German · B1 · Everyday language
Two Choices Out in German
Help your child explain that neither of two options is right or available. German uses weder ... noch for “neither ... nor,” linking the two excluded items without adding nicht.
What you'll learn
- Use weder ... noch to exclude two people, things, activities or places.
- Link matching words or phrases, such as two adjectives or two location phrases.
- Keep normal German verb placement and use the correct case for each item.
German phrases for two choices out
Weder dein Lesebuch noch deine Hausaufgabenmappe ist in der Tasche.
Neither your reading book nor your homework folder is in the bag.
Weder ... noch links two subjects. Dein and deine match the genders of das Lesebuch and die Hausaufgabenmappe.
Wir haben heute weder Fußball noch Schwimmen.
We have neither football nor swimming today.
This is a natural way to talk about scheduled activities. Schwimmen is capitalized because it is used as a noun.
Weder die rote Schachtel noch die blaue Schachtel passt in deinen Schulranzen.
Neither the red box nor the blue box fits in your school bag.
Schachtel means “box.” In deinen Schulranzen uses the accusative: the box would go into the school bag.
Dein Freund isst weder Käse noch Eier.
Your friend eats neither cheese nor eggs.
No nicht or kein is needed. For a female friend, use Deine Freundin.
Weder Mama noch Papa kann dich heute früher abholen.
Neither Mum nor Dad can collect you early today.
Kann is the conjugated modal verb; abholen goes at the end. Früher means “earlier,” as in earlier than the usual collection time.
Du brauchst weder Geld noch eine Eintrittskarte für das Schulpicknick.
You need neither money nor a ticket for the school picnic.
Eintrittskarte means an admission ticket. Weder ... noch replaces the need for a separate negative word.
Dieses Buch ist weder zu lang noch zu schwierig für dich.
This book is neither too long nor too difficult for you.
Here the pair links two adjective phrases. Zu before an adjective means “too.”
Wir können deine Turnschuhe weder im Flur noch unter deinem Bett finden.
We can find your trainers neither in the hall nor under your bed.
The pair links two locations. Im Flur and unter deinem Bett use the dative because they describe where the shoes might be.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
weder ... noch
neither ... nor
Place weder before the first excluded item and noch before the second.
das Lesebuch
reading book
A book used for reading practice, especially at school.
die Hausaufgabenmappe
homework folder
Mappe means a folder for papers.
der Schulranzen
school bag
Usually a structured school bag worn on a child's back.
abholen
to collect; to pick up
A separable verb: Ich hole dich ab. With a modal verb: Ich kann dich abholen.
die Eintrittskarte
admission ticket
Used for entry to an event or venue, rather than for travel.
die Turnschuhe
trainers; sports shoes
Plural. One shoe is der Turnschuh.
der Flur
hall; hallway
Im Flur means “in the hall.” Im is short for in dem.
One pair, two exclusions
Weder ... noch makes both linked items negative. Do not add nicht or kein just to negate those same items. Link matching structures: two nouns, two adjective phrases or two location phrases.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Two nouns | weder + noun + noch + noun | Dein Freund isst weder Käse noch Eier. |
| Two adjective phrases | weder + adjective phrase + noch + adjective phrase | Dieses Buch ist weder zu lang noch zu schwierig. |
| Two location phrases | weder + location phrase + noch + location phrase | Die Turnschuhe sind weder im Flur noch unter deinem Bett. |
Verb placement and agreement
Weder ... noch does not send the conjugated verb to the end. When the whole paired subject comes first, the verb follows it. With two singular subjects, singular agreement is common and is used here; plural agreement is also possible. With a modal verb, the infinitive goes at the end.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Paired subject first | Weder + subject + noch + subject + conjugated verb | Weder die rote Schachtel noch die blaue Schachtel passt. |
| Paired objects later | subject + conjugated verb + weder ... noch ... | Du brauchst weder Geld noch eine Eintrittskarte. |
| Modal verb | subject + modal verb + ... + infinitive | Wir können deine Turnschuhe weder im Flur noch unter deinem Bett finden. |
Cases stay the same
Weder and noch do not determine case. Each item keeps the case required by its role, verb or preposition. For these location phrases, use the dative; for fitting into a bag, use the accusative.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Objects of brauchen | brauchen + accusative | Du brauchst weder einen Stift noch ein Heft. |
| Location | in / unter + dative | Die Schuhe sind weder im Flur noch unter dem Bett. |
| Fitting into something | passen + in + accusative | Die Schachtel passt nicht in deinen Schulranzen. |
More examples
Ich möchte weder Käse noch Eier.
I would like neither cheese nor eggs.
A child can use this to decline both food options clearly.
Weder die Jacke noch der Pullover passt mir.
Neither the jacket nor the jumper fits me.
Mir means “me” with passen when talking about clothing that fits.
Die Aufgabe ist weder zu lang noch zu schwer.
The task is neither too long nor too hard.
A reassuring way to exclude two possible worries.