EITHER and NEITHER are used when talking about TWO options. EITHER = one or the other (positive/choice): "Either answer is correct" (both are OK, choose one) / "I don't like either." (not this one, not that one). NEITHER = not one and not the other (negative): "Neither answer is correct" (both are wrong). Use SINGULAR verb: "Either is fine" / "Neither is correct". EITHER...OR = choice between two: "Either coffee or tea". NEITHER...NOR = negative for both: "Neither coffee nor tea" (none of them). Use positive verb with neither: "Neither is good" (not: isn't).
| Subject | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Either (one of two) | Either answer is correct. / Either is fine. | I don't like either. | Is either OK? |
| Neither (none of two) | Neither answer is correct. (both wrong) | not used (already negative) | Is neither correct? |
| Either...or (choice) | Either coffee or tea. / Either he or she is right. | not used | Either this or that? |
| Neither...nor (negative) | Neither coffee nor tea. (none) | not used | Neither this nor that? |
| Verb agreement | Either is fine. (singular) / Neither is correct. (singular) | not used | Is either/neither OK? |
| Either...or verb | Either John or Mary is coming. (nearest subject) | not used | Is either John or Mary coming? |
EITHER — one of two (both are OK, choose one)
"Either answer is correct." (both are right) / "Either is fine." / "You can take either road." (both roads work)
NEITHER — none of two (both are not OK)
"Neither answer is correct." (both are wrong) / "Neither is right." / "Neither road is safe." (both roads are unsafe)
EITHER...OR — choice between two options
"Either coffee or tea." / "You can have either this or that." / "Either he or she is right." (one of them is right)
NEITHER...NOR — negative for both options
"Neither coffee nor tea." (I want none) / "Neither he nor she is right." (both are wrong) / "I want neither this nor that."
Verb agreement — use singular verb
"Either is fine." (not: are) / "Neither is correct." (not: are) / "Either of them is good." / "Neither of them knows."
Either...or verb — agrees with nearest subject
"Either John or Mary is coming." (Mary is singular) / "Either Mary or the students are coming." (students is plural)
Either in negatives = neither
"I don't like either." = "I like neither." / "I haven't seen either." = "I have seen neither."
Either are fine.
Either is fine.
'Either' takes a SINGULAR verb (is, not are).
Neither aren't correct.
Neither is correct.
'Neither' is already negative. Use positive verb form (is, not aren't).
Neither of them are good.
Neither of them is good.
'Neither' takes a SINGULAR verb, even with 'of them'.
Either John and Mary is coming.
Either John or Mary is coming.
Use 'or' with 'either', not 'and'.
Neither John or Mary
Neither John nor Mary
Use 'nor' with 'neither', not 'or'.
Deciding on a restaurant
Tom
Lisa
Tom
Lisa
Tom
Lisa
Tom
Complete with "either" or "neither".
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