Maven, who inspires terror in the untrained and is neither friendly nor helpful. Either or used in a sentence in the affirmative sense when referring to a choice between two possibilities. Engaging neithereithertoo esl lesson brighthub education. Despite being just a single letter apart from each other, the two words either vs. Jan 01, 2010 get the grammar girls take on correctly using nor in a sentence. When using either or and neither nor, note the following rules. Jay had seen neither the snake nor the wasps nest on the next tree, and was.
Neither is the subject here and girls does not modify the number of the verb. As a determiner, neither is used in the same way neither book is suitable. On the other hand, the word girl is singular, so it clearly needs a singular pronoun like she or her. Sometimes you can use either one and sometimes you have to choose either one or the other, but neither one is very difficult. The word either can be a pronoun or an adjective more specifically, a determiner, which is a kind of adjective.
Additions and responses so, too, neither, not either. But by itself, meaning neither do i, in reply to previous negative statement, it has to be me neither. We use both, either and neither to refer to two people or things. Subject and verb agreement quiz 1 the blue book of. Neither indicates that the two ideas are linked together. 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. This handout will help you understand this common grammar problem. When used in this sense, it always takes singular verbs and pronouns. Although not a major grammatical error, the grouping of more than two things is frowned upon by followers of some style conventions. 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. With 100,000 copies sold, this is a complete and comprehensive guide to all things.
Either or neither english grammar guide grammatica inglese. Either cassie or marie pay the employees this afternoon. Disjunction in the subject formally takes a verb that agrees in the number with whichever element is closest to the verb. Either and neither can be used in a few different ways, and to mean a few different things. Either the boys or the girls have hidden the sweets. 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. This fits the question, because you dont need money from both people, just one. Her paintings are in either bright colours or black and white. When the correlative conjunctions eitheror or neithernor frame alternatives in the singular, the verb is. Neither is used as a pronoun which means not the one nor the other of two people or things.
Neither is a conjunction, implying that there are two or more negative statements in play. But if you use neither, then make sure your sentence does not have any other negatives preceding it. If you prefer to use a negative, then you want to use either. This can happen either occasionally during cell wounding or regularly during cytokinesis and meiosis.
What is the difference between neither and either, and how are they. In these examples, each, every, neither and either are used in combination with the singular forms his, his or her, her and its. Either sue or the girls are going to prepare dinner tonight. How to use either, neither, or and nor kaplan blog. Subject and verb agreement quiz 1 the blue book of grammar. But either and neither are still singular, even when followed by a prepositional phrase containing a plural object. Try our interactive game to practice the difference between these words at. See more about so, neither and either as short answers. 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. Can a warlock with book of ancient secrets scribe a known spell into a scroll, replace the spell with a. So neither either differences and use english grammar rules using both and, either or, neither nor in english ens.
What is the difference between neither and either, and how. 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. For christmas one year, she even bought me the book i judge you when you use poor grammar. 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. Grammar girls quick and dirty tips for better writing and six other books on writing. Basic english grammar rules your must know hbr ascend. Clear explanations of natural written and spoken english. 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. Subjectverb agreement grammar girl quick and dirty tips. The difference between both, either and neither in english with example sentences.
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. So, too, neither and either perfect english grammar. We can either eat now or after the show its up to you 2. Either or and neither nor beware double negatives the pairings either or and neither nor can be used to group two people or things.
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. English grammar verb rules, agreement of the subject with the verb, uses of either, neither, each, everyone, examples and exercise for competitive exam. Neither leila nor nancy is going to write the report. 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. Two or more singular subjects connected by or, nor, either or, neither.
The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are singular and require a. In informal english, plural possessive adjectives are often used in this type of sentence. Nor doesnt necessarily have to appear in a sentence with the word neither. In most cases, it is clear whether a pronouns antecedent is singular or plural. Either is also used as a pronoun to indicate one or the other of two people or things. Neither nor used in a sentence in the negative sense when you want to say that two or more things are not true. She rested her legs on either side both sides of my legs. So do i me too neither do i i dont either speaking activity game for practicing sotooneithereither. Understanding either or and neither nor daily writing tips.
The book, including all the chapters in the first section, is boring. Grammar girl wasnt very helpful with these subjectcomplement agreement sentences. Use each, every, either, neither, such, same, all, whole. Sometimes either a singular or a plural verb will work. 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. English grammar worksheets verb worksheets grammar book grammar. Do either of you know how to swim for example is asking if one or the other knows how to swim. If you found this english grammar about both either neither interesting or useful, let others know about it. So, neither, nor, either english grammar step by step has been designed for intermediate and advanced students of english. Neither as a pronoun determiner when it is used as a pronoun, neither is often followed by of plus a noun phrase or pronoun. The english words either and neither can cause some problems for native and nonnative speakers of english. On the other hand, the word girl is singular, so it clearly needs a. The quick answer the pairing neithernor plays a negative role, so take care to avoid an unintended double negative.
Despite the fact he was nearing his thirties and got stressed a lot at work, he still had a full head of hair. Mar 07, 2019 neither of the girls has finished her homework. It would be incorrect to use an or anywhere in that sentenceor to leave out either case of nor. Subject verb rules with examples english grammar edudose. Neither can appear at the beginning of a sentence as. So, neither, nor, either english grammar step by step. Inside a longer sentence, me either can be perfectly legitimate. If youre presenting two alternatives, youll often use an either or or a neither. Use a plural verb if one or both elements are plural. Neither side of the brain is dominant over the other. 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. For each of the following, choose the correct sentence.
Whether youre creating perfect professional documents, spectacular school papers, or effective personal letters, youll find this handbook indispensable. For each of the following, choose the sentence in which the subject and verb agree. As we mentioned in our response to dimitri dated september 14, 2011, the ap stylebooks entry says, none it usually means no single one. If you found this grammar guide about the difference between so, neither and either useful, let others know. 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. When or or nor joins two things, use a singular verb if both things are singular. How to use either, neither, or, and nor correctly the write practice. None of the consultants agree on the same approach.
The girl i love hates me or the girl who i love hates me. This is just as true with neithernor as it is with eitheror. So do i me too neither do i i dont either speaking. Dictionary entry happy returns thank u so much vocabulary worksheets thanks for sharing what i need my little girl how to better yourself esl. While either has a positive connotation, neither holds a negative significance. Learn when to use nor instead of or, and how to avoid common mistakes. If one or both of the alternatives are plural, use a plural verb. Try our interactive game to practice the difference between both, either and neither. Get the grammar girls take on correctly using nor in a sentence. The grammar girl podcast has also won best education podcast multiple.
But they can also be conjunctions correlative, adjectives, determiners, and even adverbs. Note how we use the plural word surfers at the end there to keep everything in agreement. Subject and verb agreement quiz 1 from the blue book of grammar and punctuation. May 24, 2016 inside a longer sentence, me either can be perfectly legitimate. Either is the correct answer when looking for one or the other. Describes a noun or pronounfor example, a tall girl, an interesting book, a big house.
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. Learn how to make sure your subject and verb agree. Please provide an interpretation each for the choices. Need to inform your esl students about the usage of the neither, either, and too terms in their education. If both elements are singular, then the verb is singular too. The pairing neither nor plays a negative role, so take care to avoid an unintended double negative. You cannot mix them, but often the word either is omitted. He is the author of many books on writing, including the hbr guide to better business writing and the. If you already know how to use these words, you can skip the explanation and go directly to the exercises. How to use nor correctly grammar girl quick and dirty tips. When one of the words is used to modify the single subject of a sentence, it takes.
So, too, neither and either so do i and neither do i download this explanation in pdf here. Those that truly sound wrong are the examples with the preposition of of your daughters, of yours following either or neither. After you have studied the tutorial, complete the associated exercises. 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. Neither is paired with nor and either is paired with or. By the way, it is equally correct to say bad grammar. A we dont use either or neither with singular uncountable noun. 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. If you had gone to university, you could have got a better job more easily. Aug 01, 2014 either and neither will always take a singular verb irrespective of the plural word followingit. Home page for english grammar today on cambridge dictionary. 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. Either and neither, singular or plural the editors blog.
I placed the two bags of groceries on either sideboth sides of my laptop. Neither is singular and refers individually to each boy, so lost their lunch is incorrect, despite the use of the plur. Neither of the boys were in the library just now or neither of the boys was in the library just now. 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. To book a lecture event with mignon fogarty for your company or. Use a plural verb only if the sense is no two or no amount. Learn these 12 english grammar rules for writing seemlessly. Either and neither are singular either and neither are singular concepts. 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. Determiners learning english grammar collins education. For instance, the word girls is plural, so it needs a plural pronoun like they or them or their. So neither either differences and use english grammar rules. Neither my mother nor my father went to university. 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.
99 356 1265 64 1002 647 1088 684 1557 1279 1461 1604 1653 922 1632 1525 569 1396 1549 1268 1203 390 495 864 1603 938 670 886 460 1509 760 161 697 702 1087 1469 225