What are the differences between Neither…nor and None of… and subject + do not, will not…etc?
I feel these two structures mean the same and that the latter is more straightforward. In other words, I think Example 2, Example 4, and Example 6 are easier to understand. What do you think?
Example 1
Neither John, Mary, nor Joseph will help me fix the problem.
Example 2
John, Mary, and Joseph will not help me fix the problem.
Example 3
Neither the government nor the private tech companies will invest in that type of technology.
Example 4
The government or the private tech companies will not invest in that type of technology.
Example 5
None of my friends will give me advice about how to pass the exam.
Example 6
My friends will not give me advice about how to pass the exam.
Best Answer
We use 'or' (and 'nor', when speaking in negative terms) to show that list items are alternatives and not items being collected together. "None of" also treats people/items as individuals because 'none' represents zero, so it shows they have been counted individually. By phrasing your sentences without these, you lose the sense that the people and things mentioned are individual items.
Your proposed alternative sentences do not mean the same as the originals, and are confusing:
Example 2 would mean that the 3 people had refused to help you collectively, rather than as individuals.
Example 4 could mean that 'the government' and 'private tech companies' are alternatives that might apply when the original sentence means neither.
Example 6 sounds like your friends have collectively refused to help you.