Common mistakes
Either or neither: choose between two possibilities
A friend offers you tea or coffee. Do you want either or neither?
Use either or neither to accept one of two choices or reject both. Learn word pairs and short spoken replies.
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either or neither EE-ther-or-NEE-ther
EE-ther and EYE-ther are both accepted, as are NEE-ther and NYE-ther. You can hear both patterns in British and American English.
The short answer
For two choices, either means one or the other is possible; neither rules out both. To reject both in standard English, say I want neither or I don't want either.
Either seat is fine, but neither has a clear view of the stage.
Why it works: Either seat is acceptable, but both seats lack a clear view.
4 more examples
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Planning a team meeting
We can meet on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Use either with or to offer two alternatives.
Not this:We can meet on
neither Tuesday orWednesday. What changes: The two words do not form the standard pair for rejecting both days. -
Checking two mobile phones
Neither phone has enough battery left.
Use neither before a singular noun to reject both items.
Not this:
Neither phoneshave enough battery left. What changes: Placing a plural noun directly after neither is a grammar mistake. -
Talking about drinks
I don't like coffee, and I don't like tea either.
Use not with either at the end of a negative sentence.
Not this:I don't like coffee, and I don't like
tea neither. What changes: This uses two negative words for one negative meaning. Standard English uses either here. -
Talking about family
Neither of my parents speaks French.
Use neither of before my parents, the players, or a pronoun (a word like them or us).
Not this:
Neither my parentsspeaks French. What changes: Neither cannot directly introduce my parents in this pattern.
Quick check
Your friend asks, 'Do you want tea or coffee?' You like both options and do not mind which one. What do you say?
Answer: Either is fine with me, thanks.
Show the answer
Answer: Either is fine with me, thanks.
Use either for one of two choices when any option works. Neither means not one and not the other.
Read the full guide
Try the listening exerciseYou're planning dinner with a coworker after a long workday. Two Italian places sit across the street. Knowing which word to pick helps you suggest one place or turn down both without confusing anyone.
Pick one or reject both
The problem: I know the rule but I still choose the wrong word when I speak.
You stand at a coffee counter with two drink specials. If you want the mocha or latte, either drink works. If you dislike both, neither drink fits your taste. Choose either for one option and neither for zero.
-
Not this:
I don't want neither shirt.Say: I want neither shirt.
To reject both shirts in standard English, use neither here without don't. I don't want either shirt also works.
Your turn
Your friend asks if you want to watch a comedy or an action film. You do not want to watch any film tonight. What do you say?
Answer: I want to watch neither film tonight.
Show the answer
Answer: I want to watch neither film tonight.
Neither film means not the comedy and not the action film. Neither already supplies the negative meaning.
Pair words and avoid double negatives
The problem: I used neither with a negative verb like do not and made a mistake.
A colleague offers two meeting times. Link the choices with either and or. To say both times are unsuitable, use neither and nor. Keep the two parts alike: link two names, two actions, or two full clauses (groups of words built around verbs).
-
You can either call me or send a text message.
Why it works: Use either with or to offer two choices.
-
Neither Mike nor Lisa answered the office phone.
Why it works: Neither person answered: Mike did not, and Lisa did not.
Your turn
Fill in the blank to complete the sentence correctly.
Answer: I can't speak German, and I can't speak Italian either.
Show the answer
Answer: either
After a negative verb like can't, use either instead of neither to avoid a double negative.
Choose the noun and verb forms
The problem: I put a plural noun directly after either or neither without saying of.
You are comparing two laptops. Use a singular noun directly after either or neither: either laptop, neither laptop. With a plural group, use of plus the, these, or a word like my. With them or us, use of directly: neither of them.
Follow either or neither with a singular noun directly.
Either road leads to the train station.
Use of the, of these, or of my before a plural noun.
Either of the roads leads to the train station.
-
Not this:
Neither players scored a goal.Say: Neither player scored a goal.
Use a singular noun directly after neither, or say neither of the players.
Use a singular verb after neither player. After neither of the players, careful writing usually uses a singular verb too. A plural verb is common in everyday speech: neither of them are ready. Both styles occur; the direct noun pattern stays singular.
Your turn
Which sentence puts a singular noun directly after neither?
Answer: Neither key opens the front door.
Show the answer
Answer: Neither key opens the front door.
Use neither key directly, or neither of the keys. Neither keys and neither of key do not follow these patterns.
Agree with negative statements in conversation
The problem: I said Me too to agree with a negative sentence instead of Me neither.
Your friend says they don't like cold weather. Me neither is a common short reply when the same is true for you. Me too usually follows a positive statement. After a negative statement, Me neither makes your agreement clear.
- Elena
I don't eat meat or fish.
- David
Me neither. I stick to vegetables and rice.
-
Not this:
Friend: I don't like spicy food. You: Neither I do.Say: Friend: I don't like spicy food. You: Neither do I.
In a full reply, put the helping verb before the subject: neither do I, neither can I, neither have I.
Your turn
Your coworker says, 'I can't find my car keys anywhere.' You also can't find yours. Which reply uses short negative agreement?
Answer: Me neither! I've looked everywhere for mine.
Show the answer
Answer: Me neither! I've looked everywhere for mine.
Reply with Me neither to agree with a negative statement like can't find.
Before you go
Question 1 of 2
Select the sentence with correct grammar and pairing.
Answer: We can either take the train or drive the car.
Show the answer
Answer: We can either take the train or drive the car.
Either pairs with or to offer two options. Neither pairs with nor.
Question 2 of 2 · One new sentence
A coworker asks if you prefer Monday or Tuesday for the team project review. Both days suit your schedule. What is the most natural reply?
Answer: Either day works well for me, thanks.
Show the answer
Answer: Either day works well for me, thanks.
Either day means Monday or Tuesday is fine. Neither would reject both days.
Remember this
Use either for an acceptable choice and neither to reject both. Match either with or and neither with nor. Then practice the spoken replies.
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Picking paint colors
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Talking about swimming
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Leaving a park before dark
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Ordering dessert at a cafe
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Save my progressQuestions about "Either or neither: choose between two possibilities"
Should I use is or are after neither of them?
Careful writing usually uses a singular verb after neither of them. A plural verb is also common in everyday speech. Keep this separate from neither followed directly by a singular noun: neither locker takes a singular verb. The examples below show a careful written pattern and a common spoken one.
Neither of the lockers is empty.
Neither of them are empty.
Does either always mean just one of two things?
No. With a choice, either means one or the other is possible. In expressions such as on either side, it can mean each of the two sides. The situation tells you which meaning applies. Either seat is available offers a choice; plants on either side describes plants on both sides.
You can leave your coat on either chair.
Tall trees grow on either bank of the canal.
Are neither do I and I don't either both correct?
Yes. Both can agree with a statement containing don't. After neither, put the helping verb before the subject: neither do I. With either, keep the ordinary order: I don't either. Match the helping verb to the first statement, so can't leads to neither can I. Me neither is another common short reply.
A: I don't keep receipts. B: Neither do I.
A: I don't keep receipts. B: I don't either.
A: I can't whistle. B: Neither can I.
Should either sound like EE-ther or EYE-ther?
Both pronunciations are accepted. Neither can begin with NEE or NYE too. These are pronunciation choices, not different meanings. British and American speakers use both patterns, so you do not need to change your meaning or spelling when you hear a different first vowel.
Either route takes us past the library.
Neither bag belongs to Marta.
Is none used only when there are three or more things?
No. None means not any, so it can also refer to an amount that you do not count as separate items. You can say none of the juice. When you are comparing two named choices, neither is the usual clear choice. Learn the meaning and the noun pattern instead of treating none as a number rule.
None of the juice was left after lunch.
I tried the two spare chargers, but neither worked.
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