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Either/or and neither/nor

1. Either / or - used in a sentence in the affirmative sense when referring to a choicebetween 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 thattwo or more things are not true

Neither my mother nor my father went to university.

Singular or pluralWhen using either/or and neither/nor, note the following rules

1. !f 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 %eila nor &ancy is going to write the report. " Leila and Nancy aresingular# so the verb is is singular too$

2. owever, 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 were is plural too$

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

1. In this game, you __ win __ lose. It depends on you.2. _____ Sue ______ Sara will help you with your homework. They are

both busy at the moment.3. This is my ofer. You _____ take it ____ lea e it.!. "hen I go to the restaurant, I eat ____ #sh _____ roast $hi$ken. These

are my %a orite meals.&. 'is %ather belie ed ____ his son ___ his %riend. 'e thought that both

were lying.(. I need ___ your help ___ your $ompassion. I $an per%e$tly handle my

problems all alone.). ______ *harly ______ +ill will write the report. ust ask one o% them.-. _______ you return the money you had stolen ______ I ll $all the poli$e./. 0y mum $an ______ read ______ write. She is illiterate.

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1 .You $an use _______ this $omputer ______ the other one. Someone

must # them #rst.

Using either…or and neither…norEither…or and neither…nor are correlative conjunctions . They are used tointroduce alternatives.

Study the following pairs of sentences given below.

• He cooks dinner. Or she cooks dinner.

• Either he or she cooks dinner.

• She can have tea. Or she can have coffee.

• She can have either tea or coffee.

• He washes the clothes himself. Or he asks her to wash them.

• He either washes the clothes himself or asks her to wash them.

B) Combine the following pairs of sentences using either…or or neither…

nor.

1. I don t like Stephen. I don t like !eter.

". He keeps the keys himself. Or he leaves them with his wife.

#. He did not come. He did not call.

$. He wasn t wearing a shirt. He wasn t wearing a coat.

%. He will not come here. He will not send a representative.

&. He may attend the function. Or his wife may attend the function.

'. (ive me freedom. Or give me death.

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