Neither…nor is a correlative conjunction used to join two negative ideas. It connects two grammatically equal parts of a sentence—such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, or clauses—to show that both options are untrue, unavailable, or do not apply.
Because neither…nor already carries a negative meaning, it should not be used with another negative word such as not.
The Golden Rule: Neither Nor Subject-Verb Agreement
One of the most common mistakes is choosing the wrong verb form. The rule is simple: the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
- Neither he nor his friends were there.
- Neither his friends nor he was there.
- Neither Anna nor I am interested in high finance.
- Neither you nor I can be held responsible.
Common Ways to Use Neither… Nor in a Sentence
Because neither…nor already carries a negative meaning, you should never use it with another negative word like “not” to avoid double negatives.
Connecting Nouns or Noun Phrases
- He has neither talent nor the desire to learn.
- She had neither the time nor the inclination to help them.
- There was neither food nor drink.
- I can give you neither an opinion nor any advice.
Connecting Verbs or Verb Phrases
- We can neither change nor improve it.
- I neither know nor care what has happened to him.
Connecting Adjectives or Complements
- The weather is mild today; it is neither hot nor cold.
- She seemed neither surprised nor worried.
- Hilary was neither shocked nor surprised by the news.
- Their house is neither big nor small.
- He likes his tea neither too hot nor too cold.
- The hotel is neither spacious nor comfortable.
- The equipment is neither accurate nor safe.
- Some beggars are neither poverty-stricken nor homeless.
Last Updated on January 23, 2026
