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Either and neither are two of the most versatile words in English grammar, and I’ve watched them trip up learners at every level. The confusion isn’t because the words are hard — it’s because they show up in so many roles. Sometimes they’re conjunctions connecting two ideas. Sometimes they’re pronouns standing in for a noun. Sometimes they’re adverbs echoing a negative statement. And sometimes they’re determiners narrowing down a choice. Once you see these four patterns, everything clicks into place.
You’ll walks you through each function — conjunction, pronoun, adverb, determiner — and shows you exactly when to reach for either and when to use neither. You’ll also learn the key rule for verb agreement and how to spot the most common mistakes.
Key Takeaways
- Either = one of two (affirmative choice); Neither = not one of two (both excluded).
- Either…or connects two positive options; Neither…nor connects two negative options.
- Verb agreement rule: The verb agrees with the noun closest to it (with either/or and neither/nor).
- Four grammatical roles: Conjunction (connects options) → Pronoun (stands for a noun) → Adverb (echoes negation) → Determiner (narrows a choice).
- Common mistake: Using “either” when you mean “neither” — they are opposites, not interchangeable.
The Core Meaning: Affirmative vs. Negative
The simplest way to separate these two words is to remember their opposite jobs:
- Either is used for affirmative choices — you have at least one option available.
- Neither is used for negative choices — both options are ruled out or not applicable.
Example comparison:
Either: You can have either tea or coffee.
(Translation: You have two options, and you’ll pick one.)
Neither: Neither tea nor coffee is available today.
(Translation: Both options are gone. You have zero choices.)
Once you grasp this core difference, everything else follows naturally.
Function 1: Conjunction (Connecting Choices)
When either and neither act as conjunctions, they pair with “or” and “nor” respectively to connect two alternatives in a sentence.
Either…Or (Affirmative Alternatives)
Use either…or when you want to present two possible options and the listener or reader must choose one (or both might be possible).
Example 1: You can either take the bus or walk to the station.
Example 2: Either Sarah or James will lead the meeting tomorrow.
Example 3: We can go either next week or the week after.
Neither…Nor (Negative Alternatives)
Use neither…nor when you want to exclude both options from consideration.
Example 1: Neither the blue shirt nor the green one looks good on me.
Example 2: Neither John nor Mary will be attending the party.
Example 3: I can neither confirm nor deny the allegations.
Conjunction structure: Either A or B = (choose A) or (choose B). Neither A nor B = (not A) and (not B). The key: “or” pairs with either; “nor” pairs with neither.
Function 2: Pronoun (Standing in for a Noun)
When either and neither act as pronouns, they replace a noun and stand on their own.
Either as a Pronoun
Either as a pronoun means “one or the other” and refers to one of two items or people.
Example 1: We have two options. Either would work.
Example 2: The dress didn’t flatter either of them.
Example 3: I offered him two books, and he took either one without hesitation.
Neither as a Pronoun
Neither as a pronoun means “not one or the other” and excludes both items or people from consideration.
Example 1: We have two solutions. Neither is perfect, but we’ll choose the better one.
Example 2: Neither of the candidates impressed the panel.
Example 3: I asked them which dessert they preferred, and they both said neither.
Function 3: Adverb (Echoing Negation)
When either and neither act as adverbs, they respond to or reinforce a negative statement.
Either as an Adverb
Either as an adverb means “also not” or “neither” and is used to agree with someone’s negative statement. It appears at or near the end of a clause.
Example 1: “I don’t like coffee.” “I don’t like it either.”
Example 2: She hasn’t finished her assignment, and neither have I either. (Note: This construction can be redundant — “neither have I” alone is clearer.)
Example 3: He didn’t go to the party, and she didn’t go either.
Neither as an Adverb
Neither as an adverb also means “also not” and is used to emphasize agreement with a negative statement. It often appears at the start of a clause with inverted word order.
Example 1: “I’m not going to the meeting.” “Neither am I.”
Example 2: She doesn’t play tennis, and neither does he.
Example 3: They weren’t happy with the results, and neither were we.
Adverb difference: When either/neither appear as adverbs at the start of a clause, word order inverts. “Neither am I” (not “Neither I am”). But after a clause, “either” is simpler: “I don’t like it either.”
Function 4: Determiner (Narrowing a Choice)
When either and neither act as determiners, they modify a noun directly, narrowing which noun you’re talking about.
Either as a Determiner
Either as a determiner means “one or the other” and is used before a singular noun to indicate you’re talking about one of two options (it doesn’t matter which).
Example 1: Either option would solve your problem.
Example 2: You can go on either day.
Example 3: Either parent can sign the permission slip.
Neither as a Determiner
Neither as a determiner means “not one or the other” and is used before a singular noun to indicate that both options are excluded or not suitable.
Example 1: Neither option is ideal for our budget.
Example 2: Neither student scored above 50% on the test.
Example 3: Neither location is convenient for the office.
Verb Agreement Rules
One of the trickiest parts of using either and neither correctly is getting the verb to agree with the subject. The rule is straightforward once you know it: The verb agrees with the noun closest to it.
With Either…Or
Example 1: Either John or Sarah is coming.
(Sarah is closest → singular verb “is”)
Example 2: Either Sarah or John is coming.
(John is closest → singular verb “is”)
Example 3: Either the manager or the assistants are handling this.
(assistants is closest → plural verb “are”)
With Neither…Nor
Example 1: Neither the boys nor the girl was interested.
(girl is closest → singular verb “was”)
Example 2: Neither Sarah nor John is available.
(John is closest → singular verb “is”)
Example 3: Neither the dog nor the cats are eating.
(cats is closest → plural verb “are”)
| Function | Either / Or | Neither / Nor | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conjunction | Connects two positive options | Connects two negative options | Either you go or I do. / Neither option works. |
| Pronoun | “One or the other” | “Not one or the other” | Either would be fine. / Neither impressed us. |
| Adverb | “Also not” (less common) | “Also not” (inverted structure) | I don’t like it either. / Neither do I. |
| Determiner | Modifies noun: “one of two” | Modifies noun: “not one of two” | Either day works. / Neither day is convenient. |
Singular vs. Plural
When either and neither are used as determiners or pronouns (not in the either…or / neither…nor construction), they typically take a singular verb:
Example 1: Either option is fine. (not “are fine”)
Example 2: Neither girl was ready. (not “were ready”)
However, in modern English, especially in British usage, plural verbs are sometimes acceptable when the intended meaning is clearly plural.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
✗ Incorrect: Either of the books are good.
✓ Correct: Either of the books is good.
Why: “Either” with “of” takes a singular verb, even though it refers to two items. The subject is “either” (singular), not “books”.
✗ Incorrect: I don’t like pizza, and I don’t like hamburgers neither.
✓ Correct: I don’t like pizza, and I don’t like hamburgers either.
Why: At the end of a clause, use either to mean “also not”. Use neither at the start of a clause with inverted structure: “Neither do I.”
✗ Incorrect: You can go to either the beach or the mountains. Either one will be fun.
✓ Correct: You can go to either the beach or the mountains. Either one will be fun.
Why: This is actually correct. “Either” is the right word for affirmative choices. (This is more of a reminder than a mistake — make sure you don’t accidentally switch to “neither”.)
✗ Incorrect: Neither John or Sarah is coming.
✓ Correct: Neither John nor Sarah is coming.
Why: Always pair “neither” with “nor”, never with “or”. They are a locked pair.
Dialogue Examples
Choosing between options
Alex: Do you want to go hiking or to the beach?
Jamie: Either would be nice. I’m happy with both.
Alex: OK, let’s go hiking then. What about bringing a camera or a phone?
Jamie: Bring neither — let’s just enjoy the moment without devices.
Responding to negatives
Casey: I’m not feeling like pasta tonight.
Jordan: Neither am I. How about Chinese food?
Casey: Perfect. I don’t really like the place on Fifth Street though.
Jordan: I don’t either. Let’s try the new one downtown.
Quick Quiz
- Choose the correct sentence: A) Either option are fine. B) Either option is fine.
- Fill in the blank: ______ John nor Maria is available tomorrow. (Either/Neither)
- Choose the correct response: Friend says “I don’t like winter.” You reply: A) I don’t either. B) Neither do I. (Both are acceptable — which feels more natural to you?)
- Correct the sentence: “You can either go to London or Paris, and either one would be exciting.”
- Fill in: “______ of the plans will work for our schedule.” (Either/Neither)
Answers: 1. B (Either option is fine — singular verb). 2. Neither (pairs with nor). 3. Both are correct (A is simpler; B is more formal). 4. The sentence is correct — either works in both places. 5. Neither (we’re excluding both options).
Quick Reference: When to Use Either vs. Neither
| Use Case | Either / Or | Neither / Nor |
|---|---|---|
| Presenting two positive options (choose one) | ✓ Use | ✗ Don’t use |
| Excluding both options | ✗ Don’t use | ✓ Use |
| Meaning “one of two” (doesn’t matter which) | ✓ Use | ✗ Don’t use |
| Meaning “not one of two” | ✗ Don’t use | ✓ Use |
| Agreeing with a negative statement | ✓ At end of clause (“I don’t either”) | ✓ At start (“Neither do I”) |
Related Articles
- ↑ Master Pillar: English Grammar
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Confused Words (Pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between either and neither?
Either refers to one of two options and is used in affirmative contexts. Neither refers to both options excluded and is used in negative contexts. Think of them as opposites: either = a choice is available; neither = no choice is available.
How do I use either…or and neither…nor correctly?
Use either…or to present two possible options: “You can either stay home or go out.” Use neither…nor to exclude both options: “Neither option seems right to me.” The key is pairing: “or” goes with either; “nor” goes with neither.
What is the verb agreement rule for either and neither?
When either…or or neither…nor connects two subjects, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Example: “Either Sarah or the boys are coming” — “boys” is closest, so use plural “are”. “Neither the boys nor Sarah is coming” — “Sarah” is closest, so use singular “is”.
Can I say “I don’t like it either” and “Neither do I”? Are both correct?
Yes, both are correct but used differently. “I don’t like it either” uses either as an adverb at the end of the clause. “Neither do I” uses neither as an adverb at the start with inverted word order (formal register). Both mean the same thing but have different registers.
Is “either” always singular when used alone?
Mostly yes. “Either of the books is good” takes a singular verb because the subject is “either” itself (singular), not “books”. However, in informal speech, “Either of the books are good” is heard, though it’s considered non-standard.
What about “me neither” — is it grammatically correct?
“Me neither” is a colloquial expression that is very common in spoken English, especially among younger speakers. Technically, the grammatically correct form would be “Neither do I” or “I don’t either”. However, “me neither” has become so widely accepted in casual speech that it’s no longer considered wrong by most modern grammarians.
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