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Joey_five Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

"and" or "or" in negative meaning

1) Students are not allowed to eat or drink in the classroom.

2) Students are not allowed to eat and drink in the classroom.

3) He can't read or write.

4) He can't read and write.

Which ones are correct?? Or they are all correct but with slightly different meaning??

Thanks!!
  

Top answer

Hi, I think they are all correct. They pretty much give the same meaning. And grammatically sound too.

— Anonymous

  • Hi, I think they are all correct.
  • They pretty much give the same meaning.
  • And grammatically sound too.
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4 Answers
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Hi,

I think they are all correct. They pretty much give the same meaning. And grammatically sound too.
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"He can't read and write" would indicate that he cannot write while reading. To avoid ambiguities, you might wish to say "He can't read nor write"
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I believe the "or" is more common. Imagine the poor teacher, who says to a student "You're not allowed to eat in here, as I've just told you." And the student says "I wasn't eating and drinking, which is what you said wasn't allowed. I was eating, ONLY.
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Hi,

Perhaps it was a law student. Two law students are eating lunch in class, and the professor says 'You're not allowed to eat your lunch in here'. The law students swap lunches and continue eating. (Presumably he gives them a good grade.)

Best wishes, Clive
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