The Best Guide to Both, Either, and Neither in English

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You can use both, either, and neither to talk about two things or people.[1]https://www.grammar.cl/english/both-either-neither.htm

both

Both

Both is used to talk about two things. You can use it with both nouns and adjectives.

Both this and that

For example:

  • I like both
    ice cream and pizza.
  • She is both
    pretty and tall.
  • They have both
    a car and a motorcycle.

Both (of) + Determiner + Plural Noun

You can also use determiners (such as possessive adjectives) with “both”.

For example:

  • Both of my
    sisters are older than me.
  • Both of the
    schools have be rivals for a long time.
  • Both of the
    kids have been friends for a long time.

Both of + Object Pronoun

You can also use object pronouns (such as us) with “both”.

For example:

  • They invited both of us to the party.

Verb + Object Pronoun + Both

For example:

  • I hope that the university accepts us both.

Either

The word “either” is used to talk about one of two things.

Either this and that

For example:

  • You can have either a chocolate cake or ice
    cream.
  • Either
    John or Sam is going to pick us up.
  • You can choose either a car or a
    motorcycle.

Neither

Neither is used to talk about not this thing and not the other thing. This is the negative form of “both”.

Neither this nor that

For example:

  • I want neither
    cake nor ice cream.
  • Neither
    Sam nor Jake helped us.
  • I neither
    sing nor dance.

Neither + Singular Noun

For example:

  • Neither school
    participated in the competition.
  • Neither
    team had an advantage.

Neither of + Pronoun

For example:

  • Neither
    of     us want to swim.
  • Neither of
    them wanted to help.

Neither vs. Either

You can replace “neither” with “either” if you change the positive verb in the “neither” phrase with a negative verb.

For example:

  • I have neither
    friends nor family.
  • I don’t have either friends or family.

Example Exercises

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Question 1 of 8

1. They were at ________ of the parks. I am not sure where they are.

Question 1 of 8

Question 2 of 8

2. I don’t like ________ of the stores.

Question 2 of 8

Question 3 of 8

3. I can’t find _______ of my shoes.

Question 3 of 8

Question 4 of 8

4. _______ the USA _____ Canada are in Europe.

Question 4 of 8

Question 5 of 8

5. You can have _______ chocolate ice cream ____ vanilla ice cream. You can’t have both.

Question 5 of 8

Question 6 of 8

6. I like _____ pizza ____ spaghetti.

Question 6 of 8

Question 7 of 8

7. Let’s go to _______ on Wednesday ____ Friday.

Question 7 of 8

Question 8 of 8

8. We can take a flight at _____ 1 pm ____ 3 pm.

Question 8 of 8


 

How did you do?

If some of these questions were tricky don’t worry — this is one of the topics that confuses English learners the most.

Sometimes reading alone isn’t enough. A private one on one lesson can clear up any confusion quickly and help you use this grammar naturally and confidently.

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References[+]