Question

Which of the sentences given below conveys the same as the following:
Shakespeare knew neither Latin nor Greek.

• A. Shakespeare did not know Latin. He did not know Greek.
• B. Shakespeare knew both Latin and Greek.
• C. Shakespeare knew Latin but not Greek.
• D. Latin and Greek were both known to Shakespeare.

Answer 1

The correct option is A Shakespeare did not know Latin. He did not know Greek.

'Neither' means 'not either' or 'none of the two things or people'.

The sentence means that 'Shakespeare knew none of the two languages: Latin as well as Greek'.

Option A: The sentence also means that 'Shakespeare did not know Latin as well as Greek'. Hence, option A is correct.

Option B: The sentence mean that 'Shakespeare knew both the languages'. Hence, this option is incorrect.

Option C: The sentence means that 'Shakespeare knew one of the two languages (Latin)'. Hence, this option is incorrect.

Option D: The sentence means that 'Shakespeare knew both the languages'. Hence, this option is incorrect.