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 none of the two options is true.

Neither answer is correct.
I like neither of them.

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

Neither option is good.

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 none of the two options is true.

Neither answer is correct.
I like neither of them.

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

Neither option is good.

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

A bit of theory

Bring vs. Take

Common confusions

Then vs. Than

Vocabulary

Apostrophes

Common confusions

I.e. vs. E.g.

Conjugation

Other vs. Another vs. The other vs. Others

Agreement rules

Parallel Structure (Parallelism)

Common confusions

May vs. Might

Conjugation