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either and neither

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johnny_bdn

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When do i have to use neither and when either. Sometimes is rather difficult to decide. Are there uses when both are correct?

Thanks everybody!
 

MikeNewYork

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johnny_bdn said:
When do i have to use neither and when either. Sometimes is rather difficult to decide. Are there uses when both are correct?

Thanks everybody!

Either is used when one wishes to discuss one or the other.
Neither is used when one wishes to discuss not one and not the other.

Neither is a negated either. I doubt there is any instance in which both would be correct, but one can turn "neither" into "either" by negating the verb.

I would like either the blue suit or the gray suit.
I would like neither the orange suit nor the purple suit.
I would not like either the orange suit or the purple suit.
 

henry

Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2004
MikeNewYork said:
johnny_bdn said:
When do i have to use neither and when either. Sometimes is rather difficult to decide. Are there uses when both are correct?

Thanks everybody!

Either is used when one wishes to discuss one or the other.
Neither is used when one wishes to discuss not one and not the other.

Neither is a negated either. I doubt there is any instance in which both would be correct, but one can turn "neither" into "either" by negating the verb.

I would like either the blue suit or the gray suit.
I would like neither the orange suit nor the purple suit.
I would not like either the orange suit or the purple suit.

In addition,
Q:Are you going to buy either a camera or a bike with the money?
A:Neither nor ( none of them)

A:I'm not happy about it.
B:Neither am I.( I'm not happy, too.)

You can keep one of the photos.Either of them- whichever you like.
She can't go and I can't either.

regards, Henry 8)
 

MikeNewYork

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henry said:
MikeNewYork said:
johnny_bdn said:
When do i have to use neither and when either. Sometimes is rather difficult to decide. Are there uses when both are correct?

Thanks everybody!

Either is used when one wishes to discuss one or the other.
Neither is used when one wishes to discuss not one and not the other.

Neither is a negated either. I doubt there is any instance in which both would be correct, but one can turn "neither" into "either" by negating the verb.

I would like either the blue suit or the gray suit.
I would like neither the orange suit nor the purple suit.
I would not like either the orange suit or the purple suit.

In addition,
Q:Are you going to buy either a camera or a bike with the money?
A:Neither nor ( none of them)

A:I'm not happy about it.
B:Neither am I.( I'm not happy, too.)

You can keep one of the photos.Either of them- whichever you like.
She can't go and I can't either.

regards, Henry 8)

Good additions, Henry, but "neither nor" is not an answer. :wink:
 

henry

Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2004
MikeNewYork said:
henry said:
MikeNewYork said:
johnny_bdn said:
When do i have to use neither and when either. Sometimes is rather difficult to decide. Are there uses when both are correct?

Thanks everybody!

Either is used when one wishes to discuss one or the other.
Neither is used when one wishes to discuss not one and not the other.

Neither is a negated either. I doubt there is any instance in which both would be correct, but one can turn "neither" into "either" by negating the verb.

I would like either the blue suit or the gray suit.
I would like neither the orange suit nor the purple suit.
I would not like either the orange suit or the purple suit.

In addition,
Q:Are you going to buy either a camera or a bike with the money?
A:Neither nor ( none of them)

A:I'm not happy about it.
B:Neither am I.( I'm not happy, too.)

You can keep one of the photos.Either of them- whichever you like.
She can't go and I can't either.

regards, Henry 8)

Good additions, Henry, but "neither nor" is not an answer. :wink:
:?: I'm not sure if you've ever heard sb using " neither nor " as an answer. But we do it, may be as a slang language.
 

Tdol

Editor, UsingEnglish.com
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I can see it being used, but I can't recall having heard it. :lol:
 

RonBee

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I suppose you could say that "Neither nor" is short for "Neither this one or that one" but here (USA) we simply say "Neither".

:)
 

henry

Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2004
RonBee said:
I suppose you could say that "Neither nor" is short for "Neither this one or that one" but here (USA) we simply say "Neither".

:)

:wink: Thanks a lot Ronbee,

you brought me a relief.

8)
 

MikeNewYork

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henry said:
MikeNewYork said:
henry said:
MikeNewYork said:
johnny_bdn said:
When do i have to use neither and when either. Sometimes is rather difficult to decide. Are there uses when both are correct?

Thanks everybody!

Either is used when one wishes to discuss one or the other.
Neither is used when one wishes to discuss not one and not the other.

Neither is a negated either. I doubt there is any instance in which both would be correct, but one can turn "neither" into "either" by negating the verb.

I would like either the blue suit or the gray suit.
I would like neither the orange suit nor the purple suit.
I would not like either the orange suit or the purple suit.

In addition,
Q:Are you going to buy either a camera or a bike with the money?
A:Neither nor ( none of them)

A:I'm not happy about it.
B:Neither am I.( I'm not happy, too.)

You can keep one of the photos.Either of them- whichever you like.
She can't go and I can't either.

regards, Henry 8)

Good additions, Henry, but "neither nor" is not an answer. :wink:
:?: I'm not sure if you've ever heard sb using " neither nor " as an answer. But we do it, may be as a slang language.

I haven't heard it Henry. That doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. The "nor" is a bit superfluous there. :wink:
 

henry

Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2004
I haven't heard it Henry. That doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. The "nor" is a bit superfluous there. :wink:[/quote]

8)
 

MikeNewYork

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Member Type
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United States
henry said:
I haven't heard it Henry. That doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. The "nor" is a bit superfluous there. :wink:

8)[/quote]

:smilecol:
 
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