Grammar : Either / Neither

Grammar : Either-Neither

​How Either and Neither are used

1. Either / or : used in a sentence in the affirmative sense when referring to a choice between two possibilities.

   Example : We can either eat now or after the show - it's up to you. (it's up to you --> ça dépend de toi).

2. Neither / nor - used in a sentence in the negative sense when you want to say that two or more things are not true.

Examples : Neither my mother nor my father went to university.

When using either/or and neither/nor, note the following rules :

a. If both elements are singular, then the verb is singular too.

• Either the father or the mother has to attend the meeting. (The nouns 'father' and 'mother' are singular, so the verb 'has' is singular too)

• Neither Leila nor Nancy is going to write the report. ('Leila' and 'Nancy' are singular, so the verb ' is' is singular too)

b. However, if one of the elements is plural, then use a plural verb.

• Either Roman or the girls are going to prepare dinner tonight. (The noun 'girls' is plural, so the verb 'are' is plural too)

• Neither the teacher nor the students were in the classroom this morning. (The noun 'students' is plural; so the verb 'were' is plural too)

3. We use 'either + a singular noun' to mean 'this one or that one' when we are talking about two things of the same kind (like two drinks or two t-shirts).

Examples : Either drink is fine. I like both kinds.

We could go to either restaurant.

Julie might buy either t-shirt.

4. We use 'neither + a singular noun'' to mean 'not this one and also not that one' when we are talking about two things of the same kind.

• Neither drink is fine. John hates both of them.

• Neither restaurant is good. Let's go somewhere else.

4. We use 'either of + plural noun' and 'neither of + plural noun' before a pronoun or a word like 'this' or 'the' or 'my'.

Example : Either of my dresses is good. (= this dress is good and also that dress is good.)

• Either of us can get the key.

• Neither of my dresses will do. (both of my dresses are not good.)

• Neither of us will be on time.

5. We can also use 'neither' or 'either' at the beginning of a sentence or clause. It means 'also not' or 'also'. We need to use inverted word order afterwards.

Example : I'm not at home. Neither is John. -->(John non plus)

I don't like coffee. Neither do I.(Me neither). -->(Moi non plus)

I love going to the beach. Either do I. (Me too or Me either but deprecated). -->[Moi aussi]

This diapo doesn't cover all the aspect of Either-Neither. So don't hesitate to improve your knowledge with additional information.

​Above all, don't forget to practice !!!

​AEBM English Club Property

Thanks For Reading !!!