USES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EITHER AND NEITHER

The words "either" and "neither" can cause some confusion in people who are learning English. Sometimes it is possible to use any of them and is sometimes only possible to use one, but the truth is not difficult to differentiate and use them correctly. It should be clarified that "Either" is always matched with "or" and "Neither" with "nor".

PROPER USE OF EITHER.

Either ... or is used when you're making comparisons between two ideas, where one of them is valid. For example:

• Either or Lenny Carl will be there.

• Either you leave me alone or I will call my dad.

• You should bring either beer or coke.

Either can also be accompanied by one of or of + (a group).

• Either one of you could do it.

You can also deny the possibilities with: Not… Either ... or.

• He doesn't think either Carl or Lenny will be there.

And finally is also used after a negative sentence: Not ... either.

• He doesn't speak Italian. You don't either.

PROPER USE OF NEITHER.

Neither ... nor indicates that two ideas are interconnected. It is like a negative conjunction. But if you use neither, must be ensured that the sentence has no other negative. And if you want to use any negative then be used either. Examples:

• Neither Carl nor Lenny will be there.

• He speaks neither English nor Italian.

• We brought neither beer nor coke.

It can also be accompanied by one of or of + (a group).

• Neither one of us is ready.

Finally neither can replace not ... either.

• He doesn't speak Chinese. Neither do you.