Neither... Nor (weder... noch)
weder... noch to elegantly reject two things at once without adding redundant negative words like nicht.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'weder... noch' to negate two or more items simultaneously, replacing 'nicht' or 'kein' for both elements.
- Use 'weder' before the first item and 'noch' before the second: 'Ich habe weder Zeit noch Lust.'
- The construction replaces the negative article 'kein' or the particle 'nicht' for both items.
- Ensure parallel structure: both items should be the same grammatical category (e.g., two nouns, two adjectives).
Overview
Weder... noch is a fundamental correlative conjunction in German, serving to express a double negation. It precisely translates to "neither...
nor" in English. This structure allows you to negate two or more elements within a single sentence, providing a concise and grammatically robust way to state that none of the listed options are true or applicable. At the B2 CEFR level, mastering `weder...
noch signifies a significant advancement in expressing nuanced negations, moving beyond simpler nicht... und nicht` constructions which, while understandable, lack the elegance and grammatical precision of this established conjunction. It inherently carries its own negative force, a crucial linguistic principle that dictates its usage and distinguishes it from other conjunctions.
How This Grammar Works
weder... noch lies in its ability to negate multiple components simultaneously within a sentence. Unlike simple conjunctions, `weder... is inherently negative. This means it functions as a single, indivisible unit of negation, encompassing both parts it connects. Consequently, you must not use additional negative particles such as nicht (not) or kein (no/not a) in conjunction with weder... for the elements it negates. Introducing an extra nicht creates a grammatically incorrect and redundant double negation, which is generally disallowed in standard German grammar and would sound unnatural to native speakers. This principle highlights how weder...Ich habe kein Geld, you negate "money." If you say Ich habe weder Geld noch Zeit, you negate both "money" and "time" through the correlative pair. The weder already signifies "no" or "not," making further explicit negation redundant. This inherent negation is what makes the construction so efficient and why it is a marker of advanced grammatical proficiency.weder... noch must always be grammatically parallel; that is, they should be of the same syntactic category (e.g., two nouns, two adjectives, two clauses). This parallelism ensures structural coherence and clarity, preventing ambiguity regarding which parts of the sentence are being negated.Weder... noch can connect various grammatical elements:- Nouns or Noun Phrases:
Er trinkt weder der Kaffee noch der Tee.(He drinks neither coffee nor tea.) - Adjectives:
Das Wetter ist weder warm noch sonnig.(The weather is neither warm nor sunny.) - Adverbs:
Sie spricht weder laut noch schnell.(She speaks neither loudly nor quickly.) - Verbs or Verb Phrases:
Ich will weder essen noch schlafen.(I want neither to eat nor to sleep.) - Entire Clauses:
Weder hat er angerufen, noch hat er eine Nachricht geschrieben.(Neither did he call, nor did he write a message.)
weder... noch a powerful tool for constructing precise and concise negative statements across a wide range of contexts.Formation Pattern
weder... noch requires careful attention to parallel structure and verb placement, particularly when the conjunction initiates the sentence. The fundamental principle is that weder introduces the first negated element, and noch introduces the second (and subsequent) negated elements. The grammatical category of the elements joined by weder... noch must be identical to maintain parallelism.
Weder and noch directly precede the nouns or noun phrases they negate. The position of the weder... noch phrase within the sentence is flexible, behaving like a normal object or subject phrase.
Subjekt + finites Verb + weder + {Artikel/Adjektiv} Nomen 1 + noch + {Artikel/Adjektiv} Nomen 2 | Sie liest weder das Buch noch die Zeitung. | She reads neither the book nor the newspaper. |
Weder + {Artikel/Adjektiv} Nomen 1 + noch + {Artikel/Adjektiv} Nomen 2 + finites Verb + Subjekt | Weder der Chef noch die Kollegin kommt zur Besprechung. | Neither the boss nor the colleague is coming to the meeting. |
weder... noch phrase occupies the first position in a main clause, it triggers verb-second (V2) word order, meaning the finite verb immediately follows the entire weder... noch construction, and the subject then follows the verb. If the combined weder... noch phrase itself functions as the subject, the verb agrees with this compound subject. In colloquial German, a singular verb is often used if both subjects are singular, reflecting a perception of the combined phrase as a singular unit, though a plural verb is grammatically more strict. For B2 learners, often a singular verb is acceptable if both elements are singular, especially in informal contexts.
weder and noch directly precede the adjectives or adverbs they negate. These often modify the verb or describe the subject's state.
Subjekt + finites Verb + weder + Adjektiv/Adverb 1 + noch + Adjektiv/Adverb 2 | Das Essen war weder scharf noch salzig. | The food was neither spicy nor salty. |
Er fährt weder schnell noch vorsichtig. | He drives neither fast nor carefully. |
weder... noch connects two actions, the conjunctions typically frame the verb-related parts. If infinitives are involved, weder and noch will precede them. If finite verbs in separate clauses are connected, the structure becomes more complex, often requiring two separate clauses.
Subjekt + finites Verb + weder + Infinitiv 1 + noch + Infinitiv 2 | Sie will weder studieren noch arbeiten. | She wants neither to study nor to work. |
Er kann weder singen noch tanzen. | He can neither sing nor dance. |
weder... noch connects two complete main clauses, each clause maintains its independent V2 word order. A comma is typically required between the two clauses. This structure emphasizes the complete negation of two distinct propositions.
Weder + Hauptsatz 1 (V2), noch + Hauptsatz 2 (V2). | Weder war er pünktlich, noch hatte er seine Hausaufgaben gemacht. | Neither was he on time, nor had he done his homework. |
Er ist weder hier, noch hat er angerufen. | He is neither here, nor has he called. |
weder and noch frame two dependent clauses. Since they are subordinate clauses, the finite verb in each clause is placed at the very end.
...weder + Nebensatz 1 (Verb am Ende), noch + Nebensatz 2 (Verb am Ende). | Ich weiß, dass er weder kommen kann noch dass er Zeit hat. | I know that he neither can come nor that he has time. |
Es ist bedauerlich, dass sie weder Deutsch spricht noch es lernen will. | It is regrettable that she neither speaks German nor wants to learn it. |
weder... noch can extend to three or more by repeating noch for each additional negated item. This emphasizes thorough rejection of all presented options.
Ich esse weder das Fleisch noch den Fisch noch das Gemüse. (I eat neither the meat nor the fish nor the vegetables.)
When To Use It
Weder... noch is an indispensable tool for expressing comprehensive negation in German, offering a more sophisticated alternative to simply linking two nicht statements. Its utility spans various communicative contexts, from formal discourse to casual conversation, allowing for precision and conciseness when negating multiple ideas or possibilities.weder... noch is particularly effective:- Expressing Simultaneous Absence or Lack: When two or more conditions, items, or qualities are demonstrably not present or available.
Ich habe weder das Geld noch die Zeit, dir zu helfen.(I have neither the money nor the time to help you.)Der Computer funktioniert weder mit dem Internet noch mit anderen Geräten.(The computer works neither with the internet nor with other devices.)
- Describing Neutrality or Ambivalence: When something falls between two extremes or does not possess qualities from either end of a spectrum. This often applies to opinions, assessments, or states.
Der Film war weder gut noch schlecht, einfach durchschnittlich.(The film was neither good nor bad, just average.)Sie ist weder glücklich noch traurig; sie ist gleichgültig.(She is neither happy nor sad; she is indifferent.)
- Rejecting Multiple Options or Actions: When you wish to explicitly decline or exclude several choices or activities without being repetitive.
Weder fahre ich in den Urlaub, noch bleibe ich zu Hause.(Neither am I going on holiday, nor am I staying at home.)Wir wollen weder klagen noch uns beschweren.(We want neither to complain nor to grumble.)
- Formal and Professional Communication: In professional settings,
weder... nochconveys a clear and unambiguous statement of non-compliance or non-existence, which is highly valued in German communication culture for its directness and lack of ambiguity. It adds a layer of formality and decisiveness that simplenichtconstructions might not convey. Die Daten sind weder korrekt noch vollständig.(The data is neither correct nor complete.)Das Unternehmen ist weder zahlungsfähig noch kreditwürdig.(The company is neither solvent nor creditworthy.)
weder... noch effectively demonstrates a command of sophisticated German negation, allowing you to articulate complex exclusions with linguistic elegance. It prevents the somewhat clunky repetition of `nicht..., which, while grammatically permissible in some contexts for beginners, is generally replaced by weder... noch` by advanced speakers.Common Mistakes
weder... noch typically stem from its inherent negative nature and the rules of parallelism. Avoiding these pitfalls is crucial for accurate and idiomatic German. Understanding the why behind the mistake, rather than just memorizing the correction, reinforces the underlying grammatical principles.nicht or kein) because they perceive weder... noch as merely linking elements, not as inherently negating them. This results in a grammatically incorrect and confusing sentence, as weder already provides the negation.- Incorrect:
*Ich habe nicht weder das Geld noch die Zeit.(Literally: "I don't have neither the money nor the time.") - Why it's wrong:
Nichtandwederboth introduce negation, creating an awkward redundancy. In German, unlike some other languages, a double negative does not typically create a positive; it usually indicates a grammatical error or an unintuitive meaning. - Correct:
Ich habe weder das Geld noch die Zeit.(I have neither the money nor the time.)
weder... noch functions as a complete negative unit. Treat it as if the nicht is already built into the structure.weder... noch can be confusing, especially compared to other coordinating conjunctions. The key is to differentiate between connecting single words/phrases and connecting full clauses.- No Comma for Words/Phrases: When
weder... nochconnects two single words, noun phrases, adjective phrases, or adverb phrases within a single clause, no comma is used. - Incorrect:
*Er mag weder die Pizza, noch die Pasta. - Correct:
Er mag weder die Pizza noch die Pasta.(He likes neither pizza nor pasta.)
- Comma for Clauses: When
weder... nochconnects two independent main clauses or two complete subordinate clauses, a comma is generally required between thenochand the second clause. - Correct (Main Clauses):
Weder war er traurig, noch zeigte er Enttäuschung.(Neither was he sad, nor did he show disappointment.) - Correct (Subordinate Clauses):
Ich bin sicher, dass er weder kommt, noch dass er anruft.(I am sure that he neither comes, nor that he calls.)
Weder... noch demands that the elements it connects are grammatically parallel. This means you cannot connect a noun with a verb, or an adjective with a clause. The constructions must match syntactically.- Incorrect:
*Sie isst weder das Gemüse noch zu tanzen.(Connecting a noun phrase with an infinitive verb phrase.) - Why it's wrong: The two elements are structurally dissimilar. The sentence lacks grammatical balance.
- Correct:
Sie isst weder das Gemüse noch den Fisch.(She eats neither vegetables nor fish.) - Alternative Correct:
Sie mag weder das Essen noch das Tanzen.(She likes neither eating nor dancing, using nominalized verbs.)
weder... noch phrase occupies the first position in a main clause, it acts as the initial element (Position 1), which mandates inversion of the subject and finite verb. Forgetting this inversion leads to incorrect word order.- Incorrect:
*Weder das Buch noch der Film er hat mich beeindruckt. - Why it's wrong: The subject
erappears before the finite verbhat, violating the V2 rule after an initial non-subject element. - Correct:
Weder das Buch noch der Film hat mich beeindruckt.(Neither the book nor the film impressed me.) - Here,
Weder das Buch noch der Filmcollectively acts as the subject, so the verbhatfollows immediately. If theweder... nochphrase is adverbial, the verb still follows, then the subject:Weder gestern noch heute war sie hier.(Neither yesterday nor today was she here.)
weder... noch.Real Conversations
Weder... noch is not confined to formal texts; it's a versatile construction frequently used across various registers in modern German communication. It conveys precision and conciseness, making it suitable for both quick, informal exchanges and detailed, professional correspondence. Observe how native speakers integrate it to streamline their negative statements.
1. Casual Texting / Messaging:
In informal contexts, weder... noch allows for quick and clear communication of double rejection, often abbreviated or used with emojis to soften the tone.
- Hey, Lust auf Kino oder Bar? (Hey, fancy cinema or bar?)
- Weder Kino noch Bar, bin total platt. 😴 (Neither cinema nor bar, I'm totally exhausted.)
- Kannst du mich abholen oder brauchst du ein Taxi? (Can you pick me up or do you need a taxi?)
- Weder noch. Bin schon zu Hause. (Neither. I'm already home.) – This is a common idiomatic short-form response.
2. Social Media / Online Discussions:
On platforms like Twitter, Instagram, or in comment sections, weder... noch is used to give concise opinions or express disinterest.
- Comment on a movie review: Dieser Plot Twist war weder überraschend noch logisch nachvollziehbar. Enttäuschend. (This plot twist was neither surprising nor logically comprehensible. Disappointing.)
- Response to a political post: Weder die eine Partei noch die andere bietet überzeugende Lösungen an. (Neither one party nor the other offers convincing solutions.)
3. Work Emails / Professional Settings:
In business communication, weder... noch is particularly valuable for its clarity and unambiguous nature when stating limitations, unavailability, or objective assessments.
- Sehr geehrte Frau Müller, ich kann Ihnen weder den Bericht bis Dienstag noch die vollständigen Daten liefern. (Dear Ms. Müller, I can provide you neither with the report by Tuesday nor with the complete data.)
- Wir haben weder die Ressourcen noch die Kapazität für dieses Projekt im Moment. (We have neither the resources nor the capacity for this project at the moment.)
4. Spoken Conversation:
In everyday spoken German, weder... noch is employed naturally to express various forms of double negation, often with slight emphasis on weder or noch for rhetorical effect.
- Wie findest du das neue Auto? (How do you find the new car?)
- Ehrlich gesagt, es ist weder schön noch praktisch. (Honestly, it's neither beautiful nor practical.)
- Hatte er Angst vor der Prüfung? (Was he scared of the exam?)
- Nein, er war weder nervös noch ängstlich. (No, he was neither nervous nor anxious.)
These examples illustrate that weder... noch is a dynamic part of the German language, integral to expressing multifaceted negations succinctly across all communication types. Its consistent use in modern contexts underscores its utility and idiomatic correctness.
Quick FAQ
weder... noch:weder... noch connect more than two elements?noch for each additional item. The structure remains parallel.- Example:
Ich spreche weder Deutsch, noch Englisch, noch Französisch.(I speak neither German, nor English, nor French.)
weder... noch always trigger inversion (verb-subject order)?weder... noch phrase occupies the first position in a main clause and functions as an adverbial phrase or a topicalized element. If the `weder...- Adverbial phrase (triggers inversion):
Weder heute noch morgen habe ich Zeit.(Neither today nor tomorrow do I have time.) –habe(verb)ich(subject). - Subject phrase (verb follows):
Weder der Chef noch die Kollegin kommt zur Party.(Neither the boss nor the colleague is coming to the party.) –kommt(verb),Weder der Chef noch die Kollegin(compound subject).
weder... noch considered formal or informal?Weder... noch is versatile and used across various registers. It is grammatically precise and can lend a formal tone to statements, particularly in written communication or structured arguments.weder stand alone without noch?weder cannot stand alone as a negative particle in the sense of "neither" in English. It is an integral part of the correlative conjunction weder... noch. If you want to negate a single item or clause, you would use nicht or kein.- Incorrect:
*Ich habe weder Geld. - Correct:
Ich habe kein Geld.(I have no money.)
weder... noch compare to entweder... oder and nicht nur... sondern auch?Weder... noch(neither... nor): Expresses a double negation. None of the options are true.Er spricht weder Deutsch noch Französisch.(He speaks neither German nor French.)
Entweder... oder(either... or): Expresses an exclusive choice. One of the options is true, but not both (or only one out of several).Er spricht entweder Deutsch oder Französisch.(He speaks either German or French.)
Nicht nur... sondern auch(not only... but also): Expresses an additive affirmation. Both options are true, with an emphasis on the second.Er spricht nicht nur Deutsch, sondern auch Französisch.(He speaks not only German, but also French.)
Weder... noch Structure
| Part 1 | Item A | Part 2 | Item B |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Weder
|
{der|m} Kaffee
|
noch
|
{der|m} Tee
|
|
Weder
|
schnell
|
noch
|
gründlich
|
|
Weder
|
lesen
|
noch
|
schreiben
|
|
Weder
|
{die|f} Mutter
|
noch
|
{der|m} Vater
|
|
Weder
|
heute
|
noch
|
morgen
|
|
Weder
|
hier
|
noch
|
dort
|
Meanings
A correlative conjunction used to express the negation of two or more items in a list.
Noun Negation
Negating two specific objects or entities.
“Sie trinkt weder {der|m} Kaffee noch {der|m} Tee.”
“Er hat weder {das|n} Geld noch {die|f} Zeit.”
Adjective/Adverb Negation
Negating two qualities or states.
“{Der|m} Film war weder spannend noch lustig.”
“Es ist heute weder warm noch kalt.”
Verb/Clause Negation
Negating two actions or conditions.
“Er will weder essen noch trinken.”
“Ich kann weder kommen noch anrufen.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Nouns
|
Weder N1 noch N2
|
Weder {der|m} Hund noch {die|f} Katze.
|
|
Adjectives
|
Weder Adj1 noch Adj2
|
Weder groß noch klein.
|
|
Verbs
|
Weder V1 noch V2
|
Weder essen noch trinken.
|
|
Adverbs
|
Weder Adv1 noch Adv2
|
Weder hier noch dort.
|
|
Prepositional
|
Weder Prep1 noch Prep2
|
Weder mit mir noch mit dir.
|
|
Clauses
|
Weder [Subj+Verb] noch [Subj+Verb]
|
Weder er kam noch sie rief an.
|
Formality Spectrum
Ich verfüge weder über Zeit noch über finanzielle Mittel. (General)
Ich habe weder Zeit noch Geld. (General)
Ich hab weder Zeit noch Geld. (General)
Weder Zeit noch Kohle. (General)
Weder... Noch Logic
Negation
- kein none
- nicht not
Exclusion
- A Option A
- B Option B
Weder... noch vs. Entweder... oder
Decision Flow
Are you negating two things?
Examples by Level
Ich habe weder Zeit noch Geld.
I have neither time nor money.
Das ist weder gut noch schlecht.
That is neither good nor bad.
Er ist weder groß noch klein.
He is neither tall nor small.
Ich will weder Tee noch Kaffee.
I want neither tea nor coffee.
Der Film war weder spannend noch lustig.
The movie was neither exciting nor funny.
Sie spricht weder Deutsch noch Englisch.
She speaks neither German nor English.
Wir haben weder Hunger noch Durst.
We are neither hungry nor thirsty.
Das Wetter ist heute weder warm noch sonnig.
The weather today is neither warm nor sunny.
Er konnte weder die Frage beantworten noch die Aufgabe lösen.
He could neither answer the question nor solve the task.
Das Projekt ist weder abgeschlossen noch finanziert.
The project is neither finished nor funded.
Ich möchte weder heute noch morgen kommen.
I would like to come neither today nor tomorrow.
Sie ist weder Ärztin noch Krankenschwester.
She is neither a doctor nor a nurse.
Die Lösung ist weder einfach noch kostengünstig.
The solution is neither simple nor cost-effective.
Er hat weder den Brief erhalten noch die E-Mail gelesen.
He has neither received the letter nor read the email.
Wir sind weder für noch gegen diesen Vorschlag.
We are neither for nor against this proposal.
Das Ergebnis ist weder statistisch signifikant noch praktisch relevant.
The result is neither statistically significant nor practically relevant.
Weder die Regierung noch die Opposition konnte einen Konsens erzielen.
Neither the government nor the opposition could reach a consensus.
Das Argument ist weder logisch fundiert noch empirisch belegbar.
The argument is neither logically sound nor empirically provable.
Weder durch harte Arbeit noch durch Glück ließ sich das Ziel erreichen.
Neither through hard work nor through luck could the goal be reached.
Es war weder eine Frage des Wollens noch eine Frage des Könnens.
It was neither a question of wanting nor a question of being able.
Weder in der Theorie noch in der Praxis findet sich eine adäquate Antwort.
Neither in theory nor in practice is there an adequate answer.
Weder das Schicksal noch der Zufall bestimmten ihren Weg.
Neither fate nor chance determined her path.
Weder die historische Analyse noch die soziologische Betrachtung greifen hier zu kurz.
Neither the historical analysis nor the sociological perspective fall short here.
Weder wollte er nachgeben, noch konnte er den Konflikt ignorieren.
Neither did he want to give in, nor could he ignore the conflict.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up the choice (either/or) with the exclusion (neither/nor).
Learners use this instead of the more elegant 'weder... noch'.
Learners try to keep 'kein' inside the 'weder... noch' structure.
Common Mistakes
Ich habe nicht Zeit und nicht Geld.
Ich habe weder Zeit noch Geld.
Weder Zeit noch Geld ich habe.
Ich habe weder Zeit noch Geld.
Weder Zeit oder Geld.
Weder Zeit noch Geld.
Weder Zeit noch kein Geld.
Weder Zeit noch Geld.
Ich weder mag Fisch noch Fleisch.
Ich mag weder Fisch noch Fleisch.
Weder ich mag Fisch noch ich mag Fleisch.
Ich mag weder Fisch noch Fleisch.
Weder Fisch noch Fleisch ich mag.
Ich mag weder Fisch noch Fleisch.
Weder er kommt, noch er ruft an.
Weder kommt er, noch ruft er an.
Ich habe weder Hunger noch bin ich durstig.
Ich habe weder Hunger noch Durst.
Weder das eine, noch das andere ist nicht wahr.
Weder das eine noch das andere ist wahr.
Weder die Theorie noch die Praxis ist hier anwendbar.
Weder die Theorie noch die Praxis sind hier anwendbar.
Weder hat er es gesagt, noch hat er es getan.
Er hat es weder gesagt noch getan.
Sentence Patterns
Ich habe weder ___ noch ___.
Das ist weder ___ noch ___.
Er kann weder ___ noch ___.
Weder ___ noch ___ ist wahr.
Real World Usage
Ich habe weder Erfahrung in X noch in Y.
Weder Zeit noch Lust.
Weder politisch noch sozial korrekt.
Ich möchte weder das Hotel noch das Frühstück.
Weder scharf noch mit Zwiebeln.
Weder die Daten noch die Analyse stützen die Hypothese.
Parallelism
No Double Negation
Verb Placement
Formality
Smart Tips
Use 'weder... noch' to decline politely.
Replace 'und nicht' with 'noch'.
Group them with 'weder... noch'.
Use 'weder... noch' to avoid repeating 'kein'.
Pronunciation
Stress
Stress both 'weder' and 'noch' equally for emphasis.
Falling intonation
Ich habe weder Zeit ↘ noch Geld ↘.
Finality and certainty.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Weder is 'neither', Noch is 'nor'. Think: 'Weder' starts with W (Wait, no!), 'Noch' sounds like 'Not'.
Visual Association
Imagine a scale with two empty plates. One plate is labeled 'Weder', the other 'Noch'. Nothing is on either plate.
Rhyme
Weder dies und weder das, noch ist alles ohne Spaß.
Story
Hans went to the bakery. He wanted bread, but they had none. He wanted cake, but they had none. He told his friend: 'Ich habe weder Brot noch Kuchen bekommen.'
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences about things you don't like using 'weder... noch' in 5 minutes.
Cultural Notes
Used to show precision and education.
Often used in formal bureaucratic settings.
Used similarly to standard German, often in formal correspondence.
Derived from Old High German 'wedar' (which of two) and 'noh' (not).
Conversation Starters
Was magst du gar nicht?
Wie war dein Urlaub?
Was hältst du von dem neuen Gesetz?
Wie beurteilst du die aktuelle Lage?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Ich habe ___ Zeit ___ Geld.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ich habe nicht Zeit und nicht Geld.
Which is correct?
Er mag keinen Fisch und er mag kein Fleisch.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
weder / ich / noch / habe / Zeit / Geld
Weder er ___ (gehen) noch sie ___ (bleiben).
Weder... noch can be used with 'nicht'.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesIch habe ___ Zeit ___ Geld.
Find and fix the mistake:
Ich habe nicht Zeit und nicht Geld.
Which is correct?
Er mag keinen Fisch und er mag kein Fleisch.
Weder... noch
weder / ich / noch / habe / Zeit / Geld
Weder er ___ (gehen) noch sie ___ (bleiben).
Weder... noch can be used with 'nicht'.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesnoch / weder / hat / Zeit / Geld / er / .
Neither my father nor my mother is here.
Match the following:
Weder der Chef noch die Sekretärin ___ Zeit.
Das Wetter ist heute weder schön ___ warm.
Weder ich habe Hunger noch Durst.
ist / weder / noch / glücklich / sie / reich / .
Which conjunction pair indicates that two things are NOT happening?
The app is neither fast nor free.
Wir können ___ am Montag ___ am Dienstag kommen.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Yes, you can list multiple items: 'Weder A noch B noch C'.
It is neutral but often preferred in writing for conciseness.
Because 'weder' already negates the sentence.
The verb follows the subject as usual.
Yes, 'Er ist weder groß noch klein'.
'Entweder... oder' is for choices; 'weder... noch' is for exclusion.
Yes, but remember the verb must follow immediately.
Yes, but it sounds more educated.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
ni... ni
Spanish allows double negation (no quiero ni esto ni aquello), whereas German forbids it.
ni... ni
French often requires 'ne' before the verb, whereas German does not.
A mo B mo... nai
Japanese structure is fundamentally different, placing the negation at the end of the sentence.
la... wa la...
Arabic requires the 'and' conjunction explicitly, while German uses 'noch'.
ji bu... ye bu...
Chinese lacks a direct correlative conjunction equivalent to 'weder... noch'.
neither... nor
English is more flexible with word order; German requires strict verb-second placement.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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