Do you play the violin or the piano? No? Neither do I!

Yang Li:  Hello and welcome to Question and Answer of the Week from BBC Learning
English. 大家好我是杨莉。  For today’s programme I have picked up this
question from Huang Ding.
 
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Could you please explain the differences between "neither" and "nor" and how to use
them? Thank you.
 
Yang Li:    First of all I’d like to point out that in British English the word N.E.I.T.H.E.R.
can be pronounced both neither (with an ai sound ) or neither (with an i:
sound). In American English the usual pronunciation is neither.
 
Now let’s look at the first language point about neither…nor. This structure is
used to join two negative ideas. 第一点neither… nor 作并列连词，意思是即不…也
不…。请听例句。
 
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He is neither tall nor short. He’s medium height.
 
Yang Li:  他既不高，也不矮，中等个儿头。
 
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He is neither tall nor short. He is medium height.
 
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It’s neither hot nor cold. It’s warm.
 
Yang Li:  天气温和，不冷也不热。

 
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It’s neither hot nor cold. It’s warm.
 
Yang Li:  Now, the second point. We use neither before a singular noun to mean not
one or the other of the two. 下一个语言点。 Neither 做主语，表示两者都不…谓语
动词用单数。 
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Neither candidate is suitable for the job. 
 
Yang Li:  两个候选人都不适合这项工作。
 
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Neither candidate is suitable for the job. 
 
Yang Li:  另外 neither of 加复数名词或代词。规则用法要求谓语动词使用单数，但口语中也可以
用复数。
 
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Neither of my sisters is married.
Neither of my sisters are married.
 
Yang Li:  下面是语法第三点， neither 可以用于下列句型，避免重复。
 
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I have never been to New York, neither has my sister.
 
Yang Li:  我从来没有去过纽约，我妹妹也没去过。  I have never been to New York, neither
has my sister. 请注意后半句省略了 been to New York.
 
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I have never been to New York, neither has my sister.
 
Yang Li:  请听另一组对话，注意听 neither 的用法。 A gig 就是演唱会。 
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Diarmuid:  There is a gig in the pub tonight, are you all going? 
Helen.        No, I’m not.  
Finn:         Neither am I. 
Diarmuid:   How about you Will?
William:     I’m afraid I can’t as I have my Spanish class today.
 
 
Yang Li:  您现在收听的是由杨莉主持的语法学习栏目《你问我答》下面我将继续解释 neither 和
nor 的主要区别和用法。
 
The fourth and final point. When do you have to use neither and when do you
have to use nor? 下面是我要讲的第四点，什么时候必须用 neither? 什么时候必须用
nor? 请看例句。     
 
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If you don't do it, neither should I.   
 Yang Li:  这句话的意思是，如果你不干，我也不干。  If you don't do it, 这是从句，否定式，那
么主句，我也不干就是 neither should I. 不能用 nor. 那么有一种情况下是正好相反
的，就是连续否定几件事，比如，我即不会唱歌也不会跳舞，也不会滑冰。这时就只能用
nor 而不能用 neither. 
 
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I can't sing，nor dance，nor skate, but I’m a good swimmer.
 
Yang Li:  这句话里有三个否定，既不会唱歌。
 
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I can’t sing.
 
Yang Li:  也不会跳舞。
 
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Nor dance.
 
Yang Li:  也不会滑冰。
 
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Nor skate, but I’m a good swimmer. 
 
Yang Li:  也就是说在并列或连续否定的时候必须用 nor, 而不能用 neither.
 
Well so far I’ve explained the difference between neither and nor and we have
looked at the main usage of neither nor in different contexts. For more
examples you could consult any good dictionaries or grammar books. 
    Do feel free to drop us an email at chinaelt@bbc.co.uk if you have any
questions or comments. 好谢谢大家收听，下次节目再会！