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Ni l'un(e) ni l'autre ne ... = Neither (one nor the other) (French Negations)

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE
Last updated: 2023-04-04
59 questions

In French, you use Ni l'un(e) ni l'autre ne... to express neither one nor the other or neither (of them).

Negative sentences with "ni l'un(e) ni l'autre ne ..." in French

Look at these examples:

Mes filles sont bonnes en maths, mais ni l'une ni l'autre ne sont bonnes en français.My daughters are good at maths, but neither one [nor the other] is good at French.

Thomas et Olivier ont bien couru, mais ni l'un ni l'autre n'a obtenu la médaille d'or.Thomas and Olivier ran well, but neither of them got the gold medal.

L'un/l'une agrees in gender with its antecedent.

Agreement of the verb

The rule is as follows:

- If the action could potentially be carried out simultaneously by both subjects introduced by ni...ni..., then use the plural form of the verb (ils/elles form).
Qu'en est-il de Julien et Sophie ? - Ni l'un ni l'autre ne peuvent venir.What about Julien and Sophie? - Neither one (nor the other) can come.

Le prof a interrogé Lucas et Marc, mais ni l'un ni l'autre ne connaissaient leur leçon.The teacher quizzed Lucas and Marc, but neither of them knew their lesson.

- If the action could only be carried out by one of the subjects introduced by ni...ni... at any given time, then use the singular form of the verb (il/elle/on form).
Ils ont fait le test, mais ni l'un ni l'autre n'est le père.They took the test, but neither one nor the other is the father.

Lisa et Julie ont postulé, mais ni l'une ni l'autre n'a décroché le poste.Lisa and Julie applied, but neither of them got the job.

Note that in some cases, either plural or singular are acceptable, depending on the meaning you want to emphasise:
J'ai appelé Paul et Hadrien, mais ni l'un ni l'autre n'a répondu.I called Paul and Hadrien, but neither one (nor the other) answered.
 
->Here you're highlighting that one after the other didn't reply to your successive calls.
 
J'ai appelé Paul et Hadrien, mais ni l'un ni l'autre n'ont répondu.I called Paul and Hadrien, but neither one (nor the other) answered.
 
-> Here you're emphasising that both of them failed to reply.

 

Ni l'un(e) ni l'autre can also be used on its own to express neither:

Quel parfum tu veux ? Fraise ou vanille? - Ni l'un ni l'autre.What flavour do you want ? Strawberry or vanilla? - Neither.

Tu aimes Fiona ou Pauline? - Ni l'une ni l'autre.Do you love Fiona or Pauline? - Neither.

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Examples and resources

Tu aimes Fiona ou Pauline? - Ni l'une ni l'autre.Do you love Fiona or Pauline? - Neither.
Quel parfum tu veux ? Fraise ou vanille? - Ni l'un ni l'autre.What flavour do you want ? Strawberry or vanilla? - Neither.
Ils ont fait le test, mais ni l'un ni l'autre n'est le père.They took the test, but neither one nor the other is the father.
Lisa et Julie ont postulé, mais ni l'une ni l'autre n'a décroché le poste.Lisa and Julie applied, but neither of them got the job.
Le prof a interrogé Lucas et Marc, mais ni l'un ni l'autre ne connaissaient leur leçon.The teacher quizzed Lucas and Marc, but neither of them knew their lesson.
Thomas et Olivier ont bien couru, mais ni l'un ni l'autre n'a obtenu la médaille d'or.Thomas and Olivier ran well, but neither of them got the gold medal.
J'ai appelé Paul et Hadrien, mais ni l'un ni l'autre n'ont répondu.I called Paul and Hadrien, but neither one (nor the other) answered.
J'ai appelé Paul et Hadrien, mais ni l'un ni l'autre n'a répondu.I called Paul and Hadrien, but neither one (nor the other) answered.
Qu'en est-il de Julien et Sophie ? - Ni l'un ni l'autre ne peuvent venir.What about Julien and Sophie? - Neither one (nor the other) can come.
Mes filles sont bonnes en maths, mais ni l'une ni l'autre ne sont bonnes en français.My daughters are good at maths, but neither one [nor the other] is good at French.
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