и ... и / или ... или / ниту ... ниту

Paired Conjunctions

Level 3Sounds Like i ... i; ili ... ili; nitu ... nitu

Repeat the conjunction before each part: и ... и (both ... and), или ... или (either ... or), ниту ... ниту (neither ... nor): Не сакам ниту чај ниту кафе.

How It Works

Each pair is made by placing the same conjunction before both parts.

И ... и (both ... and) stresses that both are true: И Марко и Ана зборуваат англиски. When two people are the subject, the verb is plural.

Или ... или (either ... or) offers a choice between two options: Можеш да платиш или во готово или со картичка. It can also join whole clauses, usually with a comma: Или ќе дојдеш со нас, или ќе останеш дома.

Ниту ... ниту (neither ... nor) denies both options:

  • When each ниту stands directly before its verb, no other negative is needed: Ниту јаде ниту спие. (He neither eats nor sleeps.)
  • When ниту ... ниту comes after the verb, the verb also takes не: Не сакам ниту чај ниту кафе. · Не беше ниту топло ниту студено.

This double negative is normal in Macedonian, just as in Никој не дојде (see никој; ништо; никогаш + не). A shorter ни ... ни also exists (see ниту пак; ни).

A single и or или is covered in да; не; и; а and но; или.

Examples (6)

  1. И Марко и Ана зборуваат англиски.

    Both Marko and Ana speak English.

    Word by Word: And Marko and Ana speak English.

  2. Можеш да платиш или во готово или со картичка.

    You can pay either in cash or by card.

    Word by Word: You-can to you-pay or in cash or with card.

  3. Ниту јаде ниту спие.

    He neither eats nor sleeps.

    Word by Word: Neither eats nor sleeps.

  4. Не сакам ниту чај ниту кафе.

    I want neither tea nor coffee.

    Word by Word: Not I-want neither tea nor coffee.

    Ниту ... ниту comes after the verb, so сакам takes не.

  5. Или ќе дојдеш со нас, или ќе останеш дома.

    Either you come with us, or you stay at home.

    Word by Word: Or will you-come with us, or will you-stay home.

  6. Не беше ниту топло ниту студено.

    It was neither hot nor cold.

    Word by Word: Not was neither warm nor cold.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out не when ниту ... ниту comes after the verb.

    Сакам ниту чај ниту кафе.
    Не сакам ниту чај ниту кафе.

    When the verb comes before ниту ... ниту, it must be negated with не, as with никој and ништо.

  • Using a singular verb after и ... и with two subjects.

    И Марко и Ана зборува англиски.
    И Марко и Ана зборуваат англиски.

    Both people are speaking, so the verb takes the plural ending.

How It Connects

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

и ... и / или ... или / ниту ... нитуLevel 3Paired Conjunctions

Learn This First

Paired conjunctions build on и, или and negation.

Words in This Pattern

иниту