Either … or and Neither … nor examples for competitive exams. Either/or and Neither/nor sentence structure. Either or and neither nor usage in sentence.
In this post we are going to learn how to use Either … or and Neither … nor in sentences. Examples of Either … or and Neither … nor in English grammar.
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either … or neither nor exercises with answers
1. Either/or is used when making a positive decision between two or more things.
2. Neither/nor is used when the choice is negative.
1.Either / or – used in a sentence in the affirmative sense when referring to a choice between two possibilities.
Examples:
- I want either a cup of coffee or a cup of milk.
- We can either eat now or after the show.
- You can either call me at home or the office.
2. Neither / nor – used in a sentence in the negative sense when you want to say that two or more things are not true.
Examples:
- Neither my mother nor my father went to university.
- Neither the employees nor the boss was at work.
- Neither Mark nor his wife is very tall.
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 brother or the sister has to attend the function. (The nouns ‘brother’ and ‘sister’ are singular; so the verb ‘has’ is singular too.)
- Neither Sanjana nor Geeta is going to school. (‘Sanjana’ and ‘Geeta’ are singular; so the verb ‘ is’ is singular too)
2. When ‘or’ or ‘nor’ joins two parts of a subject, the verb that follows should agree with the part closest to it.
- Either mother or the sisters are going to prepare breakfast. (The noun ‘sisters’ is plural; so the verb ‘are’ is plural too.)
- Neither the teacher nor the students were in the exam hall. (The noun ‘students’ is plural; so the verb ‘were’ is plural too.)
- Neither the stars nor the moon is out tonight. (The part closest to the verb is singular ‘the moon’. Use “is” instead of “are.”)
either or neither nor rules
3. Either-or and neither-nor constructions act as conjunctions: they connect two things with each other.
Either bread or butter will be served for lunch.
I want neither the bread nor the butter.
4. Parallel structure
Either-or and neither-nor constructions must be parallel in structure: the two parts joined by or or nor should be grammatically balanced.
Incorrect: Suman either wants a watch or mobile for his birthday. (Lacks parallel structure.)
Correct: Suman wants either a watch or mobile for her birthday.
(We have parallel structure: both either and or are followed by noun phrases (‘a watch’ and ‘mobile’).
Incorrect: Either Ramesh is foolish or unlucky.
Correct: Ramesh is either foolish or unlucky.
Incorrect: We should either call, or we should email them.
Correct: We should either call or email them.
Incorrect: I’ve neither received an email nor a message from them.
Correct: I’ve received neither an email nor a message from them.
Incorrect: You have to neither pay, nor do you have to sign anything.
Correct: Neither do you have to pay, nor do you have to sign anything.
Watch this video for the explanation of Example Sentences with Either … or and Neither … nor for competitive exams.