Neither and Nor: How to Use Them Correctly

Neither and nor are often used together to express two or more negative ideas.

They mean “not one” and are used when you want to say that both options are false or do not apply.

Example:

Neither John nor Mary is coming to the party.
(= Not John and not Mary)

1. The Role of “Neither” and “Nor”

Together, they create a balanced negative structure in a sentence.

2. Using “Neither” and “Nor” Together

Structure:

Neither + noun/pronoun + nor + noun/pronoun

Examples (10 total)

1. Neither Sarah nor Tom knows the answer.
2. Neither the teacher nor the students were happy.
3. Neither my mom nor my dad likes spicy food.
4. Neither apples nor oranges are on sale today.
5. Neither he nor I was there.
6. Neither my phone nor my laptop is working.
7. Neither the movie nor the book was interesting.
8. Neither the red one nor the blue one fits me.
9. Neither of them came to class.
10. Neither my boss nor my coworkers knew about it.

🧠 Tip:
When using neither/nor, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
Example:
Neither the teachers nor the student was late.
Neither the student nor the teachers were late.

3. Using “Neither” Alone

Meaning:

“Neither” can stand alone as a pronoun, meaning “not one” or “not either.”

Examples (10 total)

1. “Which do you prefer, tea or coffee?” — “Neither.”
2. I like neither of the options.
3. Neither is correct.
4. Neither of us wanted to leave early.
5. The twins looked alike, but neither spoke much.
6. Neither of them was happy with the result.
7. Neither answer makes sense.
8. Neither team scored any points.
9. Neither of the restaurants was open.
10. “Would you like chocolate or vanilla?” — “Neither, thank you.”

4. Using “Nor” Alone

Meaning:

“Nor” can also start a new clause after another negative idea — usually after neither, not, or never.

Examples (10 total)

1. I don’t like tea, nor do I like coffee.
2. She didn’t call, nor did she text.
3. He hasn’t arrived yet, nor has he sent a message.
4. I’ve never been to Spain, nor to Italy.
5. The movie wasn’t good, nor was the book.
6. I don’t trust him, nor his friends.
7. They didn’t speak, nor did they make eye contact.
8. I don’t own a car, nor do I need one.
9. She hasn’t eaten yet, nor has she drunk anything.
10. He didn’t study, nor did he attend class.

🧠 Tip:
When starting a sentence with nor, use inverted word order (like a question):
Nor do I, Nor has he, Nor will we, etc.

5. Common Mistakes

❌ Neither John or Mary came.
✅ Neither John nor Mary came.

❌ I don’t like coffee, neither tea.
✅ I don’t like coffee, nor tea.

❌ Either John or Mary didn’t come.
✅ Neither John nor Mary came.

6. Quick Comparison Table

7. How to Remember

👉 Neither… nor… = two negatives linked together.
👉 Nor = follows another negative (not, never, etc.).

💡 Memory Trick:

“If it’s not one and not the other, use neither… nor….”

8. Why Learners Mix Them Up

Because both express negativity, many people use them incorrectly with or or and.
Even advanced learners forget verb agreement or use nor without inversion.
That’s why Humanizey helps refine grammar, ensuring natural flow and perfect negative coordination automatically.

FAQs

1. Can I use “neither” without “nor”?

Yes. Example: Neither option works for me.

2. Is “neither… nor…” always negative?

Yes — it means not one, not the other.

3. Can I start a sentence with “nor”?

Yes, but invert the subject and verb: Nor do I agree.

4. What’s the opposite of “neither… nor…”?

Either… or…

Practice: Fill in the Blanks (“Neither” or “Nor”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. ___ John ___ Mary showed up for class.
2. I don’t like pizza, ___ do I like pasta.
3. ___ of them wanted to go home early.
4. He doesn’t drink coffee, ___ tea.
5. ___ my friends ___ my parents agreed with me.
6. I’ve never been to Japan, ___ to Korea.
7. ___ of the answers is correct.
8. She didn’t call, ___ did she text.
9. ___ of us understood the joke.
10. The teacher spoke to ___ student ___ parent about it.

Answers

1. Neither, nor
2. Nor
3. Neither
4. Nor
5. Neither, nor
6. Nor
7. Neither
8. Nor
9. Neither
10. Neither, nor