EITHER/OR AND NEITHER/NOR

1.Either / or - used in a sentence in the affirmative sense when referring to a choice

between two possibilities

We can either eat now or after the show - it's up to you.

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

Neither my mother nor my father went to university.

Singular or plural

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

1. If both elements are singular, then the verb is singular too.
Either the father or the mother has to attend the meeting. (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)
2. However, if one of the elements is plural, then use a plural verb.
Either Sue or the girls are going to prepare dinner tonight. (the girls is plural; so
the verb are is plural too)
Neither the teacher nor the students were in the classroom this morning. (the
students is plural; so the verb were is plural too)


Confusing Words > both, either, neither

BOTH, EITHER, NEITHER

Subjects connected by both meaning two take a plural conjugation.

Examples:

Both Steven and Anthony attended the training.

Mary has two children. Both are married. (both children are married)

Both Frank and Lisa are attending the conference in Chicago this weekend.

Both Sara and Melissa were late.

Last summer I went to Paris and Cannes. I liked both cities very much.

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either or

'Either or' is used in sentences in a positive sense meaning "one or the other, this or that,
he or she, etc." in other words it is used to offer a choice between two possibilities

Examples:

Im not sure where Laura is from. Shes either German or Italian.

Would you like tea or coffee? - Either. I dont mind.

There are two ways from here to the airport. You can go either way.

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neither nor

'Neither nor' is used in sentences in a negative sense meaning "not this one nor the other,
not this nor that, not he nor she, none of them etc." - in other words it is used to deny both
possibilities

Examples:

Is your friend British or American? - Neither. Shes Australian.

Neither of the restaurants I went to was (or were) expensive.

Neither Mike nor my other friends care about their future.

Either neither or nor

1. Mary saw that movie. Her sister saw it ________________.
too
either
neither

2. I don't like ________________ one of those options.
neither
either
too

3. He didn't say anything, and ________________ did I.
either
too
neither

4. He didn't say anything, and I didn't ________________.
neither
either
too

5. ________________ Bob nor his sister is going to the conference.
Neither
Either
Too

6. Pass me ________________ one of those pens.
neither
either
too

7. Her father likes to travel, and she does ________________.
either
neither
too

8. You don't like fish? I don't (like fish) ________________.
neither
either
too

9. PERSON 1: Which one do you like? PERSON 2: I don't like ________________ (one).
either
neither
too

10. PERSON 1: I hate broccoli! PERSON 2: I hate broccoli ________________.
either
too
neither

1. He doesn't like ________________ one of those bands.
either
neither
nor

2. I hate that song, and my sister hates it ________________ .
neither
too
either

3. Neither my brother ________________ my mother knows about this.
nor
neither
or

4. He didn't come to the party, and his brother didn't come ________________.
neither
nor
either

5. ________________ (one) of the girls knows how to dance. ( = Both girls are bad dancers)
Either
Neither
Nor

6. He ________________ has a cat or a dog. I can't remember.
neither
too
either

7. Neither my brother ________________ ready to go.
nor his friends are
nor his friends is
or his friends is

8. He was not angry, ________________ did he insult me. ( = he didn't insult me either)
nor
neither
either

9. I'm thinking of traveling to either Argentina ________________ Brazil.
either
or
nor

10. I'm not a big fan of that writer, and ________________ is my father.
too
either
neither