ENGLISHPairs of Words

Neither & Either

Neither = not either of two things or people
Either = any one of two

1. Neither

We use NEITHER or NEITHER OF to make a negative statement about two people or things. There is no difference in meaning. It takes a singular verb. For more than two we use NONE; e.g.

Neither parent went to the club.
= Neither of the parents went to the club.

NOTE: We don’t use BOTH to make a negative statement for two, we use NEITHER OF; e.g.

INCORRECT: Both of these shirts aren’t dry yet.
CORRECT: Neither of these shirts is dry yet.

2. Either

We use EITHER or ‘EITHER OF’ to make a choice between two possibilities. You use EITHER before a singular countable noun, and EITHER OF before a plural pronoun or before a plural countable noun having an adjective. There is no difference in meaning. It takes a singular verb; e.g.

You can take either watch.
= You can take either of the watches.

They didn’t want either child to know about this.
= They didn’t want either of the children to know about this.

I don’t know either of them.

INCORRECT: I don’t like either pens.
CORRECT: I don’t like either pen. OR I don’t like either of the pens.

NOTE-I: ONE OF & EITHER OF

When we talk about two or more people or things and there is no idea of a choice, we use ONE OF (not EITHER OF); e.g.

INCORRECT: Either of your parents has beaten him.
CORRECT: One of your parents has beaten him.

INCORRECT: Either of their daughters has just had a baby.
CORRECT: One of their daughters has just had a baby.

NOTE-II: EITHER cannot be the subject of a negative verb. However, it can be subject or object of an affirmative or interrogative verb; e.g.

INCORRECT: Either will not serve well.
CORRECT: Neither will serve well.

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Maha Gupta

Maha Gupta

Founder of www.examscomp.com and guiding aspirants on SSC exam affairs since 2010 when objective pattern of exams was introduced first in SSC. Also the author of the following books:

1. Maha English Grammar (for Competitive Exams)
2. Maha English Practice Sets (for Competitive Exams)

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