ni … ni / niti … niti

Neither nor

Level 3

Ni…ni and niti…niti connect negative alternatives.

How It Works

With noun phrases, use ordinary negative concord: Ne pijem ni kavu ni čaj. Ni emphasizes that neither named option is included.

Niti can connect whole clauses: Niti čitam niti pišem. It carries the negative connection, so do not add an English-style separate not to each clause automatically.

Place the paired elements where their scope is clear. Neither Ana nor Ivan, neither coffee nor tea, and neither reading nor writing each negate different alternatives.

Examples (3)

  1. Ne pijem ni kavu ni čaj.

    I drink neither coffee nor tea.

    The negative verb combines with two coordinated objects.

  2. Niti čitam niti pišem.

    I am neither reading nor writing.

    Niti coordinates two negative clauses.

  3. Nisam vidjela ni Anu ni Ivana.

    I saw neither Ana nor Ivan.

    The female speaker excludes both people as objects.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

ni … ni / niti … nitiLevel 3Neither nor

Learn This First

Negative coordination joins alternatives within the negative-concord system.

Words in This Pattern

niniti