[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/neither/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [N](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/n/) / neither # neither determiner, pronoun (neither); conjunction (neither ... nor); adverb (neither — also not) «neither» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. Neither means not this one and not that one, of two. If neither cat is black, both cats are another colour. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neither/#m1) 2. «Neither ... nor» joins two things that are both not true: «neither tea nor milk». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neither/#m2) 3. «Me neither» or «neither do I» means I also do not. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neither/#m3) ### In the lessons In school maths: used in logic and sorting problems (Venn diagrams): things that are in neither group, outside both circles. In everyday talk: «Which one? — Neither!», «I don't like spinach. — Me neither». Phrases: «neither ... nor», «neither of them», «me neither», «neither here nor there» (not important). ### Examples - Neither Tom nor Ann has a red pen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neither/#x1) - 5 pupils like neither tea nor milk. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neither/#x2) - Neither box holds more than 10 balls. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neither/#x3) - How many children play neither sport? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neither/#x4) - Neither of my brothers likes football. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neither/#x5) - «I can't swim.» «Me neither.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neither/#x6) - In the Venn diagram, write the numbers in neither set outside the circles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neither/#x7) - She was neither hungry nor tired. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neither/#x8) ### Note Say «NYE-ther» or «NEE-ther» — both are right. «Neither» takes a singular verb: «neither box is full». Use with «nor», not «or». Opposite of «both»; «either» means one or the other. Maths: points to the part outside both groups: total − (in first or second). Trap: forgetting the people who are in both groups when finding «neither». ## In Jewish tradition In school maths: used in logic and sorting problems (Venn diagrams): things that are in neither group, outside both circles. In everyday talk: «Which one? — Neither!», «I don't like spinach. — Me neither». Phrases: «neither ... nor», «neither of them», «me neither», «neither here nor there» (not important). ### Examples - Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Torah DEU.5.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/neither/#x1) - neither shalt thou favour a poor man in his cause. (Torah EXO.23.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/neither/#x2) - Then I said unto you: 'Dread not, neither be afraid of them. (Torah DEU.1.29, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/neither/#x3) - And he said: 'Neither hath the LORD chosen this.' (Prophets 1SA.16.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/neither/#x4) - Behold, He that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleep. (Writings PSA.121.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/neither/#x5) - A brutish man knoweth not, neither doth a fool understand this. (Writings PSA.92.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/neither/#x6) ### Note Say «NYE-ther» or «NEE-ther» — both are right. «Neither» takes a singular verb: «neither box is full». Use with «nor», not «or». Opposite of «both»; «either» means one or the other. Maths: points to the part outside both groups: total − (in first or second). Trap: forgetting the people who are in both groups when finding «neither». ## Early Modern English ### Meaning Used to say "not one nor the other"; also used to start a sentence with "not" and "nor" in the old way. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/N/neither/#m1) ### Then and now In the Torah "neither shalt thou" means "you shall not either", which is an old use of "neither" to begin a clause; today we would say "nor" or "you must not". ### Examples - Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Torah DEU.5.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/N/neither/#x1) - I can neither fly nor swim.” (Peter Pan) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/N/neither/#x2) - neither shalt thou favour a poor man in his cause. (Torah EXO.23.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/N/neither/#x3) ### Note Today: not either; nor. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «neither» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neither/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«neither» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/neither.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «neither» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/neither/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«neither» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/neither.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «neither» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/N/neither/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«neither» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/neither.html) on Mova free.