Paired conjunctions: both … and / either … or / neither … nor

Rules

• Rule 1: both … and

  When something is true for the two things. As a subject, the verb is plural.

  Pattern: both A and B

  Example: Both Elif and Aylin are good at chess.

  Example: I like both cats and dogs.

• Rule 2: either … or

  One of the two things. It usually shows a choice or a guess.

  Pattern: either A or B

  Example: We can either play soccer or ride our bikes.

  Example: The keys are either in my bag or on the table.

• Rule 3: neither … nor

  Not one and not the other. It's already negative, so don't add not to the verb. With either … or and neither … nor, the verb agrees with the nearest subject: Neither Tom nor his friends like it.

  Pattern: neither A nor B + positive verb

  Example: Neither Tom nor Sam likes broccoli.

  Example: She can neither sing nor dance.

• Rule 4: both of / either of / neither of

  Use of before words like us, them, my friends. Neither of usually takes a singular verb. If the sentence already has not, use either, not neither: I don't like either of them.

  Example: Both of them are my cousins.

  Example: Neither of us was tired.

Common mistakes

• Both Ali or Can came. → Both Ali and Can came.

  both always goes with and.

• Neither my mom nor my dad doesn't drink tea. → Neither my mom nor my dad drinks tea.

  No double negatives: keep the verb positive.

• Either you come nor you stay. → Either you come or you stay.

  either → or, neither → nor.