Today we shall discuss about the Usage of Either / Or and
Neither / Nor.
Usage of Either / or :
We can use either / or in a sentence
in the affirmative sense when referring to a choice between two possibilities
Ex : We can either study now or after the dinner - it's up to
you.
We can use Neither / Nor in a sentence in the negative sense when you
want to say that two or more things are not true.
Ex : Neither my mother nor my father went to university.
Rules you should keep in mind while using Either / Or (or)
Neither / Nor :
- If both elements are singular, then the verb should also
be singular. Have a look at an example,
- Either
the father or the mother has to attend the meeting.
- ( Here father and mother
are singular; so the verb has is also singular)
- Neither Kareena
nor Saif is going to the function. (Kareena and Saif are singular; so the verb is is also singular)
- However, if one of the elements is plural, then use a
plural verb.
- Either Jasmine
or the girls are going to prepare dinner tonight.
- (the girls is plural; so the
verb are is plural too)
- Neither
the lecturer nor the students were in the classroom this morning.
- (the students
is plural; so the verb were is plural too)
