Either/Neither

EITHER / NEITHER :--

We can use either or neither as a pronoun, determiner, conjunction or an adverb.

   1.  Used as a PRONOUN

   2.  Used as a DETERMINER

   3.  Used as a CONJUNCTION

   4.  Used as an ADVERB

   5.  USING 'NOR' WITHOUT NEITHER

   1. USED  AS  A  PRONOUN :--
 

    (a)  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.

     e.g.:--

   *  Either of the boys is guilty of starting the fire.
  
   *  Neither of the two donkeys carries heavy loads.

   *  Either of them has stolen my chewing gum.

   *  Neither of them has the courage to talk to her.

 ………………………………………………..

    (b)  Either can mean (the one) OR (the other) of two persons or things.

     e.g.:--

   *  Give me either of them please.

 ………………………………………………..

   (c)  Neither is often used to start a sentence or reply to a question.

    e.g.:--

   *  Neither of the boys knows anything about her.

   *  "Which pizza do you want?" "Neither, Thank you." (There are only two pizzas.)

 ………………………………………………..

    (d)  When the verb is in the negative, we cannot use ' neither'. We must use   'either '.

     e.g.:--

   *  He doesn't want either of those balls.

     (Note:-- He doesn't want neither of those balls.)

……………………………………………….

   (e)  Instead of using 'both .... not' we would use ' neither '.

    e.g.:--

   *  We would not usually say, "Both of them don't know the answer."

      Instead, we would say "Neither of them knows the answer."

  ………………………………………………..

 (f)  We can use 'either' or 'neither' on its own.

    e.g.:--

   * "Do you want coffee or tea?" "Either. It doesn't matter which one."

   * "Which house do you have in mind?" "Neither. They are overpriced."

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   2. USED AS A DETERMINER :--
  

   (a)  We use 'either' to say about [one] OR [the other] of two persons or things.

    e.g.:--

  * I have viewed both houses but I don't like either one very much.

………………………………………………..

   (b)  We use 'either' to mean [the one] AND [the other] of two people or things.

   e.g.:--

  *  There is a door at either end of the room.

………………………………………………..

   (c)  We use ' either ' to show [one] or [the other] thing is happening.

    e.g.:--

  *  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.)

………………………………………………..

   (d)  We use 'either' or 'neither' for two things. We use these words with a noun.

   e.g.:--

    *  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.)

………………………………………………..

   (e)  We use 'neither' to mean 'not this one' AND 'not the other one' of two people or things.

   e.g.:--

  *  Neither twin wants to be physically separated from the other.

  *  He is not telling the truth, neither are you.

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  3. USED AS A CONJUNCTION :--
 

     Either......or

     Neither.....nor

   (a)  We use 'either' before two or more persons or things, and use 'or' to separate them.

    e.g.:--

  *  You can borrow either one or two books for now.

        ………………………………………..

   (b)  We use 'either' when we have one of two or more choices.

   e.g.:--

  *  Either she comes over to my place or I go over to hers as agreed.

  *  It's either you send your old fridge for repair or you buy a new one.

        ………………………………………..

   (c)  When there are two nouns in the singular and are joined by 'either... or', or 'neither... nor', they take a singular verb.

   e.g.:--

  *  Neither the cat nor the dog is black in colour. (NOT 'are'.)

  *  Either this frog or that toad is croaking. (NOT 'are')

         ………………………………………..

    (d) 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.

     e.g.:-

  *  Either he or you are telling the truth. (NOT is)
 
  *  Either you or he is telling the truth. (NOT are)

  *  Neither he nor you are telling the truth. (NOT is)
 
  *  Neither you nor he is telling the truth. (NOT are)

  *  Either you or I am going. (NOT are)

  *  Neither you nor I am going. (NOT are)

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    4. USED AS AN ADVERB :--
   

    (a)  We can use ' either ' rather than ' neither ' for negative statement.

     e.g. :--

  *  She won't come with me or with him either.

  *  "I can't spell very well." "I can't either." or "Me, either."

    (b)  We use neither to add a negative statement to one that has just been made.

    e.g. :--

  *  "I don't usually get up late." "Neither do I." or "Me neither."

  *  "If you don't do it yourself, no one will help you." "Neither would I."

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   5. USING 'NOR' WITHOUT NEITHER :--

   (a)  In addition to ' neither ', we can also use ' nor ' in place of it.

   e.g. :--

  *  "I never go to bed early." "Nor do I." or "Neither do I."

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