Parts of Speech & Usage

Both / Either / Neither

2 min read

Both, either, and neither are used to talk about two things or people. The difference is about meaning: positive, choice, or negative.

1. Both → the two (positive)

Use both to refer to two items together.

Both options are good.
I like both of them.
Both of my parents work.

Important: “both” is plural → use a plural verb.

Both students are ready.

2. Either → one or the other (choice)

Use either when there is a choice between two options.

You can choose either option.
Either answer is correct.

Important: “either” is singular → use a singular verb.

Either option is fine.

3. Neither → not one, not the other (negative)

Use neither to say that not one of the two is true.

Neither answer is correct.
Neither of them called me.

Important: “neither” is singular → use a singular verb.

Neither option is good.

Important: after a negative verb (don’t, can’t, didn’t), use either, not neither.

❌ I don’t like neither of them.
✅ I don’t like either of them.

4. “Both of / Either of / Neither of”

Both of the students are here.
Either of the answers is correct.
Neither of the options is good.

5. Common mistake

❌ Both is correct.
✅ Both are correct.

Key idea

Both = the two
Either = one of the two
Neither = zero (none of the two)

💡 Tip

Both → 2
Either → 1 (choice)
Neither → 0

Test your knowledge 📝

Question 1 sur 10Score: 0/10

___ options are correct.

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Parts of Speech & Usage

Both / Either / Neither

2 min read

Both, either, and neither are used to talk about two things or people. The difference is about meaning: positive, choice, or negative.

1. Both → the two (positive)

Use both to refer to two items together.

Both options are good.
I like both of them.
Both of my parents work.

Important: “both” is plural → use a plural verb.

Both students are ready.

2. Either → one or the other (choice)

Use either when there is a choice between two options.

You can choose either option.
Either answer is correct.

Important: “either” is singular → use a singular verb.

Either option is fine.

3. Neither → not one, not the other (negative)

Use neither to say that not one of the two is true.

Neither answer is correct.
Neither of them called me.

Important: “neither” is singular → use a singular verb.

Neither option is good.

Important: after a negative verb (don’t, can’t, didn’t), use either, not neither.

❌ I don’t like neither of them.
✅ I don’t like either of them.

4. “Both of / Either of / Neither of”

Both of the students are here.
Either of the answers is correct.
Neither of the options is good.

5. Common mistake

❌ Both is correct.
✅ Both are correct.

Key idea

Both = the two
Either = one of the two
Neither = zero (none of the two)

💡 Tip

Both → 2
Either → 1 (choice)
Neither → 0

Test your knowledge 📝

Question 1 sur 10Score: 0/10

___ options are correct.

Discover the app: Shaky English

Join 100,000 people who are improving their English skills on the Shaky English app

Other similar rules

Common mistakes

Conditional Forms (Zero, First, Second, Third)

Vocabulary

Commas

A bit of theory

Bring vs. Take

Common confusions

Like vs. Such as

Like and such as look similar, but they are not always the same. Like: to compare Like shows that one thing is similar to another. Here, you cannot use such as. She sings like a professional. (Sh...

Common mistakes

Modal Verbs for Advice (should, ought to, had better)

Common confusions

Discreet vs. Discrete

Discreet and discrete sound exactly the same, and both are real words, so a spellchecker will not catch a mix-up. 1. Discreet → careful, not attracting attention Please be discreet: nobody knows...

Common mistakes

Stop / Remember / Forget / Try + gerund vs. infinitive

Some verbs can be followed by either -ing (gerund) or to + verb (infinitive), but the meaning changes. The most important ones at B2/C1 level are stop, remember, forget, and try. 1. Stop Stop + -...

Common confusions