☼ Definition :– Either . . . . or and neither . . . . nor are called co-ordinating conjunctions or alternative conjunctions. They are used to join two sentences or two words. They are also called correlatives because they are used only in pairs.

↦ Examples :–

(1) Ramesh does not drink tea. He does not drink even coffee.

Ramesh drinks neither tea nor coffee.

(2) I won’t write a letter to him. I won’t even ring him up.

I will neither write a letter to him nor ring him up.

(3) You can come by bus. You can come by train.

You can come either by bus or by train.

(4) Keep quiet, otherwise leave the classroom.

Either keep quiet or leave the classroom.

(5) Naresh can’t speak English fluently. Even Mahesh can’t speak English fluently.

Neither Naresh nor Mahesh can speak English fluently.

(6) My father didn’t bring apples for me Nor did my mother.

Neither my father nor my mother brought apples for me.

⟹ Note ( or Remember ) : –

(1) When two sentences are negative, they are joined by neither . . . nor.

(2) When two sentences are affirmative they are joined by either . . . or.

(3) When two sentences are joined by neither . . . . nor, then the simple present tense and simple past tense in the given sentences will change.

(4) Joining two sentences with either . . . . or the words coming in the second sentence like “Or else”, “Otherwise”, “If  not” etc. are removed.

⟹ Imp Note :–

(1) The subject closet to the verb determines if  the verb is singular or plural.

↦ Examples : –

(1) Neither Govind nor his parents were there in the marriage.

(2) Neither Govind’s parents nor Govind was there in the marriage.

(3) Neither the manager nor the clerks have come yet.

(4) Neither the clerks nor the manager has come yet.

(5) Neither Rasik nor his brothers know swimming.

(6) Neither Rasik’s brothers nor he knows swimming.

⟹ Note : –   When neither . . . . nor or either . . . . or are used with two singular nouns the verb can be singular or plural. A plural verb is more informal.

↦ Examples : –

(1) Neither Mr. Desai nor Mr. Pathak know / knows Marathi.

(2) Neither Jayant nor Mayank like / likes cricket.

(3) Either Lalita or Mina is / are unwell.

↦ Exercise : –

(1) My uncle has no son. He has no daughter.

(2) The T.V. doesn’t work even the video doesn’t work.

(3) Mr. Shah was not there in the office Nor was Mr. Parmar.

(4) “Pay a fine for not wearing a helmet or else go to jail.” Said the police officer.

(5) My mother didn’t go to the market. Even my father didn’t go to the market.

Best of Luck…