1.Either / or - used in a sentence in the affirmative sense when referring to a choice between two possibilities
We can either eat now or after the show - it's up to you.
2. Neither / nor - used in a sentence in the negative sense when you want to say that two or more things are not true
Neither my mother nor my father went to university.
When using either/or and neither/nor, note the following rules:
1. If both elements are singular, then the verb is singular too.
Either the father or the mother has to attend the meeting. (The nouns 'father' and 'mother' are singular; so the verb 'has' is singular too).
Neither Leila nor Nancy is going to write the report. ('Leila' and 'Nancy' are singular; so the verb ' is' is singular too).
2. However, if one of the elements is plural, then use a plural verb.
Either Sue or the girls are going to prepare dinner tonight. (The noun 'girls' is plural; so the verb 'are' is plural too).
Neither the teacher nor the students were in the classroom this morning. (The noun 'students' is plural; so the verb 'were' is plural too).
Revision activities
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