either differences and use english grammar rules using both and, either or, neither nor in english ens. Use a plural verb if one or both elements are plural. Neither of the boys were in the library just now or neither of the boys was in the library just now.
The book, including all the chapters in the first section, is boring. When using either or and neither nor, note the following rules. Describes a noun or pronounfor example, a tall girl, an interesting book, a big house. Sometimes either a singular or a plural verb will work. So, too, neither and either perfect english grammar. As a determiner, neither is used in the same way neither book is suitable. Those that truly sound wrong are the examples with the preposition of of your daughters, of yours following either or neither. A we dont use either or neither with singular uncountable noun. Jay had seen neither the snake nor the wasps nest on the next tree, and was. Two or more singular subjects connected by or, nor, either or, neither. Jan 01, 2010 get the grammar girls take on correctly using nor in a sentence. Jay had seen neither the snake nor the wasps nest on the next tree, and was preparing to stake his tarp in that lessthansafe location. Need to inform your esl students about the usage of the neither, either, and too terms in their education. Understanding either or and neither nor daily writing tips.
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. Aug 01, 2014 either and neither will always take a singular verb irrespective of the plural word followingit. For each of the following, choose the correct sentence. Either or and neither nor beware double negatives the pairings either or and neither nor can be used to group two people or things. From new york times bestselling author and creator of the top ranked grammar girl podcast, mignon fogarty, comes her bestselling grammar girl presents the ultimate writing guide for students. English grammar verb rules, agreement of the subject with the verb, uses of either, neither, each, everyone, examples and exercise for competitive exam.
What is the difference between neither and either, and how. Please provide an interpretation each for the choices. Whether youre creating perfect professional documents, spectacular school papers, or effective personal letters, youll find this handbook indispensable. While either has a positive connotation, neither holds a negative significance. Either cassie or marie pay the employees this afternoon. Note how we use the plural word surfers at the end there to keep everything in agreement.
But either and neither are still singular, even when followed by a prepositional phrase containing a plural object. If you already know how to use these words, you can skip the explanation and go directly to the exercises. Despite the fact he was nearing his thirties and got stressed a lot at work, he still had a full head of hair. After you have studied the tutorial, complete the associated exercises. Either or used in a sentence in the affirmative sense when referring to a choice between two possibilities. Neither is singular and refers individually to each boy, so lost their lunch is incorrect, despite the use of the plur. The following is a minitutorial on the use of the words also, too and either. If one or both of the alternatives are plural, use a plural verb. The girl i love hates me or the girl who i love hates me. Subject and verb agreement quiz 1 the blue book of grammar.
Determiners learning english grammar collins education. Subject verb rules with examples english grammar edudose. The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are singular and require a. You cannot mix them, but often the word either is omitted. In these examples, each, every, neither and either are used in combination with the singular forms his, his or her, her and its. He is the author of many books on writing, including the hbr guide to better business writing and the. The quick answer the pairing neithernor plays a negative role, so take care to avoid an unintended double negative. Inside a longer sentence, me either can be perfectly legitimate. Neither nor used in a sentence in the negative sense when you want to say that two or more things are not true. If you found this english grammar about both either neither interesting or useful, let others know about it. Jay had not seen either the snake or the wasps nest on the next tree, and was preparing to stake his tarp in that lessthansafe location. Her paintings are in either bright colours or black and white. This can happen either occasionally during cell wounding or regularly during cytokinesis and meiosis. Clear explanations of natural written and spoken english.
Neither is the subject here and girls does not modify the number of the verb. Neither side of the brain is dominant over the other. What is the difference between neither and either, and how are they. The difference between both, either and neither in english with example sentences. Learn these 12 english grammar rules for writing seemlessly. Get the grammar girls take on correctly using nor in a sentence. This is just as true with neithernor as it is with eitheror. Neither the russians nor the americans were ready to talk is perfectly correct, but so is neither a british flag nor an american one flies above the.
To book a lecture event with mignon fogarty for your company or. Neither as a pronoun determiner when it is used as a pronoun, neither is often followed by of plus a noun phrase or pronoun. Either or neither english grammar guide grammatica inglese. Subject and verb agreement quiz 1 from the blue book of grammar and punctuation.
Note if two singular nouns are connected with each every before them and joined by and conjunction we use singular form of verb such as is was has etc. How to use either, neither, or and nor kaplan blog. With 100,000 copies sold, this is a complete and comprehensive guide to all things. Despite being just a single letter apart from each other, the two words either vs. The rule for neither and either is that any time they are used as the subject of the sentence then the verb must be singular. How to use either, neither, or, and nor correctly the write practice. In informal english, plural possessive adjectives are often used in this type of sentence. By the way, it is equally correct to say bad grammar. Neither is a conjunction, implying that there are two or more negative statements in play. So do i me too neither do i i dont either speaking activity game for practicing sotooneithereither. For christmas one year, she even bought me the book i judge you when you use poor grammar. However, if one of the things is plural, use a plural verb. Can a warlock with book of ancient secrets scribe a known spell into a scroll, replace the spell with a.
Dictionary entry happy returns thank u so much vocabulary worksheets thanks for sharing what i need my little girl how to better yourself esl. Learn how to make sure your subject and verb agree. 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. When the correlative conjunctions eitheror or neithernor frame alternatives in the singular, the verb is. The pairing neither nor plays a negative role, so take care to avoid an unintended double negative.
Either is the correct answer when looking for one or the other. Subject and verb agreement quiz 1 the blue book of. Maven, who inspires terror in the untrained and is neither friendly nor helpful. So do i me too neither do i i dont either speaking.
The grammar girl podcast has also won best education podcast multiple. Neither can appear at the beginning of a sentence as. For instance, the word girls is plural, so it needs a plural pronoun like they or them or their. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing and six other books on writing.
In most cases, it is clear whether a pronouns antecedent is singular or plural. Sometimes you can use either one and sometimes you have to choose either one or the other, but neither one is very difficult. Basic english grammar rules your must know hbr ascend. As we mentioned in our response to dimitri dated september 14, 2011, the ap stylebooks entry says, none it usually means no single one. So neither either differences and use english grammar rules. Subjectverb agreement grammar girl quick and dirty tips. Mar 07, 2019 neither of the girls has finished her homework. Try our interactive game to practice the difference between these words at. Either and neither are singular either and neither are singular concepts. 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. This fits the question, because you dont need money from both people, just one. Learn when to use nor instead of or, and how to avoid common mistakes. If youre presenting two alternatives, youll often use an either or or a neither.
He sought to argue in the alternative that he either was insane at the time he killed her or he was so drunk that he was incapable of forming the intent to do so. Either is also used as a pronoun to indicate one or the other of two people or things. Treat a pairing like eitheror or neithernor as singular if the elements are singular, but treat the pairing as plural if one of the elements. Either the boys or the girls have hidden the sweets. Do either of you know how to swim for example is asking if one or the other knows how to swim.
The only grammar book youll ever need is the ideal resource for everyone who wants to produce writing that is clear, concise, and grammatically excellent. None of the consultants agree on the same approach. May 24, 2016 inside a longer sentence, me either can be perfectly legitimate. The word either can be a pronoun or an adjective more specifically, a determiner, which is a kind of adjective. She rested her legs on either side both sides of my legs. When used in this sense, it always takes singular verbs and pronouns. So, neither, nor, either english grammar step by step has been designed for intermediate and advanced students of english. English grammar worksheets verb worksheets grammar book grammar. Try our interactive game to practice the difference between both, either and neither. If you prefer to use a negative, then you want to use either. We use both, either and neither to refer to two people or things.
Engaging neithereithertoo esl lesson brighthub education. See more about so, neither and either as short answers. This underscores just how important it is to use the correct word, since failing to do so could drastically change the meaning of a sentence. 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. Disjunction in the subject formally takes a verb that agrees in the number with whichever element is closest to the verb. But they can also be conjunctions correlative, adjectives, determiners, and even adverbs.
On the other hand, the word girl is singular, so it clearly needs a singular pronoun like she or her. We can either eat now or after the show its up to you 2. How to use nor correctly grammar girl quick and dirty tips. Either and neither can be used in a few different ways, and to mean a few different things. Either sue or the girls are going to prepare dinner tonight.
This handout will help you understand this common grammar problem. Neither is used as a pronoun which means not the one nor the other of two people or things. So, too, neither and either so do i and neither do i download this explanation in pdf here. 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 leila nor nancy is going to write the report. The english words either and neither can cause some problems for native and nonnative speakers of english. Nor doesnt necessarily have to appear in a sentence with the word neither. It would be incorrect to use an or anywhere in that sentenceor to leave out either case of nor.
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