0
Kooyeen Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Nor -- I can't swim. NOR my sister.

Hi,

He wasn't there on Monday. Nor on Tuesday, for that matter. (an example from my dictionary)

French is not the private property of French people, nor English of English people. (an example from another thread about "nor")

Now,

I can't swim. Nor can my sister. (Could I also say Nor my sister ? When can I leave out the verb as in the examples above?)

In addition, can I use neither in my examples?

Thank you in advance. Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

Consider these alternatives: I can't swim. - Neither can my sister. - My sister neither.

— Pastsimple

  • Consider these alternatives: I can't swim.
  • - Neither can my sister.
  • - My sister neither.
  • (informal) - My sister can't either.
  • - My sister can't as well.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

10 Answers
0
Consider these alternatives:

I can't swim.

- Neither can my sister.
- My sister neither. (informal)
- My sister can't either.
- My sister can't as well. (not sure about how formal/natural/common this actually is)
0
0
Sorry Pastsimple, I know about that, but thank youanyway! Emotion: wink

The question is about
0
0
Kooyeen, perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't think the "nor my sister"/ "nor can my sister" works.

I can't swim, nor can I dance is okay. I can't swim, nor can my sister yodel is okay.

But I can't swim, and neither can my sister is the way I would expect to read this, or Neither my sister nor I can swim.
0
0
Thanks GG Emotion: smile , I've always thoughtNor my sister is wrong, or at least it sounds odd, but what confused me was

0
0
Good heavens! I would never disagree with Clive.

It's fine - the reader can infer the missing "is."
0
0
Yes. "French is not the private property of French people, nor English of English people" might not cause any confusion. One can easily read it the same meaning with "French is not the private property of French people, nor is English the private property of English people".

******* ********** ***********

BTW, "I can't swim; nor can my sist
0
0
I can't swim. Nor can my sister.

I think the above is correct English. See:
-----
'What caused his wrath to be directed towards me especially, I cannot
tell, nor can my sister,' said Philip, looking full at his uncle; 'but
I seem to have come in for a full share of it.'

0
0
Sorry is the sentence is a little bit different:

I can swim nor skate...does it sound good? It is the form I 've always used as I studied in my grammar books..

NOw texts report:

I can't swim or skate and I can't dance

I've never known of a form like this as correct: not....or....

Is is colloquial English?

Thanks
0
0
Hi Anon

It seems you've got your rules for using "nor" all http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=discombobulated&r=66.
0

Related Questions