Neitheras a determiner
Neitherallows us to make a negative statement about two people or things at thesame time.Neithergoes before singular countable nouns. We use it to say ‘not either’ in relation to two things.Neithercan bepronounced/ˈnaɪðə(r)/or/ˈni:ðə(r)/.
Neitherparent came to meet the teacher.(The mother didn’t come and the father didn’t come.)
Neitherdress fitted her.(There were two dresses and not one of them fitted her.)
We useneither ofbefore pronouns and plural countable nouns which have a determiner (my, his, the) before them:
Neitherofus went to the concert.
Neither ofthe birthday cards was suitable.
In formal styles, we useneither ofwith a singular verb when it is the subject. However, in informal speaking, people often use plural verbs:
Neither ofmy best friends was around.
Neither ofthem were interested in going to university.
In speaking, we can useneitheron its own in replies when we are referring to two things that have already been mentioned:
A:Mike, which would you prefer, tea or coffee?
B:Neitherthanks. I’ve just had a coffee.
Neither … nor
We can useneitheras a conjunction withnor. Itconnects two or more negative alternatives. This can sound formal in speaking:
NeitherBriannorhis wife mentioned anything about moving house.(Brian didn’t mention that they were moving house and his wife didn’t mention that they were moving house.)
NeitherItalynorFrance got to the quarter finals last year.
The less formal alternative is to useand … not … either:
Italy didn’t get to the quarter finals last yearandFrance didn’teither.
See also:
Not … either
Notwithneitherandnor
When a clause withneitherornoris used after a negative clause, we invert the subject and the verb afterneitherandnor:
Hehadn’tdone any homework,neitherhad he brought any of his books to class.
We didn’tget to see the castle,nordid we see the cathedral.
See also:
Conjunctions
Neither do I,Nor can she
We useneitherandnor+ auxiliary/modal verb + subject to mean ‘also not’:
A:I hate snakes. I can’t even look at a picture of a snake.
B:Neithercan I.
Not:I can’t also.
A:Jacqueline doesn’t drive.
B:Nordoes Gina.
Not:Gina doesn’t also.
See also:
So am I,so do I,Neither do I
Not … either
We can usenot …eitherto mean ‘also not’, but we do not change the word order of the auxiliary or modal verb and subject:
A:I haven’t ever tasted caviar.
B:I haven’t either. (orNeither have I./Nor have I.)
A:I didn’t see Lesley at the concert.
B:I didn’t either. (orNeither did I./Nor did I.)
In informal speaking, we often sayme neither:
A:I can’t smell anything.
B:Me neither. (orI can’t either.)
Neither: typical errors
We useneither, notnone, when we are talking about two people or things:
Books and television are different.Neither ofthem should replace the other.
Not:None of them…
We don’t normally useboth (of) + notto make a negative statement about two people or things:
Neither ofthese shirts is/are dry yet.
Not:Both of these shirts aren’t dry yet.
Take care to spellneithercorrectly: not ‘niether’ or ‘neighter’.