baik ... maupun ... tidak

Neither Reading from Scoped Negation

Level 4

Baik ... maupun ... includes both members. In Baik A maupun B tidak datang, the negative predicate applies to each, giving neither A nor B came. Other positions require attention to scope; a negative sentence containing both does not automatically mean neither.

How It Works

The construction baik [A] maupun [B] is a standard way to coordinate included elements, common in formal contexts but not restricted to them. To express 'neither... nor...', a negator is added based on the grammatical role of the pair.

1. Position of the Negator

  • As Subject: When the pair is the subject, the negator follows the second element: Baik A maupun B tidak datang (Neither A nor B came).
  • As Object: When the pair is the object, the negator precedes the verb: Saya tidak melihat baik A maupun B. This can be intended as seeing neither, but negation with a coordinated object needs contextual scope. Saya tidak melihat A dan saya juga tidak melihat B explicitly states the two separate negative claims.

2. Choosing the Negator
Use tidak for verbs and adjectives, and bukan for nouns or when negating identity.

3. Variations and Flexibility
In formal writing, the initial baik is sometimes omitted (e.g., A maupun B tidak...). While usually involving two items, the pattern can accommodate more by placing maupun before the final item (e.g., Baik A, B, maupun C...).

4. Parallelism and Register
Elements [A] and [B] should be parallel (e.g., both nouns or both prepositional phrases). This pattern is common in journalism and academic writing and is also possible in speech.

Examples (4)

  1. Baik ayah maupun ibu tidak setuju dengan rencana itu.

    Neither father nor mother agrees with that plan.

    Word by Word: Both father as-well-as mother not agree with plan that.

    Here, 'tidak' negates the verb 'setuju' for both subjects (ayah and ibu).

  2. Masalah ini tidak mudah diselesaikan, baik secara teknis maupun secara hukum.

    This problem is not easy to solve, either technically or legally.

    Word by Word: Problem this not easy be-solved, both in-way technical as-well-as in-way legal.

    The negation 'tidak' appears earlier in the sentence, but the 'baik... maupun' structure clarifies that the negation applies to both methods.

  3. Baik siswa maupun guru tidak diperbolehkan merokok di area sekolah.

    Neither students nor teachers are allowed to smoke in the school area.

    Word by Word: Both student as-well-as teacher not be-allowed smoke at area school.

    A classic formal prohibition applying to two distinct groups of people.

  4. Dia bukan orang yang sombong, baik di kantor maupun di rumah.

    He/she is not arrogant, either at the office or at home.

    Word by Word: He/she not person who arrogant, both at office as-well-as at home.

    This shows parallelism using two prepositional phrases starting with 'di'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'dan' instead of 'maupun' in the correlative pair.

    Baik Budi dan Andi tidak datang.
    Baik Budi maupun Andi tidak datang.

    In the inclusive correlative model being taught, pair baik with maupun: Baik Budi maupun Andi tidak datang. Ordinary dan coordination is valid elsewhere; this is the specific pairing pattern.

  • Placing the negator before the first item when the pair is the subject.

    Tidak baik A maupun B setuju.
    Baik A maupun B tidak setuju.

    For the intended shared negative predicate, put tidak after the subject pair: Baik A maupun B tidak setuju. Starting with tidak baik can instead be parsed as not good; that is a different structure and meaning.

  • Misplacing the negator when the pair is an object.

    Saya suka baik kopi maupun teh tidak.
    Saya tidak suka baik kopi maupun teh.

    For ordinary negation of suka, place tidak before suka, not at the end. With the coordinated object, make the intended scope clear; Saya tidak suka kopi dan saya juga tidak suka teh unambiguously states dislike of each.

How It Connects

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baik ... maupun ... tidakLevel 4Neither Reading from Scoped Negation

Learn This First

To understand 'baik ... maupun ... tidak' (neither... nor...), you first need to be familiar with the basic 'baik ... maupun ...' structure which links two items. You also need to understand how 'tidak' is used to negate predicates, as this pattern involves placing the negation in a way that covers both items mentioned in the correlative pair.

Words in This Pattern