EITHER/NEITHER
We can use
either or neither as a pronoun, determiner, conjunction or an adverb.
- When we use either + of or neither + of,
either or neither being the singular subject in the
sentence must be followed by a singular verb.
EXAMPLE: Either of the boys is guilty of starting
the fire.
EXAMPLE: Neither of the two donkeys carries heavy loads.
EXAMPLE: Either of them has stolen my chewing gum.
EXAMPLE: Neither of them has the courage to talk to her.
- Either
can mean the one OR the other of two persons or things.
EXAMPLE: Give me either of them please.
- Neither
is often used to start a sentence or reply to a question.
EXAMPLE: Neither of the boys knows anything about her.
EXAMPLE: "Which pizza do you want?" "Neither,
Thank you." (There are only two pizzas.)
- When the verb is in the negative, we
cannot use neither. We must use either.
EXAMPLE:
|
He doesn't want either of
those balls.
|
|
(NOT: He doesn't want
neither of those balls.)
|
v Instead of using both ... followed by not
... we would use neither.
EXAMPLE: We would not usually say, "Both of them don't
know the answer." Instead, we would say "Neither of them
knows the answer."
- We use either to say about one OR the
other of two persons or things.
EXAMPLE: I have viewed both houses but I don't like either
one very much.
- We use either to mean the one AND the
other of two people or things.
EXAMPLE: There is a door at either end of the room.
- We use either to show one or the other
thing is happening.
EXAMPLE: Either he is telling the truth or you are.
EXAMPLE: Either you are going, or I am.
- We use either or neither for two
things. We use these words with a noun.
EXAMPLE: We can ride either horse. (either horse = a
noun, so we do not say 'either horses; either = this horse or the other
horse. I don't mind riding one of them.)
EXAMPLE: Neither book is mine. ('Neither book' is treated as a
noun, 'is' not 'are' is used. The sentence means both the books are not
mine.)
- We use neither to mean not this one
AND not the other one of two people or things.
EXAMPLE: Neither twin wants to be physically separated
from the other.
EXAMPLE: He is not telling the truth, neither are you.
|
v We can use either or neither on its own.
EXAMPLE: "Do you want coffee or tea?" "Either.
It doesn't matter which one."
EXAMPLE: "Which house do you have in mind?" "Neither.
They are overpriced."
|
3. Used as a Conjunction
|
- We use either before two or more persons or
things, and use or to separate them.
EXAMPLE: You can borrow either one or two books for
now.
- We use either when we have one of two
or more choices.
EXAMPLE: Either she comes over to my place or I go
over to hers as agreed.
EXAMPLE: It's either you send your old fridge for repair or
you buy a new one.
- When there are two nouns in the singular
and are joined by either... or, or neither... nor, they
take a singular verb.
EXAMPLE: Neither the cat nor the dog is
black in colour. (NOT 'are'.)
EXAMPLE: Either this frog or that toad is
croaking. (NOT 'are')
- When the two subjects are in different persons, and
the subjects are joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb agrees with the
subject nearest or next to it.
EXAMPLE:
|
Either he or you are telling the truth. (NOT is)
|
|
Either you or he is telling the truth. (NOT are)
|
EXAMPLE:
|
Neither he nor you are telling the truth. (NOT
is)
|
|
Neither you nor he is telling the truth. (NOT
are)
|
EXAMPLE:
|
Either you or I am going. (NOT are)
|
|
Neither you nor I am going. (NOT are)
|
|
4. Used as an Adverb
|
- We can use either rather than neither
for negative statement.
EXAMPLE: She won't come with me or with him either.
EXAMPLE: "I can't spell very well." "I can't either."
or "Me, either."
- We use neither to add a negative
statement to one that has just been made.
EXAMPLE: "I don't usually get up late." "Neither
do I." or "Me neither."
EXAMPLE: "If you don't do it yourself, no one will help
you." "Neither would I."
|
5. Using 'Nor' without Neither
In addition to neither, we
can also use nor in place of it.
EXAMPLE: "I never go to bed early." "Nor do
I." or "Neither do I."
EXAMPLE: "I haven't seen the movie." "Nor have
I." or "Neither have I."
|
