Both, Either and Neither — overview
These three words all refer to two things or people.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| both | the two (= this one AND the other) | Both answers are correct. · I'll take both. |
| either | one of the two (= this one OR the other) | Either day is fine for me. · I don't mind either. |
| neither | not one and not the other (= NOT this OR the other) | Neither answer is correct. · I like neither. |
Neither uses a positive verb:
"Neither" already contains the negative meaning: ✓ "Neither film is good." ✗ "Neither film isn't good." Don't double up the negative.
Correlatives: both…and / either…or / neither…nor
| Correlative | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| both … and … | the two things are true | She speaks both French and Spanish. |
| either … or … | one possibility or the other | You can either call or send an email. |
| neither … nor … | not the first and not the second | She speaks neither French nor Spanish. |
Agreement (verb form)
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| both + plural verb | Both options are available. |
| either/neither + singular verb (formal) | Neither answer is correct. |
| either/neither…or/nor + verb agrees with second subject | Either you or he is responsible. · Neither she nor her children were hurt. |
Exercises
Choose the correct word.
1. I've seen ___ of those films — I don't go to the cinema much. (= not one, not the other)
2. ___ my brother and I wanted pizza, so we ordered one.
3. You can pay ___ by card or cash.
4. ___ of the two restaurants was good — we were disappointed.
5. She speaks ___ Spanish nor Italian. (formal correlative)