The word "nor" is a negative English conjunction. Very often used in tandem with "neither", its use can however vary according to linguistic circumstances and there are numerous different ways to insert it in the sentence in a grammatically correct way. In this article you will find a detailed guide to understand how and when to use this conjunction within the various types of sentences and always correctly.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Using "Nor" with "Neither"
Step 1. Follow "nor" to "neither"
Usually, "nor" follows "neither" within the same sentence, as in: "neither A nor B". Joined together, the neither / nor structure constitutes a pair of correlatives; this means that the information introduced by one term is connected or correlated with that introduced by the other.
- The two terms can be used both with different verbs and actions and with lists of names. For example, "He neither listens to music nor plays it" or "She likes neither candy nor cake".
- "Neither" can also be used at the beginning of the sentence. For example: "Neither Sarah nor Jim can make it to the party on Saturday".
- On the other hand, either / or is used in the opposite case. For example, "Alex wants either candy or cake". Notice how this sentence tells us that Alex likes both and will eat one or the other; in the sentence neither / nor indicates neither of the two.
Step 2. Use "nor" in multiple form within a list
Typically, the neither / nor structure is used only to construct a negative connection between two nominal or verbal elements. You can use "nor" when talking about two or more ideas, but you will have to repeat it after each of them in the list.
- Note that "neither" should always be used only once, regardless of the number of times you use "nor".
- Do not separate items in the list with commas only.
- Correct example: "The store had neither peanut butter nor jelly nor bread".
- Incorrect example: "The store had neither peanut butter, jelly, nor bread".
Step 3. Keep the various "neither" and "nor" parallel to each other
A parallel structure, as far as the form neither / nor is concerned, means that both parts of the sentence will have to agree on the information being described.
- In other words, you cannot make "neither" follow a verbal action and "nor" a nominal element, or vice versa. Both must introduce a verb or a noun.
- Correct example: "We saw neither Gwen nor Eric during our trip" - ("We saw neither Gwen nor Eric during our trip")
- Another correct example: "We neither saw Gwen nor spoke to Eric during our trip" - ("We neither saw Gwen nor spoke to Eric during our trip").
- Incorrect example: "We neither saw Gwen nor Eric during our trip".
Step 4. Don't use "nor" with "either"
The terms "either" and "neither" are used in an almost identical way, with the simple difference that one, "either", is positive, while the other, "neither", is negative. As such, you will need to combine the negative pairs of "neither" and "nor" and the positive ones of "either" and "or", but never mix them together.
- More simply, as "neither" always goes together with "nor", "either" will always go with "or".
- Correct example: "Neither James nor Rebecca are interested in basketball".
- Another correct example: "Either eat your vegetables or skip your dessert".
- Incorrect example: "I neither know the rules of the game or care to know".
- Another incorrect example: "I will either go to the library or take a nap".
Part 2 of 3: Using "Nor" without "Neither"
Step 1. Use "nor" with other negative particles
Although "nor" is almost always used after "neither", you can still use it in conjunction with other negative expressions and still form a grammatically correct sentence or sentence.
Example: "The final guest is not here, nor should we wait for her before we start the festivities" or "He has never gone fishing, nor does he have any desire to learn"
Step 2. Use "nor" only once when it is out of the correlative pair
If you are listing more than two objects or actions, separate them within the list with a comma and precede the last one with "nor". Do not enter every single element listed with "nor".
- Compare this case with the use of "nor" within the correlative pair neither / nor. When used in conjunction with "neither", "nor" must be inserted before each item in a list. When used without "neither" instead, it should only be used once.
- Correct example: "He has never experienced joy, sadness, nor anger with such passion before".
- Incorrect example: "He has never experience joy nor sadness nor anger with such passion before"
Step 3. Keep "nor" with another negative element, only within a verbal sentence
There are cases in which the negative trend of a sentence must be followed by "or" instead of "nor". If the second part of the sentence consists of a verbal element, an action, then the use of "nor" is correct.
- If, on the other hand, the second part of the negation consists of a noun, an adjective or an adverb, the initial negation will continue throughout the rest of the sentence, making "nor" redundant and requiring the use of "or" instead.
- Correct example: "He never comes to practice, nor does he listen to the coach".
- Another correct example: "She does not enjoy music or art".
- Incorrect example: "She does not enjoy music nor art".
Step 4. Be careful when using "nor" alone
As a negative conjunction, "nor" is almost always used to connect two thoughts or elements of a sentence that both have a negative form. From the theoretical point of view you can use "nor" even without another corresponding negative term; however, it is done very rarely and sounds very strange.
- Using "nor" alone will often sound forced and unnatural. As it is used in this way very rarely, many will think that you are using it improperly.
- While there is no further negative element in the sentence, you will still need to make sure that the idea expressed after "nor" is connected with the idea described above in a meaningful way.
- Example: "The report was done on time, nor does it appear to contain any mistakes".
Part 3 of 3: Additional Grammar Rules
Step 1. Make sure the nominal and verbal elements are properly matched
The gender and number of the verbal conjugation in the sentence must always and in any case agree with the gender and number of the nominal element. In other words, a noun in the singular must be followed by a verb conjugated in the singular as a plural noun must be followed by a verb in the plural.
For example, "Neither Marie nor Jorge is going to the movies" or "Neither cats nor dogs are allowed at the hotel"
Step 2. Consider only the second noun if the tenses are mixed
Sometimes in the same sentence it can happen to have a singular verb together with a plural verb. Follow the noun closest to the verb (usually the ones following "nor") to determine the conjugation. If this noun is plural, conjugate the verb in the plural; if it is singular, conjugate it to the singular.
- If in doubt, simply read the second noun and verb aloud to see if it sounds right to you.
- Incorrect example: "Neither he nor they is interested"
- Correct example: "Neither they nor he is interested"
- Incorrect example: "Neither he nor they is interested"
- Correct example: "Neither he nor they are interested"
Step 3. Insert a comma when "nor" starts a main (or independent) clause
When "nor" starts a secondary (or dependent) clause, the comma is not needed. Similarly, the comma is not required if "nor" is used only to establish a relationship between two nominal elements. However, if an independent sentence begins after the "nor", you will need to insert a comma.
- A dependent, or secondary, clause is a sentence that syntactically depends on another clause or other element of the sentence to make sense. A main or independent proposition, on the other hand, contains within it both subject and predicate and can, consequently, be separated from the rest of the period and continue to have a complete meaning even in its own right.
- Correct example: "No one knew the answer, nor did they make a guess".
- Incorrect example: "No one knew the answer nor did they make a guess".
