Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

445

Neither

Neither

can be used on its own in replies to refer to two alternatives which have

already been mentioned:

A: Does that mean they’re going to win or lose? 

B: Neither. We think they’ll probably draw.

Neither

is also used as a determiner before singular countable nouns. It allows a

negative statement to be made about two things at the same time:

Neither party has shown any real commitment to improving the environment. 

Neither parent should be held responsible for what happened. 

740 | Negation

Cambridge Grammar of English

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Neither of

Neither of

is used with pronouns and plural countable nouns preceded by a

determiner. Traditional grammar books state that it is followed by a singular verb,

but a plural verb is also common, especially in informal speech:

Neither of

the two choices

leaves us in any doubt.

Neither of

them

was able to get to sleep because of the noise outside their

window.

Neither of

the teachers

were present at the meeting.