What is the difference between neither and nor

Serenity Carr , Assistant Editor. What is the difference between neither and either , and how are they used? You may borrow either book.

You may wear either of the dresses to the party. I will eat either chicken or fish tonight. The books are lightweight, and they are not expensive either. Vocabulary Quiz. Take the Quiz ». Name That Thing. Take our visual quiz. Test Your Knowledge ». Learn More ». However, this will change the meaning. For example:. In this example, it is easy to see the difference between the words. The top tip below will help further! If you need to remember which way around these two words belong, there is a simple trick to help you.

Neither, is negative. Remember, neither is often used when both options are not acceptable. Either tends to be used in a positive way, when one option will be chosen. If you get confused with these two words, do not worry! People that have been brought up speaking English still get these wrong.

Practise makes perfect, so look at the examples given and remember the top tip! Enjoyed reading this? Our most popular course, General English suits every level of learner. It builds general proficiency in English by working on the four main language skills — reading, writing, listening and speaking. Neither or either? Share Tweet Share Email. Understanding the difference and learning how to use them.

Definitions of Neither and Either Let us first have a look at the definitions of the words. Some other examples of neither being used correctly are: We have two dogs, neither one can sit. I like neither tomato sauce nor mustard sauce. This is enough to let your friends know about your dislikes. If there is a third item that you would like to your list of dislikes, you can do so by using second nor at the end of the sentence like this. I like neither tomato sauce nor mustard sauce nor ketchup.

If you want to say that both shoes are uncomfortable for you, you have to say that neither shoe makes you feel comfortable. Neither Jack nor Helen was present at the party means that both of them were absent. Your email address will not be published.