Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: problemino

Dear citizens of the I.R.,
I've got a very silly question for you. Nevertheless, I'm sure our Queens
and Knights would be so kind as to shed a little light on my tired mind.
Writing a sentence such as: I cannot decide between X and Y, nor X or Y
seem what I'm looking for - would it be correct?
I mean, shall I use nor/or or neither/or in the negative form having
already expressed a negative verb, but having put it before a comma?
Should I consider the comma an interruption of the sentence and therefore
use them in the negative form?
I really hope you have been able to understand what I mean, because I
don't think I could make it clearer.
TIA
Chrisa

 use them in the negative form?
I can't decide between X and Y; neither X nor Y seems to be what I'm
looking for.
You must use neither/nor with a singular verb, and a semi-colon instead
of a comma. 
Mary



Although not a member of the group addressed in the original post, I am a
frequent contributor to this newsgroup so let me make an exception and offer my
two cents.
Mary's comment about a singular verb applies to this example but it is not a
general rule. One would say: I can't decide between oranges and apples; neither
oranges nor apples seem to be what I'm looking for.
Notice that the verb is not negative in the phrase containing neither. Don't use
"neither" with a negative such as "cannot."
Ciao,
Ron
USA

 and Y, nor X or Y seem what I'm looking for - would it be correct?
Try it this way.
"I cannot decide between X and Y, neither X nor Y seem to be what I'm
looking for."
It seems a clearer way of saying what I think you're saying...:-)) In
fact with this you could leave out the second reference to X and Y and
just say "neither seem to be.."
As for grammar rules.. boh..
cheers,
Loki
-- 
lo...@REMOVE-ASGARDclear.net.nz

 instead of a comma. 
Why? I curious. I wouldv'e used a comma or a full stop.
Cheers,
Loki
-- 
lo...@REMOVE-ASGARDclear.net.nz

Why? I curious. I wouldv'e used a comma or a full stop.
A comma would have been incorrect, since what it would separate stand
by themselves as two complete sentences, with nothing (conjunction,
relative pronoun) to link them. A period would have been correct, but
the semicolon ties them closer together.
-- 
Harlan Messinger
There are no Zs in my actual e-mail address.

Loki


looking for.
Did I write 'seem' instead of 'seems'?
Gosh, may I say: mi vergogno come un ladro?
Thank you Mary, and also, of course, Ron and Loky for your answers.
But: should I use neither/nor with singular verbs and nor/or with plural
ones or not?
bye
Chrisa

 ones or not?
I'm not sure if I've understood the question.
Neither/nor is used with both singular and plural verbs, but I can't
think offhand of any case where you could use nor/or.
e.g. 
Neither X nor Y is suitable (both subjects singular, so verb is
singular)
Neither apples nor pears are suitable (both subjects plural, so verb is
plural, as Ron said).
Use with affermative verb:
I like neither apples nor pears
Use with negative verb:
I don't like either apples or pears
Neither/nor is more often used as the subject than the object of the
verb.
e.g. "I like neither apples nor pears" is unusual; you'd normally say "I
don't like either apples or pears", at least in colloquial speech.
However, "Neither apples nor pears are vegetables" is normal usage,
because the neither/nor phrase is the subject of the verb.
Mary

Thanks, Mary, I think (I hope) I got it now.
Salut
Chrisa