Hi friends I'm back with a new lesson. Well, supposing if I tell you, either you write
an essay or give a speech in front of the class, which one would you prefer? So I'm
giving you a choice, either you write an essay or speak in front of the class. So there are
two options, you have two choices, make one, pick one, choose one. This is what today's
lesson is about using Either or and Neither nor
First let's take a look at Either or. Now what is either or? Either or is a correlative
conjunction, when I mean correlative conjunction, I mean both are used in the same sentence.
They are used in a pair, you use either or in the same sentence, so they are related,
we call them correlative conjunctions. Conjunctions are words that join a sentence. Now let's
see how we use either or in a sentence. First of all remember, we use it to emphasize choice.
You make a choice between two things, so if I say either the clerk or the secretary has
the keys. now I'm not sure who has the keys? So I tell you either, well you can also pronounce
this as either, you decide, so either or either. The clerk or now I'm not sure, so either this
one or the secretary has the keys. So one of them has the keys, coz I'm giving you or
I'm making, I have two options either this one or this one has the keys. Now the next
important thing to remember, when you use either or in a sentence is the verb that follows.
A lot of people make mistakes they don't know whether the verb is singular or plural, which
form of verb to use? So now I'm going to tell you, Either the clerk or the secretary. Now
secretary is singular, I have not said secretaries, so singular the verb that follows has to agree
with the secretary. In my case it is in singular, so I use has, I cannot say either the clerk
or the secretary have, that is absolutely incorrect. Because both do not have the keys,
one of them, one of them has the keys. So because secretary is in singular, the verb
that follows it immediately will be a singular verb. So in this case has, please remember
do not use have, because I have not said, The clerk and the secretary, I'm mentioning
either of them, one of them, so one of them has the keys. So if you use have that is absolutely
incorrect, so remember either or is used to give emphasis, when you emphasize the choice
or options, two options but it is a correlative conjunction used in a sentence and the second
and the most important thing to remember is the verb. It always depends on the noun or
the pronoun that follows or, if its singular use the singular verb if its plural you use
a plural verb. My next example, You can either stay or come with us. Now I give my little
cousin an option, I give him two options, you can either stay, so this is option one
or come with us. This is option two, you make a choice, no other options. I'm emphasizing
two options, you can either stay or come with us. You decide? So I'm using either and or
in the same sentence that means, I'm emphasizing two options, I'm using a correlative conjunction
in the sentence, because I am giving him two options. Now the next example, Either Sarah
or the girls are going to make dinner. Now either Sarah, option one or the girls. Now
when Sarah is singular, she's just one girl, now the girls. This is plural, this is my
second option or the girls, so probably her friends three of them are going to make dinner.
If you notice I have used are a plural verb. Why have I used are? Because we are talking
about the girls, so the verb that immediately follows the plural noun will definitely be
a plural verb. Supposing if it were either Sarah or her brother is going to make dinner,
supposing Sarah or her brother, singular then I would put is, because girls is a plural
noun. I use a plural verb. Always remember this rule, please do not get confused.
The next example, You can either take a taxi or go by bus. You either take a taxi, so here
you have either take a taxi, option one or go by bus, two options. So again I've used
a correlative conjunction because, I'm emphasizing on two options either take a taxi or go by
bus. So remember either or is used in a sentence as a correlative conjunction and what do I
mean by correlative conjunction? Something that is used in a pair, so either or is a
pair used in a sentence. We use it, when you want to emphasize on two options or two choices
and do not forget the verb rule, If the noun or the pronoun after or is singular, use a
singular verb. If it is plural, do use a plural verb. Well, I hope you understood the use
of either or? Now we are gonna take a look at another correlative conjunction, Neither
nor
So now let's take a look at neither nor. This is also a correlative conjunction. We use
it, when we talk about two negative alternatives. So if I say neither John nor his sister, so
I have two options or two negative alternatives. Now his sister mentioned anything about moving
house. This means John didn't mention and his sister didn't mention. So both of them did not mention, so because it is negative.
I use neither nor, you can also pronounce this as neither, so neither John nor his sister.
I have two negative alternatives mentioned anything about moving house. Now my next example,
Neither the cafe, nor the restaurant serves good pizza. So neither the cafe, the first
alternative, nor the restaurant serves. Now if you notice, I have put a singular verb here, because restaurant
is a singular noun. Supposing if it were restaurants, I mean the noun in the plural form. I would
use serve, because the verb has to agree with a second alternative. So here it is singular,
I use a singular verb, so please do not forget this rule. So neither the cafe, nor the restaurant
serves good pizza. Now my next example, Neither John nor his brothers like doing dishes, so
neither John, my first alternative nor his brothers. Now brothers, the noun brother is
in the plural form. It's brothers, so I use a plural verb, because like has to agree with
the second alternative in this case, it is in the plural. So brothers is a plural noun.
I'm gonna use like, so neither John nor his brothers like, but let's reverse it. Supposing
this is singular, You'll have brother likes, so always insure, the verb agrees with a second
alternative. Now rather what comes second. Do not forget the verb rule, it is really
important and most people make errors, when they have to select the verb. And in my last
example, I neither smoke, nor drink. So that means, I don't smoke and I don't drink. So
I neither smoke, nor drink, so this is how we use the correlative conjunction, Neither
nor. We use it in a sentence, it comes in a pair neither nor, we use it in a sentence,
when we have two negative alternatives. This brings me to the end of this lesson. I hope
you enjoyed watching it. Please do put in your comments and queries, if any? I'll be
back with a new lesson. Till then take care and bye.