Week 5

A. Either Or....Neither Nor

Either means one, neither means none, and not either equals neither. Or goes with either and nor goes with neither.

Click here and open up the document and let's do the exercises in class


Singular or Plural?

a. Singular Verb with Singular Elements

If the pairings either/or (often the either is omitted) or neither/nor form part of the subject of a verb and both elements are singular, then the verb must be singular too. For example:

• Neither Mark nor Dawn is at the function. 
(As Mark is singular (i.e., one person) and Dawn is singular, then is is correct. (The plural version are would be wrong.)
• Neither Dickens nor Thackeray was a panderer to the public taste. 
Dickens (singular), Thackeray (singular), was (singular – i.e., not were panderers)
• Either the clerk or the secretary has the keys to the Rover. 
clerk (singular), secretary (singular), has (singular – i.e., not have)
• Neither Simon nor Gary do as they are told. 
Simon (singular), Gary (singular), do (plural – should be does)
• Either a mouse or a rat eats the cable at night. 

b. Plural Verb with a Plural Element

If the pairings either/or (often the either is omitted) or neither/nor form part of the subject of a verb and at least one of the elements is plural, then the verb must be plural too. For example:

• Neither the lawyer nor the detectives are able to follow the sequence of events. 
lawyer (singular – i.e., one person), detectives (plural - i.e., more than one person), are (plural - i.e., not is)
• There were neither cakes nor ice-cream at the party. 


• Neither the firemen nor the policemen know him. 
(i.e., not knows)
• Either the budgies or the cat has to go. 

Choose the correct pair (either / or and neither / nor)

1. In this game, you __ win __ lose. It depends on you.                         either - or            neither - nor          
2. ___ Sue ___ Sara will help you with your homework. They are both busy at the moment.                         Either - or            Neither - nor          
3. This is my offer. You ___ take it ___ leave it.                         either - or            neither - nor          
4. When I go to the restaurant, I eat ___ fish ___ roast chicken. These are my favorite meals.                         either - or            neither - nor          
5. His father believed ___ his son ___ his friend. He thought that both were lying.                         either - or            neither - nor          
6. I need ___ your help ___ your compassion. I can perfectly handle my problems all alone.                         either - or            neither - nor          
7. ___ Charly ___ Bill will write the report. Just ask one of them.                         Either - or            Neither - nor             
8. ___ you return the money you had stolen ____ I'll call the police.                         Either - or            Neither - nor          
9. My mum can ___ read ___ write. She is illiterate.                         either - or            neither - nor          
10. You can use ___ this computer ___ the other one. Someone must fix them first.                         either - or            neither - nor          

How about some options?

Whenever providing options, use EITHER OR...

1. When discussing plans with your husband for the weekend

2. When thinking about what to have for lunch tomorrow

3. When giving a couple of options on a deadline this week to a colleague who is sending you some data for some reports

Now using NEITHER NOR...

1. Expressing your dislike for what's available in the menu (use negative)

2. Expressing your dislike of the two options given to you to travel next week. (positive)
3. Expressing your disagreement of the reasons given by a friend for not calling you last week. (positive)