Either, neither en anglais : grammaire anglaise / définition
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Either, neither
Différents emplois de either et neither :
• Either et neither peuvent être traduits par “non plus”. Either est employé dans des constructions négatives, alors que neither s'utilise dans des constructions affirmatives.
- I'm broke. What about you? - Je n'ai plus un sou. Et vous ?
- I don't have any money either. - Je n'ai plus d'argent non plus.
- I don't like cricket. - Moi, je n'aime pas le cricket.
- Neither do I. - Moi non plus.
- I have never been to Spain. - Je ne suis jamais allé en Espagne.
- I haven't been there either. - Je n'y suis jamais allé non plus.
or Neither have I. - Moi non plus.
This guy despises Americans, and he doesn't like French people either. Ce garçon déteste les Américains, et il n'aime pas les Français non plus.
• Either...Or et Neither...Nor
• Either...Or ("soit... soit…") s'emploie dans les phrases affirmatives, pour introduire des choix doubles, ou exprimer une relation de cause à effet :
I can serve you either a hot chocolate, or a glass of chilled white wine. Je peux vous servir soit un chocolat chaud, soit un verre de vin blanc bien frais.
Either you tell me everything you know, or I'll take you to court. Soit tu me dis tout ce que tu sais, soit je te fais un procès.
• Neither...Nor ("ni... ni…") s'emploie dans des constructions négatives :
I have neither the time nor the patience to listen to your stories. Je n'ai ni le temps ni la patience d'écouter tes histoires.
Neither one nor the other. Ni l'un ni l'autre.
Either et neither employés seuls peuvent être aussi traduits par “l'un ou l'autre”, “n'importe lequel des deux”/"ni l'un ni l'autre", “aucun des deux” :
There are boats on either side of the river. Il y a des bateaux des deux côtés de la rivière.
Neither of my daughters is single. Aucune de mes filles n'est célibataire.
I can stay, or I can go. Either way, I'll be happy. Je peux rester ou partir. Dans tous les cas, je serai heureux.
Attention : neither se conjugue au singulier :
Neither Kevin nor Philip is gay.
Neither of us has to go to work tomorrow.
Exercice 1
Susie: I don't want to go to lunch. I don't really have an appetite.
Kevin: Yeah, me .
Kevin: Yeah, me .
Susie: I don't want to go to lunch. I don't really have an appetite.
Kevin: Yeah, me neither.
Kevin: Yeah, me neither.
neither: 'Me neither' is used here to agree with the negative declarations which precede it (I don't want to go to lunch, I don't have an appetite). Kevin is saying that like Susie, he isn't hungry.
either: 'Either' should only be used in negative constructions. If Kevin had said 'I don't have an appetite either', then this sentence would make sense.
too: 'Me too' should be used to respond to an affirmative statement. For example: '-I'm hungry' '-Me too'.
no more: This answer does not make any sense. 'Me no more' is not a valid grammatical construction.
Exercice 2
you do as I say, I will make you pay.
Either 1 you do as I say, or 2 I will make you pay.
1 Either: The 'either...or' construction is the best choice for an affirmative statement like this one. In 'cause and effect' constructions such as this one, we use 'either' to form a link between the first clause (Either you do as I say) with the possible consequence in the second clause (I will make you pay).
1 Neither: The 'neither...nor' construction is used for negative statements to express the idea of multiple choices: Neither Polly nor Susie could go to the wedding. 'Neither' is grammatically incorrect in this particular construction as the sentence is affirmative. Note: 'neither' is ALWAYS used with 'nor' in the second clause of a parallel construction.
1 Or: 'Or' is used to link clauses, but it cannot introduce two relative clauses. We could say however, 'Do as I say or I will make you pay, it's your choice.
1 Nor: 'Nor' cannot be used here. 'Nor' is only used in negative constructions. The conjunction 'nor' always follows 'neither' in this type of construction. This sentence only makes sense in the affirmative sense and indicates a cause and effect relationship between the two clauses.
2 or: The 'either...or' construction is best choice for an affirmative statement like this one. 'Or' always follows 'either' in constructions like this.
2 nor: 'Nor' always follows 'neither' in 'neither...nor' constructions. We never use 'nor' after 'either'.
2 and: The conjunction 'and' is used to connect objects or ideas together, for example 'Bill and Bob were always together. We found this suspicious and alarming'.
2 either: 'Either' is never used to link or connect two clauses which have been introduced by the term 'either'. It is grammatically incorrect to use it here. In cause and effect constructions such as this one, 'either' is always followed 'or' to introduce the second clause.
Exercice 3
Kalvin Krime has principles restraint in his business practices.
Kalvin Krime has neither 1 principles nor 2 restraint in his business practices.
1 neither: The 'neither...nor' construction is appropriate for negative statements such as this one. We want to say that Kalvin Krime has 'neither principles nor restraint'. 'Neither' is used in negative constructions, such as this one, to express the idea of multiple choices, possibilities or options: Bruno told me that I could neither have a vacation, nor take a day off. 'Neither' is always followed by 'nor' in the second clause of negative parallel constructions.
1 either: The 'either...or' construction is inappropriate here. We want to say that Kalvin Krime has 'neither principles nor restraint'. 'Either' is only used in affirmative constructions.
1 or: 'Or' is used to link ideas or objects in affirmative parallel constructions, but it cannot used in negative statements or to introduce a clause.
1 nor: 'Nor' is used to link ideas or objects in negative parallel constructions, but it cannot used in negative to introduce a clause.
2 nor: The 'neither...nor' construction is appropriate for negative statements such as this one. We want to say that Kalvin Krime has 'neither principles nor restraint'. The conjunction 'nor' always follows 'neither' in parallel constructions, for example: 'I like neither dogs nor cats, for I hate animals'. 'Nor' is the negative equivalent of 'or' and completes negative constructions such as this one.
2 or: The 'either...or' construction is inappropriate here. 'Or' is used to link clauses in affirmative parallel constructions, and it cannot be used in negative constructions such as this one.
2 either: 'Either' is only used in affirmative constructions. It introduces a clause, but it cannot link two clauses.
2 neither: 'Neither' is used to start a negative parallel construction, but it cannot be used as a conjunction to link to clauses. Using it here is grammatically incorrect.
Exercice 4
Following the example, write full sentences using both...and / neither...nor / either...or.
Example 1: Bruno has a car; Bruno also has a boat --> Bruno has both a car and a boat.
Example 2: Send me an email, or call me --> Either send me an email or call me.
Horatio uses monkeys in his experiments, and he uses people too --> In his experiments, Horatio uses....
Bruno doesn't yell and he doesn't scream --> Bruno....
Kevin wants a new car; He also wants a vacation --> Kevin wants... .
Icarus doesn't have a watch; Luna doesn't have a watch --> .
Give me your wallet or I will hurt you --> .
Luna is passionate, and she is spiritual --> .
Example 1: Bruno has a car; Bruno also has a boat --> Bruno has both a car and a boat.
Example 2: Send me an email, or call me --> Either send me an email or call me.
Horatio uses monkeys in his experiments, and he uses people too --> In his experiments, Horatio uses....
Bruno doesn't yell and he doesn't scream --> Bruno....
Kevin wants a new car; He also wants a vacation --> Kevin wants... .
Icarus doesn't have a watch; Luna doesn't have a watch --> .
Give me your wallet or I will hurt you --> .
Luna is passionate, and she is spiritual --> .
Following the example, write full sentences using both...and / neither...nor / either...or.
Example 1: Bruno has a car; Bruno also has a boat --> Bruno has both a car and a boat.
Example 2: Send me an email, or call me --> Either send me an email or call me.
Horatio uses monkeys in his experiments, and he uses people too --> In his experiments, Horatio uses...both monkeys and people 1.
Bruno doesn't yell and he doesn't scream --> Bruno...neither yells nor screams 2.
Kevin wants a new car; He also wants a vacation --> Kevin wants... both a new car and a vacation 3.
Icarus doesn't have a watch; Luna doesn't have a watch --> Neither Icarus nor Luna has a watch 4.
Give me your wallet or I will hurt you --> Either you give me your wallet or I will hurt you 5.
Luna is passionate, and she is spiritual --> Luna is both passionate and spiritual 6.
Example 1: Bruno has a car; Bruno also has a boat --> Bruno has both a car and a boat.
Example 2: Send me an email, or call me --> Either send me an email or call me.
Horatio uses monkeys in his experiments, and he uses people too --> In his experiments, Horatio uses...both monkeys and people 1.
Bruno doesn't yell and he doesn't scream --> Bruno...neither yells nor screams 2.
Kevin wants a new car; He also wants a vacation --> Kevin wants... both a new car and a vacation 3.
Icarus doesn't have a watch; Luna doesn't have a watch --> Neither Icarus nor Luna has a watch 4.
Give me your wallet or I will hurt you --> Either you give me your wallet or I will hurt you 5.
Luna is passionate, and she is spiritual --> Luna is both passionate and spiritual 6.
1 both monkeys and people: 'Both...and' is the right answer. The sentence combines the ideas of monkeys and people into one sentence.
2 neither yells nor screams: The 'neither...nor' construction is appropriate for negative statements such as this one.
3 both a new car and a vacation: 'Both...and' is the right answer because it combines the ideas of a new car and a vacation into one sentence.
4 Neither Icarus nor Luna has a watch: The 'neither...nor' construction is appropriate for negative statements such as this one.
5 Either you give me your wallet or I will hurt you: 'The 'either...or' construction is the best choice for an affirmative statement like this one.
6 Luna is both passionate and spiritual: 'Both...and' is the right answer because it combines the idea that Luna is passionate with the idea that she is spiritual as well.
Exercice 5
Fill in the blanks below with the following terms. Some may be used more than once!
both | and | either
my brother I were dating the same girl for over a year before we realized it. She told us that she had a twin sister! We were so stupid. One day, she accidentally scheduled a date with of us at the same time. Then she tried to pretend that her twin couldn't come, but we didn't believe her lies. My brother said to her: ' you go, or we go!' then she moved to Paris.
both | and | either
my brother I were dating the same girl for over a year before we realized it. She told us that she had a twin sister! We were so stupid. One day, she accidentally scheduled a date with of us at the same time. Then she tried to pretend that her twin couldn't come, but we didn't believe her lies. My brother said to her: ' you go, or we go!' then she moved to Paris.
Fill in the blanks below with the following terms. Some may be used more than once!
both | and | either
Both 1 my brother and 2 I were dating the same girl for over a year before we realized it. She told us that she had a twin sister! We were so stupid. One day, she accidentally scheduled a date with both 3 of us at the same time. Then she tried to pretend that her twin couldn't come, but we didn't believe her lies. My brother said to her: 'Either 4 you go, or we go!' And 5 then she moved to Paris.
both | and | either
Both 1 my brother and 2 I were dating the same girl for over a year before we realized it. She told us that she had a twin sister! We were so stupid. One day, she accidentally scheduled a date with both 3 of us at the same time. Then she tried to pretend that her twin couldn't come, but we didn't believe her lies. My brother said to her: 'Either 4 you go, or we go!' And 5 then she moved to Paris.
1 Both: This is the best choice here. 'Both my brother and I' is the only possible construction of this sentence that is grammatically correct. We use 'both' to describe the 'two' brothers.
2 and: This is the best choice here. 'And' is used as a basic conjunction here, in order to express the idea of the two brothers.
3 both: This is the best choice here. 'Both' functions as a complementary pronoun here, describing 'us' as the two brothers.
4 Either: This is the best choice here. Because the second clause of the sentence (or we go) is introduced by 'or' we can only begin the sentence with 'either'.
5 And: This is the best choice here. 'And' is used here simply to connect the topic of the previous sentence with that which follows.
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