noch...noch

Neither...nor

Level 3

Use noch...noch to say 'neither...nor'. It is a formal way to exclude two (or more) possibilities simultaneously.

How It Works

The pattern noch...noch functions as a 'series-former' (reeksvormer).

1. Usage and Register
This structure is formal. In everyday spoken Dutch, people usually prefer niet... en ook niet (not... and also not). However, you will frequently encounter noch...noch in legal texts, news reports, and literature.

2. Verb Agreement
When linking two singular subjects, the verb is traditionally singular (e.g., Noch Jan noch Piet komt). However, in modern Dutch, a plural verb is also widely accepted and common (e.g., Noch Jan noch Piet komen). If one of the subjects is plural, the verb must be plural. If the subjects are different persons (e.g., 'I' and 'you'), the verb usually agrees with the subject closest to it: Noch jij noch ik ben verantwoordelijk.

3. Optional First Element and Lists
The first noch is optional. You can say Noch Jan noch Piet kwam, but Jan noch Piet kwam is also correct. Noch can be repeated for longer lists (e.g., noch A, noch B, noch C).

4. Combining with Other Negations
Noch is often used to add a negative element to a clause that was already negated with niet or geen. In these cases, a comma is standard before noch: Ik heb geen tijd, noch geld.

5. Fixed Expressions
You will encounter this pattern in common idioms, such as vlees noch vis (neither fish nor fowl/neither one thing nor the other) and noch kind noch kraai hebben (to have no kith or kin).

6. Spelling Confusion
Be careful not to confuse noch (nor) with nog (still/yet). They sound similar, but nog is used for time or addition, while noch is strictly for negation.

Examples (6)

  1. Hij spreekt noch Frans noch Duits.

    He speaks neither French nor German.

    Word by Word: He speaks neither French nor German.

    Here, 'noch...noch' links two direct objects (languages).

  2. Noch de minister noch de premier wilde reageren.

    Neither the minister nor the prime minister wanted to react.

    Word by Word: Neither the minister nor the prime minister wanted [to] react.

    When used with subjects, the verb usually stays singular if both subjects are singular.

  3. Noch de leraar noch de leerlingen wisten het antwoord.

    Neither the teacher nor the students knew the answer.

    Word by Word: Neither the teacher nor the students knew the answer.

    If one of the subjects linked by 'noch' is plural, the verb must be plural.

  4. Ik heb geen geld, noch tijd, noch zin om te gaan.

    I have no money, nor time, nor desire to go.

    Word by Word: I have no money, nor time, nor desire in order to go.

    You can repeat 'noch' for lists of three or more items.

  5. Jan noch Piet kwam op het feest.

    Neither Jan nor Piet came to the party.

    Word by Word: Jan nor Piet came to the party.

    In Dutch, the first 'noch' of the pair is optional, especially in formal writing.

  6. Het plan was noch zinvol noch haalbaar.

    The plan was neither meaningful nor feasible.

    Word by Word: The plan was neither meaningful nor feasible.

    This shows 'noch...noch' linking two adjectives.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing 'noch' with 'nog'.

    Ik wil nog koffie nog thee.
    Ik wil noch koffie noch thee.

    'Nog' means 'still' or 'yet'. 'Noch' is the negative conjunction 'nor'. They are spelled differently despite similar pronunciation.

  • Negating the same word twice.

    Ik heb geen noch tijd.
    Ik heb noch tijd noch geld. / Ik heb geen tijd, noch geld.

    While 'noch' can follow a clause negated by 'geen', you cannot use both to negate the exact same noun at the same time. Use 'noch' to introduce a second negative item.

  • Starting with 'niet' instead of 'noch' in a pair.

    Ik spreek niet noch Frans noch Duits.
    Ik spreek noch Frans noch Duits.

    If you are using the correlative pair, it must be 'noch...noch'. You only use 'niet' or 'geen' if 'noch' is being used as a single addition (e.g., 'niet A, noch B').

How It Connects

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

noch...nochLevel 3Neither...nor

Learn This First

To understand 'noch...noch' (neither...nor), you first need to be familiar with basic negation in Dutch. It also helps to understand how coordinating conjunctions like 'en' (and) work to link words or phrases, as well as the correlative structure 'zowel...als' (both...and), which functions in a grammatically identical way but with a positive meaning.

Words in This Pattern

nochnoch