न ... न
Neither ... nor
न ... न means neither ... nor: both things are denied.
How It Works
Put न before each item you want to deny. The pair replaces नहीं, so the sentence needs no other negative: वह न चाय पीता है न कॉफ़ी। (He drinks neither tea nor coffee.)
The first न often takes तो, and the second can take ही: वह न तो चाय पीता है, न ही कॉफ़ी. The meaning is the same.
The two items should be the same kind of thing:
- Two nouns: इस कमरे में न खिड़की है न पंखा.
- Two actions: वह न ठीक से खाती है, न सोती है.
- Two clauses with their own subjects: न रवि आया, न रीना.
A shared verb is usually said once. In वह न चाय पीता है न कॉफ़ी, पीता है covers both drinks. When each part is a clause, a comma between them helps the reader: न मैं गया, न वह आया.
A single न has other jobs. In polite requests and with the subjunctive it simply means not: अंदर न आइए, शायद वह न आए. Only the pair न ... न means neither ... nor.
A plain negative with या says much the same more softly: मैं चाय या कॉफ़ी नहीं पीता (I don't drink tea or coffee). न ... न puts more weight on each item.
Examples (5)
- वह न चाय पीता है न कॉफ़ी।
He drinks neither tea nor coffee.
One पीता है covers both drinks.
- न रवि आया, न रीना।
Neither Ravi nor Reena came.
The second verb, आई, is understood.
- इस कमरे में न खिड़की है न पंखा।
This room has neither a window nor a fan.
The pair denies two things.
- मेरे पास न समय है, न पैसे।
I have neither time nor money.
Two nouns share the same phrase, मेरे पास.
- वह आजकल न ठीक से खाती है, न सोती है।
These days she neither eats nor sleeps properly.
न ... न can join two actions.
Common Mistakes
Adding नहीं to न ... न.
वह न चाय नहीं पीता है न कॉफ़ी।वह न चाय पीता है न कॉफ़ी।The two न words already make the sentence negative. An extra नहीं is a double negative.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Neither ... nor is the negative of either ... or.
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice न ... न in Bubblegum
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