Ne Ni Ni in the quiz question is grammatically incorrect.

James H.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Ne Ni Ni in the quiz question is grammatically incorrect.

Neither is one of two things. Therefore the question in the quiz was grammatically incorrect.` I like neither the guitar, nor the violin, nor the piano` is not phrased correctly.
Asked 6 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi James,

I think you are a bit to restrictive. Rudyard Kipling wrote:

"But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth, when two strong men stand face to face, though they come from the ends of the earth!"

The neither..nor..(nor).. construct seems to have been extended to stand for one and only one choice out of several offered, not just two.

James H.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Thanks, I was thinking of the literal meaning of `neither`. I recall that once, as a schoolboy, I got detention for using neither as a negative option for one of three things.
James H. asked:

Ne Ni Ni in the quiz question is grammatically incorrect.

Neither is one of two things. Therefore the question in the quiz was grammatically incorrect.` I like neither the guitar, nor the violin, nor the piano` is not phrased correctly.

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Thinking...