1. It is neither hot nor warm.
(In this sentence, what does 'nor' mean?
Does 'nor' mean 'and - not'?)
2. I don't like pears.
- Me neither.
- The same to me.
- I don't like pears, either.
- I don't like them, either.
(Are the answers all grammatical?)
1. Yes, "nor" means "and not." With "neither," this is an example of a correlative conjunction.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/conjunctions.htm#correlative_conjunctions
2. The first is often used casually (but is grammatically incorrect). The 3rd and 4th choices are the best.
1. In the sentence, "It is neither hot nor warm," the word "nor" is used to express a negative choice or alternative. It is used to join two negative ideas or options, emphasizing that neither of them is true. In this case, it means that "it" is not hot, and it is also not warm.
2. Yes, all of the options provided in response to the statement "I don't like pears" are grammatically acceptable, but let's break them down:
- "Me neither" is a contraction of "me + neither" and means that the person saying it doesn't like pears either. This response mirrors the negative statement made in the original sentence.
- "The same to me" is grammatically correct but not the most common response in English. It conveys the same meaning as the other options, indicating that the speaker also does not like pears.
- "I don't like pears, either" is a straightforward response, expressing agreement with the previous statement. It means that the speaker shares the same sentiment of dislike towards pears.
- "I don't like them, either" is also a correct response. The word "them" refers to pears, and the addition of "either" indicates agreement with the previous statement, stating that the speaker does not like pears as well.