We use either before the first of two alternatives specified. It means one or the other of two people or things. Neither means ‘not one nor the other of two’.
Can you use either and neither correctly? Test your understanding with this grammar exercise.
Fill in the blanks.
1. I don't like ....................... of my science teachers.
Either means one or the other of two people or things.
2. You don't like him, do you? I don't ...........................
3. Peter isn't here today. Martha isn't ..........................
After mentioning a negative idea, we can add another negative point by using not .... either.
4. I like ........................... of them.
Neither means 'not either'. The sentence 'I like neither of them' means the same as the sentence 'I don't like either of them.'
5. I am ............................ a conservative nor a liberal.
Note the pattern 'neither...nor'.
6. He didn't remember and ........................... did I.
Neither means not...either. After mentioning a negative idea, we can add another negative point by using not...either or neither.
7. ........................... of them invited me so I didn't go.
Neither means 'not one and not the other of two'.
8. ........................... of them seemed interested in the offer.
Neither means 'not one and not the other of two'.
9. Mary didn't turn up and ......................... did Ruth.
Neither can mean 'also not'.
10. John didn't pass the test, and Peter didn't .............................
Not either means neither. The clause 'and Peter didn't either' means the same as 'and neither did Peter'.
11. He ......................... smiled, spoke, nor looked at me.
12. Alice can't dance and ..............................
The expression 'can't either' means the same as 'neither can'. Neither means 'not ... either'.
Answers
1. I don’t like either of my science teachers.
2. You don’t like him, do you? I don’t either.
3. Peter isn’t here today. Martha isn’t either.
4. I like neither of them.
5. I am neither a conservative nor a liberal.
6. He didn’t remember and neither did I.
7. Neither of them invited me so I didn’t go.
8. Neither of them seemed interested in the offer.
9. Mary didn’t turn up and neither did Ruth.
10. John didn’t pass the test, and Peter didn’t either.
11. He neither smiled, spoke, nor looked at me.
12. Alice can’t dance and neither can Stella / Stella can’t either.
