Lesson 35 verb order in compound sentences with “nor”
Choose the correct answers:
- My brother is sick today. He is not in school, __________ (nor he is, nor he is not, nor is he) at work.
- He has not eaten anything, __________ (nor he has not drunk, nor has he drunk, nor he drank) anything since this morning.
- Fortunately, his supervisor will not ask him to work tomorrow, __________ (she will not deduct, nor she will deduct, nor will she deduct) his pay for being absent.
Explain:
When “nor” is used as a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence, it means “and not”. Do not use another “not” or “no”. In the second part of the sentence, follow the patterns below:
When the main verb is a “Be” verb:
nor + a form of “Be” + subject
When the main verb is a “Do” verb:
nor + helping verb + subject + main verb
- In Sentence #1, nor + is (a form of “Be”) + he (subject) [simple present tense]
- In Sentence #2, nor + has (helping verb) + he (subject) + drunk (past participle of the main verb “drink”) [present perfect tense]
- In Sentence #3, nor + will (helping verb) + she (subject) + deduct (base form of main verb) [simple future tense]
Review:
- My sister did not buy any clothes in the mall yesterday, __________ (she nor bought, nor did she buy) any shoes.
- She has not spent too much money on herself recently, __________ (nor has she spent, nor she has not spent) too much on her family.
- She is not going to buy useless things, __________ (she is not going to overspend, nor is she going to overspend) on other things until she saves enough for a house.
Answers:
nor is he; nor has he drunk; nor will she deduct
nor did she buy; nor has she spent; nor is she going to overspend
