Neither 

allows us to make a negative statement about two people or things at the same
time. Neither goes before singular countable nouns. We use it to say ‘not either’ in relation to two
things. Neither can be pronounced /ˈnaɪðə(r)/ or /ˈni:ðə(r)/.

Neither  parent came to meet the teacher. (The mother didn’t come and the father didn’t come.)

Neither  dress fitted her. (There were two dresses and not one of them fitted her.)

We use neither of before pronouns and plural countable nouns which have a determiner (my, his,
the) before them:

Neither  of  us went to the concert.

Neither of  the birthday cards was suitable.

Spoken English:

In formal styles, we use neither of with a singular verb when it is the subject. However, in informal
speaking, people often use plural verbs:

Neither of  my best friends was around.

Neither of  them were interested in going to university.

In speaking, we can use neither on its own in replies when we are referring to two things that have
already been mentioned:

A:

Mike, which would you prefer, tea or coffee?

B:

Neither thanks. I’ve just had a coffee.

Neither … nor
We can use neither as a conjunction with nor. It connects two or more negative alternatives. This can
sound formal in speaking:

Neither  Brian  nor  his wife mentioned anything about moving house. (Brian didn’t mention that they
were moving house and his wife didn’t mention that they were moving house.)

Neither  Italy  nor  France got to the quarter finals last year.

The less formal alternative is to use and … not … either:

Italy didn’t get to the quarter finals last year  and  France didn’t  either.

See also:
Not … either

Not with neither and nor
When a clause with neither or nor is used after a negative clause, we invert the subject and the verb
after neither and nor:

He  hadn’t  done any homework,  neither  had he brought any of his books to class.

We didn’t  get to see the castle,  nor  did we see the cathedral.

See also:

Conjunctions

Neither do I, Nor can she

We use neither and nor + auxiliary/modal verb + subject to mean ‘also not’:

A:

I hate snakes. I can’t even look at a picture of a snake.

B:

Neither can I.

Not: I can’t also.

A:

Jacqueline doesn’t drive.

B:

Nor does Gina.

Not: Gina doesn’t also.

See also:

So am I, so do I, Neither do I

Not … either
We can use not … either to mean ‘also not’, but we do not change the word order of the auxiliary or
modal verb and subject:
A:

I haven’t ever tasted caviar.

B:

I haven’t either. (or Neither have I./Nor have I.)

A:

I didn’t see Lesley at the concert.

B:

I didn’t either. (or Neither did I./Nor did I.)

In informal speaking, we often say me neither:

A:

I can’t smell anything.

B:

Me neither. (or I can’t either.)

Neither: typical errors

We use neither, not none, when we are talking about two people or things:

Books and television are different.  Neither of  them should replace the other.

Not: None of them …

We don’t normally use both (of) + not to make a negative statement about two people or things:

Neither of  these shirts is/are dry yet.

Not: Both of these shirts aren’t dry yet.

Take care to spell neither correctly: not ‘niether’ or ‘neighter’.

re
not very good

About this 

   

1.Either / or - used in a sentence in the affirmative sense when referring to a choice between two possibilities
We can either eat now or after the show - it's up to you.
2. Neither / nor - used in a sentence in the negative sense when you want to say that two or more things are not true
Neither my mother nor my father went to university.

Singular or plural
When using either/or and neither/nor, note the following rules:
1. If both elements are singular, then the verb is singular too.
 Either the father or the mother has to attend the meeting. (father and mother are singular; so the verb has is
singular too)
 Neither Leila nor Nancy is going to write the report. (Leila and Nancy are singular; so the verb is is singular too)
2. However, if one of the elements is plural, then use a plural verb.
 Either Sue or the girls are going to prepare dinner tonight. (the girls is plural; so the verb are is plural too)
 Neither the teacher nor the students were in the classroom this morning. (the students is plural; so the
verb wereis plural too)

Correlative Conjunctions: either or, neither nor, not only but also, …

 07.19.2017

 Chris Lee

 English Grammar

A conjunction is a word that grammatically connects two words, phrases, or clauses together. The
most common examples are words like “and” and “but.”

For example, “I took the subway, and got off at 96th Street.” Or, “I took the subway, butthere was a
delay.” However, conjunctions can come in many forms with many different functions.

They’re a part of speech that can be broken down into several categories, and we’ll explore each one
in depth with examples.

Conjunctions can primarily be broken down into three categories:

Coordinating conjunctions

Correlative conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions

Another category of conjunctions is correlative conjunctions, and we’ve actually seen a few already,
like “either…or” and “neither…nor.” These conjunctions come in pairs and join equal items together.

Correlative conjunctions list:

Either…or

Whether…or

Neither…nor

Both…and

As…as

Not only…but also

No sooner…than

Hardly…when

EITHER…OR

The correlative conjunction “either…or” is used to join two positive options. For example:

We can  either  go to the movies  or stay inside and watch Netflix.

The sound was  either  a firework  or a gunshot.

Either you stay or  I leave.

A common grammatical mistake that occurs when using the correlative conjunction “neither…or” is
subject-verb agreement. When two (or more) items are joined by the word conjunction and serve as
the subject of the sentence, the number of the verb (i.e. singular or plural) always follows the last of
the options. Multiple singular options do not create a plural noun. For example:

Either Crystal or Julia  wants  to come with us to the festival. (The verb should be “wants,” not “want”)

Either Courtney or her friends are  coming  to pick me up. (The verb “are” follows the second item in
the pair of subjects.)

The word “either” can be used by itself, but as a pronoun, not a conjunction. For example:

You can ask  either  of us if you need any help.

“Should I get this shirt in blue or white?” “Either looks good on you.”

WHETHER…OR

The conjunction “whether…or” also pairs up two options, but they must be clauses. It’s similar to the
subordinating conjunction “if” in that it brings up hypothetical conditions, but in pairs.

Whether  I drink a lot or  a little, my face still gets red.

Whether  it’s sunny out  or raining, we’re still going to see the concert.

A common usage of this correlative conjunction is in the form “whether…or not” or simply “whether or
not.” For example:

Whether  the earrings are cheap  or not, I’m still going to buy them.

You have to take this class,  whether or not  you want to.

It’s also acceptable to simply use the word “whether,” which implies the phrase “or not,” by itself. In
this case, it becomes a subordinating conjunction instead of a correlative one, which we’ll discuss
later on.

I don’t care whether a man is rich if I want to date him.

NEITHER…NOR

While “either…or” pairs up two positive options, “neither…nor” pairs up two negative options.

The view at the top of mountain was  neither  spectacular  nor very visible.
When it comes to movies, I like  neither  comedies nor  romances.

Neither will the workers go off strike, nor  negotiate until they receive a higher pay.

Just as “either” can stand by itself as a pronoun, so can “neither.”

Neither of the desserts seemed very appealing.

Neither of us are working on Thanksgiving.

The word “neither” can also be used as an adverb to indicate that something also does not apply in
another case. For example:

“I didn’t do very well on the last exam. Me  neither.”

I never thought that Trump would actually win the election, and neither did my friends.

BOTH…AND

This correlative conjunction is used to join two equal items together.

The hurricane was devastating both emotionally  and economically.

We went to  both  the service  and the reception afterwards.

I don’t know why, but both Jane  and Colin have stopped talking to me.

AS…AS

If you want to compare two things and say that one contains a certain quality to the same extent as
the other, you can use the correlative conjunction “as…as.”

Anything I put in the refrigerator becomes as  cold  as ice.

Jeremy’s probably as  tall as  any professional basketball player.

Run as  far  as you can, but don’t feel pressured to keep going.

NOT ONLY…BUT ALSO

This correlative conjunction is similar to “both…and” and emphasizes that two items belong in a pair.

Not only  did we get lost, but we  also ran out of gas with no gas station in sight.

Not only  is he smart,  but  he’s  also talented.

The TV show has  not only good actors but also an incredibly written script.

NO SOONER…THAN

The phrase “no sooner…than” is used to indicate that two events happened simultaneously or in quick
succession. For example:

No sooner had I left the house  than it started to thunder.

No sooner had the pastor begun to speak than  a baby started crying in the back.

HARDLY…WHEN
 This phrase is another alternative to “no sooner…than.”

Hardly  had I stepped out of the kitchen  when  I started to smell something burning.

Hardly  had the party started when drinks started spilling on the floor.

FANBOYS: 7 Coordinating
Conjunctions with Examples
  07.19.2017
  Chris Lee
  English Grammar, English Writing

A conjunction is a word that grammatically connects two words, phrases, or clauses together. The
most common examples are words like “and” and “but.”

For example, “I took the subway, and got off at 96th Street.” Or, “I took the subway, butthere was a
delay.” However, conjunctions can come in many forms with many different functions.

They’re a part of speech that can be broken down into several categories, and we’ll explore each one
in depth with examples.

Conjunctions can primarily be broken down into three categories:

 Coordinating conjunctions
 Correlative conjunctions
 Subordinating conjunctions
Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions always come between two clauses in order to connect them. These are two
ideas that are related and can therefore be placed into one longer sentence.

A coordinating conjunction is a conjunction like “and” and “but.” It joins together words, phrases, or
clauses that are grammatically equal. The seven coordinating conjunctions are:

 For
 And
 Nor
 But
 Or
 Yet
 So
You can remember these conjunctions using the acronym FANBOYS. These are all very useful
constructions to improve the flow and fluency of language.
The seven coordinating conjunctions can be remembered using the acronym: FANBOYS
source

For

shows reason or purpose (sometimes because can be used instead)

 I go to the library, for I love to read.

While the word “so” introduces the “effect” part of a cause-and-effect relationship, the word “for”
introduces the cause.

 My husband and I went to Costa Rica,  for  it was our five-year anniversary.
 The neighborhood had a memorial last weekend, for a family’s son had passed away.
Using the word “for” like this, however, can sound a bit formal and unnatural in spoken English.
Instead, it’s better to use subordinating conjunctions like “because” or “since,” which we’ll discuss
later. Meanwhile, the word “for” can take different usages as a preposition, not a conjunction. For
example:

 What are you doing  for  New Year’s?

 Is this gift  for  me or someone else?
 I’ve been living in Los Angeles  for  about six months.
Although you may have been taught otherwise, it’s often acceptable for a sentence to begin with a
coordinating conjunction, as long as it forms a continuity with the sentences preceding it.

When used in writing, in fact, it can often feel more natural to begin a sentence with “and” or “but”
instead of forcing separate sentences together with a comma. For example:

 Sometimes, Jack can come off as a bit insensitive, but I know he means well.
 Sometimes, Jack can come off as a bit insensitive. But I know he means well. (Also a valid use
of the word “but”)
 The sushi restaurant down the street is the best I’ve ever been to. And it was a good deal.
And

connects two or more ideas

 I like to eat cookies, and I like to drink milk.

The conjunction “and” is used to join two or more items that make sense with each other.

 I put mayonnaise and  mustard in this sandwich.

 My friend likes to go mountain-climbing  and swim in the ocean.
 My mom was born in the U.S.,  and my dad was born in Switzerland.
It can also be used to connect a series of events.

 Everyday after school, I go to the library and  study.

 The president arrived and  gave an hour-long speech.
If you want to list several items, use commas and the word “and” at the very end (the Oxford comma
is optional).

 I wasted so much time, energy, and  money on that trip.

 The dog barked, growled  and scratched until his owner let him back in the house.
Nor

shows a non-contrasting, negative idea. Adds more negativity.

 I refuse to hug to people I don’t know, nor will I kiss them.

While “and” is used to join two positive items together, the conjunction “nor” is used to pair two
negative items. It’s found either with the word “not” or with the word “neither.”

 He didn’t return my calls,  nor did he respond to any of my texts.

 Neither the yoga nor  the running made my back feel any better.
 I didn’t think that it would snow so early in the year,  nor did the weather forecast.
Note the word inversion that often accompanies this conjunction.

But

shows contrast or exception.

 Sheila likes soup, but sometimes she orders something different.

The conjunction “but” is used to join two items that contradict each other or create a certain tension
with each other.

 The dress was beautiful  but  slightly expensive.

 I put a lot of effort into the assignment,  but  I couldn’t even get an A.
 My mom doesn’t like to cook,  but  she does it anyway.
A common usage of the word “but” is in the construction “not…but.” You can also use the word
“rather” to emphasize the contrast in the statement.

 It wasn’t a bird but a squirrel that’s been ravaging the garden.

 Strawberries aren’t actually berries but rather an “accessory fruit.”
Or

shows choice or option.

 He could go to the bar, or he could go to work.

The conjunction “or” can be used to present two or more options. It’s often paired with the word
“either.”

 Do you like chocolate or  vanilla better?

 He’s either flirting with me or  just acts unusually nice to me.
 You can come buy groceries with me,  or you can stay home until I get back.
Yet

also shows contrast or exception.

 He had been crying all day, yet the man made him laugh.
The conjunction “yet” is very similar to “but.” It means something like “nevertheless” or “but at the
same time.”
  He can be strict yet understanding at the same time.
 The sauce was sweet yet had a spicy flavor to it.
 I got a new prescription for my glasses, yet my vision is still a bit blurry.
Don’t get this conjunction mixed up with the other usage of the word “yet.” For example:

 Did she call you back yet?

 Is your roommate awake yet?
So

shows consequence.

 The lady was feeling ill, so she went home to bed.

If you want to express a cause-and-effect relationship, you can use the conjunction “so.” It introduces
a clause that is the effect of a previous clause.

 It was the week before Christmas, so the mall was unusually hectic.

 The traffic is a bit heavy on the main road, so try taking a residential detour instead.
 The mistake was already made, so there’s not much you can do about it now.
Notice that the word “so” can be used to justify a suggestion or command. It can also be used to
explain the basis of a question. For example:

 My dog gets a bit rowdy sometimes, so put him in his cage when you need to.
 All the bars are closed by now, so what do you want to do instead?
Another usage of the conjunction “so” is to introduce a new idea or change the subject, whether this
has a cause-and-effect relationship or not. For example:

 So, what do you want to talk about now?

 So, how has your day been?
Be careful not to mix up the coordinating conjunction “so” with other usages of the word “so.” For
example:

 The line was so long we bailed within the first five minutes.

 “Is it going to be warmer tomorrow?” “I think so.”
 I hid the presents  so  that the rest of my family wouldn’t find them.
More for you:
Examples of Conjunction Words in a Sentence!
What conjunction can we use to combine the following sentences …
Difference Between: Whatever – So – But – For
 Subordinating conjunctions:
BECAUSE, SINCE, LIKE,
WHEN, IF, AS, …
  07.20.2017
  Chris Lee
  English Grammar

A conjunction is a word that grammatically connects two words, phrases, or

clauses together. The most common examples are words like “and” and “but.”

For example, “I took the subway, and got off at 96th Street.” Or, “I took the
subway, butthere was a delay.” However, conjunctions can come in many forms
with many different functions.

They’re a part of speech that can be broken down into several categories, and
we’ll explore each one in depth with examples.

Conjunctions can primarily be broken down into three categories:

 Coordinating conjunctions
 Correlative conjunctions
 Subordinating conjunctions
While we’ve so far seen some extremely common conjunctions, most
conjunctions fall under the category of subordinating conjunctions. These
conjunctions are used to join two clauses together that are grammatically
unequal.

In other words, the clause without a conjunction (the independent clause) is able
to stand alone, while the clause that contains the conjunction (the subordinate
clause) cannot. Subordinating conjunctions examples:

 I don’t like cake because it’s too sweet.

This sentence consists of two clauses, “I don’t like cake” and “it’s too sweet,” both
connected by the subordinating conjunction “because.”
The clause that stands alone is “I don’t like cake” and can form its own separate
sentence. The clause “because it’s too sweet,” however, cannot stand alone and
instead subordinates to the first clause.

This is why we call the word “because” a subordinating conjunction. You’ll notice

that subordinating conjunctions are some of the most common and useful words
in English. Below is a list of the most common ones.

Note that unlike with coordinating conjunctions, subordinate clauses can appear
before or after the independent clause.

For example, while you could say, “I don’t like cake because it’s too sweet,” you
could also say, “Because cake is too sweet, I don’t like it.”

BECAUSE

Used to introduce a cause or a reason

 I didn’t answer your messages because I was out of the country.

 I’m not going to apologize just because you told me to.
 Because my lower back kept hurting, I decided to finally go see a
chiropractor.
SINCE

Can be used to introduce a cause or a reason

  I decided to bake cupcakes, since it was Marjorie’s birthday.
 Since you’re always late, I’m going to start showing up late too.
Can also be used to indicate that something has been true starting from a certain
point in time.

 I’ve been broke since my last vacation to Puerto Rico.

 Ever since I was young, I’ve always wanted to become a scientist.
 What have you been up to since school ended?
UNTIL

Can be used to indicate that an event only happens up to a certain point in time.

 I usually sit around in my office until my boss gives me work to do.

 Until you came into my life, I wasn’t quite sure where I would find love.
 When I was in college, I would study until I passed out at 3 or 4 in the
morning.
WHEN

Can be used to indicate that two events happened simultaneously

 When it started to snow, everyone started posting statuses on Facebook.

 When the clock struck three, all the students immediately evacuated the
classroom.
 I don’t know how to react when you yell at me like that.
WHENEVER

Can be used to indicate that when one event happens at any point, so does
another

 Whenever I try to comfort people, I somehow make things worse.

 I hate it whenever I run into coworkers outside of work.
 Whenever you start feeling anxious, just try to breathe.
WHILE

Can be used to indicate that two things happen simultaneously. It emphasizes

the continuousness of an action more than the conjunction “when.”

 I often get distracted while trying to study.

 It’s hard trying to take classes while also working two jobs.
 While my parents were away for the weekend, my brother and I decided to
throw a house party.
Can also be used to switch from one idea to another
  While puppies are cute, they can be incredibly annoying to take care of.
 Neutral colors tend to go together easily, while other colors are harder to
pair up well.
AS

Can be used as an alternative to “while”

 We can see what logistical problems come up as we move on with the
project.
 As the night drew on, the crowd became noisier and noisier.
 My dad entered the driveway right as I called to see where he was.
Can also be used as an alternative to “since” or “because”

 You should be careful going to the gym, as your ankle is still a little weak.
Can also be used to mean something like “in the manner of.” Can be emphasized
by the word “just”

 I wrote my essay with five paragraphs just as my professor told me to do in

the instructions.
 I took the dog out three times a day just as you told me to.
 Just as you requested, here’s your coffee with soy milk instead of regular
milk.
ONCE

Used to indicate that something has only been true since the occurrence of
something else.

 I only started to seriously rethink my life once I graduated college.

 Once I actually started going to museums, I realized that I really liked them.
 I don’t know how Jared is so charismatic. Once he starts a trend, everyone
else quickly follows.
IF

Can be used to set up a condition in a hypothetical situation.

 If I lived alone, I’d be blasting my music 24/7.

 I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine.
 If something’s bothering you, don’t hesitate to tell me.
The conjunction “if” can be emphasized with the word “even.”

 I wouldn’t tell you his secret even if you begged me.

  Even if I’m having a bad day, I try to be nice to people.

AS IF

Can be used to mean something like “pretending that something were true”

 He treats me as if I were his sister, not his girlfriend.

 Don’t try to lecture me as if you actually knew what you were talking about.
 You tend to brush most things off as if they’re no big deal.
LIKE

Can be used as an alternative to “just as.” Can be emphasized by the word “just.”

 I did the dishes like you told me to.

 The dish that was served looked just like it did in the menu.
Can also be used as an informal alternative to “as if”

 Sometimes I feel like Keira ignores me on purpose.

 Don’t treat me like I’m an idiot.
UNLESS

Can be used to introduce an exception to a statement

 The professor said not to email her unless you have a logistical question.

 I personally won’t date you unless I find you attractive.
 The visiting team is going to win unless the tables somehow turn last
minute.
IN CASE

Can be used to mean something like “for the possibility that something might
happen”

 I sent the message twice in case the first one didn’t go through.

 In case you’re wondering, the performance doesn’t end for another two
hours.
 Can you double check the document just in case there aren’t any errors?
WHETHER

A shortened form of “whether or not”

 I’m not sure whether we’ll be able to hit everything on the itinerary.

  Can you tell whether this was handwritten?
 Do you care whether I’m in the room while you’re on the phone?
ALTHOUGH

Can be used to mean “despite the fact that” or “regardless of the fact that”

 Although he was a bit rude, people still found him funny and hung out with
him.
 Although the party was dull, I was still happy to see you guys.
 My dad claims that he’s German and Dutch, although he’s also a
compulsive liar.
THOUGH

An alternative to “although.” Can be emphasized with the word “even.”

 I finally finished the video, though the editing is a bit choppy.

 Even though I hate rollercoasters, I went on one after my friends forced
me.
 I tried escargot for the first time in Paris, though I can’t quite say that I
enjoyed it.
AS SOON AS

Can be used to indicate that one event happened at the same time as or directly
after another event. It’s similar to the correlative conjunctions “no sooner…than”
and “hardly…when.”

 As soon as you’re all packed, we’ll put everything in the car and go.
 Can you let me know as soon as you’re done with the assignment?
 I saw your eyes light up as soon as I said the word “ice cream.”
AS LONG AS

Can be used to indicate that one thing is true only under the condition that
another thing is true.

 I’ll be happy as long as you remember to call me when you’re gone.

 As long as it’s below 60 degrees, you won’t catch me wearing short
sleeves.
 I’ll always tip a waiter as long as they’re a decent server.
Another alternative is “so long as.”

 You should be able to do whatever you want so long as you’re happy and
healthy.
PROVIDED (THAT)

A more formal alternative to “as long as”

 The manager will give you a day off work provided you give a valid reason
for it.
 Provided that you worked hard and participated all semester, the professor
might cut your final grade some slack.
BEFORE

Used to introduce the earlier event in a pair of events

 We should meet up and grab lunch before this week is over.

 Before we move on any further, do you have any questions?
 I told you to use the bathroom before we left the rest stop.
AFTER

Used to introduce the later event in a pair of events

 My friend fell into a coma after he got in a car accident.

 After the movie is over, do you want to grab food somewhere?
 We decided to order pizza after you fell asleep.
IN THAT

Can be used to specify the respect to which something is true

 He’s peoplesmart in that he knows how to act around different people.

 I was extremely lucky in that the police decided not to check my
belongings.
 The stage setting was excellent in that it really caught the eye yet with a
minimalist design.
NOW THAT

Can be used to indicate that a situation has changed with the occurrence of an
event

 Now that I’m eighteen, I can finally vote in my first election.

 I can think a bit clearer now that I’ve had my coffee.
 We should think about going to the park now that the weather is a bit nicer.
SO (THAT)

Can be used to express a purpose or intention

 I took some pictures on my vacation so you could see.
 If you see an ambulance behind you, always pull over so that it can get
through.
 Can you make the link shareable so I can view it?