Elliptical Conjunctions
1. Either…or…
'Either … or' is used in sentences in a positive sense meaning "one or the other, this or that, he or she, etc." Verb conjugation depends on the subject (singular or plural) closest to the conjugated verb.
Examples:
» Either Putra or the girls need to attend the course. (second subject plural)
» Either Juni or Mamat is going to visit next weekend. (second subject singular)
2. Neither…nor…
'Neither … nor' is used in sentences in a negative sense meaning "not this one nor the other, not this nor that, not he nor she, etc.". Verb conjugation depends on the subject (singular or plural) closest to the conjugated verb.
Examples:
» Neither Feri nor Lili lives in Eugene. (second subject singular)
» Neither Ahmad nor my other friends care about their future. (second subject plural)
3. Both…and…
Subjects connected by 'both … and' take the plural conjugation. It is used in both negative and positive sense meaning.
Examples:
» Both Alice and Janice attended USC.
» Both Jim and Peter are attending the conference in New York this weekend.
Note:
Both means “One and the Other”
Either means ” any one of two”
Neither means “not one and not the other”
'Either … or' is used in sentences in a positive sense meaning "one or the other, this or that, he or she, etc." Verb conjugation depends on the subject (singular or plural) closest to the conjugated verb.
Examples:
» Either Putra or the girls need to attend the course. (second subject plural)
» Either Juni or Mamat is going to visit next weekend. (second subject singular)
2. Neither…nor…
'Neither … nor' is used in sentences in a negative sense meaning "not this one nor the other, not this nor that, not he nor she, etc.". Verb conjugation depends on the subject (singular or plural) closest to the conjugated verb.
Examples:
» Neither Feri nor Lili lives in Eugene. (second subject singular)
» Neither Ahmad nor my other friends care about their future. (second subject plural)
3. Both…and…
Subjects connected by 'both … and' take the plural conjugation. It is used in both negative and positive sense meaning.
Examples:
» Both Alice and Janice attended USC.
» Both Jim and Peter are attending the conference in New York this weekend.
Note:
Both means “One and the Other”
Either means ” any one of two”
Neither means “not one and not the other”