Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Iwana]

Dear teachers,

Do they mean the same ?
1. Mary and Tom don't go to school.
2. Neither Mary nor Tom go to school.

My question is whether "A and B ～not" is
the same as "Neither A or B".

I need your help.

Thank you very much.

Iwana

[CP]

They do mean the same thing, but note:

1. Mary and Tom don't go to school. Can also say, Both Tom and Mary don't go to school. But it is a little clumsy either way.
2. Neither Mary nor Tom goes to school. (Neither means not either.) Mary does not go to school, and neither does Tom. Neither one goes to school.
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