Two-Part Conjunctions: weder... noch

This structure belongs to the family of "two-part conjunctions." In German, we call these mehrteilige Konjunktionen. They work as a team. The first part weder introduces the first negative item. The second part noch introduces the second one. Symmetry is the most important rule here. If you start with a noun, follow with a noun. If you start with a verb, follow with a verb. It is like balancing a scale. You are essentially saying "Zero plus Zero equals Zero." You do not need the word nicht at all. The conjunctions themselves already carry the negative meaning. Adding nicht would be a double negative mistake. This would confuse people or sound like a bad translation. Think of it like a light switch. weder... noch turns the light off for two things at once.

1. 1Pick two items or actions you want to reject.
2. 2Start your thought or sentence normally.
3. 3Place weder directly before the first rejected item.
4. 4Place the first item (noun, adjective, or verb) right after.
5. 5Place noch directly before the second rejected item.
6. 6Add the second item immediately after noch.
7. 7Check your verb position in the sentence.
8. 8If you connect two full sentences, use a comma before noch.
9. 9If you connect just words or phrases, no comma is needed.

Imagine you are at a fancy restaurant. The waiter asks if you want sparkling or still water. You are on a budget and just want tap water. You say: "Ich möchte weder stilles noch Sprudelwasser." It sounds much more polite than just saying "No." You can also use it in a job interview. Maybe they ask if you speak French or Russian. You might say: "Ich spreche weder Französisch noch Russisch." It sounds professional and clear. It is great for describing weather too. "Heute ist es weder warm noch sonnig." It is perfect for those gray Berlin days. Use it when you want to rule out possibilities. It is the ultimate tool for the picky eater. Or for someone who just knows exactly what they don't want.

Don't use it if you only dislike one thing. That would be lonely. Also, don't use it for positive choices. For that, you need sowohl... als auch. Some people try to use it with nicht. That is a big no-no. "Ich habe nicht weder Zeit noch Lust" is a disaster. It is like wearing two pairs of sunglasses at once. You can't see anything. Also, avoid using it if the items are not equal. You shouldn't connect a noun with a long sub-clause usually. It makes the sentence feel lopsided and heavy. Keep it simple and balanced for the best effect. If you are choosing between two things (one or the other), use entweder... oder. weder... noch is only for when both are rejected.

The biggest trap is the double negative. People often slip a nicht into the sentence. Forget nicht when you use weder. Another mistake is the verb agreement. If you have two subjects, which one does the verb follow? Usually, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. For example: "Weder meine Eltern noch meine Schwester kommt." Note that kommt is singular because of Schwester. Many learners also forget the comma rule. Only use a comma if noch starts a new clause. If it's just two words, leave the comma out. Sometimes people swap the order. They might say noch... weder by mistake. That will definitely get you some confused looks. It is like trying to put your shoes on before your socks.

Let's look at the cousins of this grammar point. First, we have sowohl... als auch. This means "both... and." It is the happy, positive version of our rule. Then there is nicht nur... sondern auch. This means "not only... but also." It adds extra emphasis to the second part. Finally, we have entweder... oder. This is the "either... or" choice. It is like a fork in the road. weder... noch is the dead end for both paths. While entweder... oder forces a choice, weder... noch rejects all options. It is helpful to learn these as a set. They are the building blocks of complex German sentences. Once you master one, the others become much easier to understand.