nedz ... nedz
Neither ... nor in Formal Style
Nedz ..., nedz means neither ... nor, just like ne ..., ne, but it sounds more formal. You meet it in news, official texts and books: Viņš nerunāja nedz latviski, nedz angliski.
How It Works
1. Same meaning, higher style. Nedz ..., nedz works like ne ..., ne. Everyday speech mostly uses ne; formal writing often prefers nedz.
2. The verb is negative too. When nedz pairs two objects, subjects or adverbs, the verb also gets ne-:
- Viņš nerunāja nedz latviski, nedz angliski. (He spoke neither Latvian nor English.)
- Nedz ministrs, nedz viņa padomnieki nekomentēja šo lēmumu. (Neither the minister nor his advisers commented on the decision.)
- After nav, the missing things are genitive: Viņai nav nedz laika, nedz naudas. (She has neither time nor money.)
3. Two verbs. When nedz joins two verbs, the verbs stay positive, because nedz already negates them: Daudzi jaunieši nedz mācās, nedz strādā. (Many young people neither study nor work.)
4. Variants. You may also see a mixed ne ..., nedz, and nedz arī for extra weight on the second part.
5. The comma. A comma goes before the second nedz only, as with gan ..., gan. No comma goes before the first nedz.
Examples (5)
- Viņš nerunāja nedz latviski, nedz angliski.
He spoke neither Latvian nor English.
Word by Word: He not-spoke neither Latvian, nor English.
- Viņai nav nedz laika, nedz naudas.
She has neither time nor money.
After nav, laika and naudas are genitive.
- Nedz ministrs, nedz viņa padomnieki nekomentēja šo lēmumu.
Neither the minister nor his advisers commented on this decision.
- Daudzi jaunieši nedz mācās, nedz strādā.
Many young people neither study nor work.
Here nedz joins two verbs, so mācās and strādā stay positive.
- Līgums neparedz nedz sodu, nedz kompensāciju.
The contract provides for neither a penalty nor compensation.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the verb positive when nedz pairs words that are not verbs.
Viņš runāja nedz latviski, nedz angliski.Viņš nerunāja nedz latviski, nedz angliski.Standard Latvian negates the verb as well when nedz ..., nedz pairs objects, subjects or adverbs, like latviski and angliski here.
Negating verbs that nedz already joins.
Daudzi jaunieši nedz nemācās, nedz nestrādā.Daudzi jaunieši nedz mācās, nedz strādā.When nedz stands directly before each verb, it is the negation. Adding ne- to the verbs doubles it.
Putting the comma in the wrong place.
Viņš nerunāja, nedz latviski nedz angliski.Viņš nerunāja nedz latviski, nedz angliski.The only comma goes before the second nedz.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Nedz ... nedz is formal.
Related Patterns
- ne- + VerbNegating a Verb with Ne-
The verb takes ne- when nedz pairs objects, subjects or adverbs.
Level 1 - nekas / neviens / nekur / nekadNobody, Nothing and Never
Like nedz, these negative words go with a negative verb.
Level 2 - gan ... ganBoth ... and
Gan ..., gan (both ... and) is the positive pair with the same comma rule.
Level 3 - vai nu ... vaiEither ... or
Vai nu ..., vai (either ... or) is the pair for a choice.
Level 4 - Official Style
Nedz ..., nedz is typical of the formal written style.
Level 6
Words in This Pattern
Practice nedz ... nedz in Bubblegum
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