A and B cannot -- Neither A nor be can

Question

Hi, I have a question about 'not'.When John can't swim and also Julia can't swim, either,Is it correct to say"John and Julia can't swim"  ?If it is not correct, can someone tell me what it means to say "John and Julia can't swim"?Also, then, is "Neither John nor Julia can swim" is the only correct sentence?Thank you very much in advance!

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

fort leeIs it correct to say"John and Julia can't swim" ?

It can be correct in the right setting, but normally, no.

fort leeIf it is not correct, can someone tell me what it means to say "John and Julia can't swim"?

Say you want to take a group of seven children on a canoe trip down the Wabash. You ask their camp counselor if they can swim. She says, "John and Julia can't swim", pointing at each as she does. This would be correct, and "Neither John nor Julia can swim" would not be wrong but would be quite unlikely.

fort leeAlso, then, is "Neither John nor Julia can swim" is the only correct sentence?

There are countless ways to put that, and that is a good one. Most people shy away from "neither/nor" in everyday speech, and in writing, too, come to think of it, but it is not unlikely here. As the first sentence in a chapter, "John and Julia can't swim" is so odd that I call it wrong because it sounds like they will be swimming as one. I would expect maybe "John can't swim, and neither can Julia."

A and B cannot -- Neither A nor be can

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions