Owl's Bilingual Academy

  Using either to agree with someone in the negative Sometimes either is used to show agreement in the negative. If someone tells you about a negative opinion/ feeling, they can use the word “ either ” to show that you feel the same way.

  Both and “ Both ” functions similarly to “either,” but like “neither” there are a few important differences. “ Neither ” is used when there are two options, but you choose all of them.   “ Both ” is a short way of saying: “you and you” or “that and that.” It means that each of the two options is included.   “ Both ” is used with the word “and” not “ or .”

  Neither nor “ Neither ” functions similarly to “either,” but there are a few important differences. “ Neither ” is used when there are two options, but you choose none of them.   “ Neither ” is a short way of saying: “not you and not you” or “not that and not that.”   “ Neither ” is used with the word “ nor ” instead of “ or .”

When does “ either ” not get an “ or ” If either is used without the word or it changes the meaning of the word. If it is instead used with the word “ of ” it almost always refers to two items of the same type or category.  

Either or Either is a short way of saying: “you or you” “this or that”