This lesson covers the neither vs either distinction from the ground up. By the end, you’ll be able to do four things: choose between either and neither with confidence, build correct either…or and neither…nor sentences, apply subject-verb agreement without second-guessing yourself, and avoid the mistakes that trip up even intermediate learners. This is one of those grammar points that feels slippery at first, but once you see the core logic, it clicks fast. Start with the meaning, and everything else follows.
The confusion usually starts because both words deal with two things and both show up in similar sentence structures. But they have opposite meanings, and that one difference is the key to everything. Think of either as a door that’s open, and neither as a door that’s locked. Keep that image in mind as you read through the examples below.
Neither vs Either: What These Words Actually Mean
Either: the word for making a choice
Either refers to one of two options. It signals a choice, an alternative, or a possibility between two things. The tone is neutral or positive: something is available, and you’re picking one. For example: “Either option works for me.” / “You can sit on either side of the table.” In both sentences, both options are still on the table. Either opens the door.
Neither: the word that says no to both
Neither means not one and not the other. Both options are off the table. It carries a built-in negative meaning, so you never need to add “not” or “don’t” alongside it. For example: “Neither restaurant was open.” / “I liked neither answer.” Both options are rejected. Neither locks the door. That core distinction, choice versus negation, is the foundation for everything else in this lesson.
The Four Jobs These Words Do in a Sentence
As determiners and pronouns
Both words can come directly before a noun (acting as a determiner) or stand on their own to replace a noun (acting as a pronoun). As determiners: “Either road will get you there.” / “Neither candidate answered the question directly.” As pronouns: “Both coffees look great, I’ll take either.” / “Neither of the proposals was accepted by the board.” When neither is a pronoun followed by “of + plural noun,” use a singular verb in standard American English: neither of the candidates was chosen, not were chosen.
As adverbs: agreeing with a negative statement
This is the use that confuses most learners. When someone says something negative and you want to agree, either goes at the end of a negative sentence, and neither goes at the start of a response. Look at these two short dialogues:
- “I don’t enjoy long commutes.” / “I don’t either.” (or casually: “Me either.”)
- “I can’t make it to the meeting.” / “Neither can I.” (or casually: “Me neither.”)
In casual American conversation, “me neither” is the standard choice for negative agreement. “Me either” is also heard informally, but according to major usage guides, “me neither” is the more widely accepted option when you want to sound natural and correct. For a clear comparison of these terms, see this either vs. neither guide.
Neither vs Either Usage: either…or and neither…nor
Either…or: presenting two real options
Either goes before the first option, and or goes before the second. Both options are real possibilities. In conversation: “You can either call me or send a text.” In a professional email: “Please either confirm your attendance by Friday or let us know if you need to reschedule.” The construction signals that both paths are open and the other person gets to choose.
Neither…nor: ruling out both options
Neither always pairs with nor, never with “or.” This is one of the most common errors learners make, so commit that pairing to memory now. In conversation: “She was neither tired nor bored, just quiet.” In a professional email: “Neither the budget nor the timeline has been approved yet.” Both options are rejected or unavailable. If you find yourself writing “neither…or,” stop and replace “or” with “nor.” For additional examples and explanations, Oxford International English offers a useful comparison of neither and either.
The parallelism rule that makes sentences sound natural
Both sides of the construction must be grammatically parallel: noun with noun, verb phrase with verb phrase, adjective with adjective. When the two sides don’t match, the sentence sounds awkward even if the meaning is clear. Compare these pairs:
- “She is either tired or sick.” (correct: adjective + adjective)
- “She either is tired or feeling sick.” (awkward: the structure breaks down mid-sentence)
- “I neither eat chickpeas nor cook them.” (correct: verb + verb)
- “I neither eat chickpeas nor cooking them.” (wrong: verb + gerund)
A quick check before you finalize the sentence: read the word after “either” and the word after “or.” Do they belong to the same grammatical category? If yes, you’re good. If not, adjust one side to match the other.
Neither vs Either Agreement: Which Verb Form to Use
When either or neither stands alone as the subject
The rule here is straightforward: use a singular verb. “Either is fine with me.” / “Neither was available when I called.” This applies even when a phrase follows: “Neither of the candidates was chosen.” Many learners instinctively reach for a plural verb because “candidates” is plural, but the true subject is “neither,” and it’s singular. Note that this singular rule applies when either or neither is the grammatical subject on its own, when they join two separate subjects, the proximity rule (explained below) takes over. If you need a quick refresher on verb forms that often interact with subject-verb agreement, consult our 12 English verb tenses pocket guide.
The proximity rule for paired subjects
When either…or or neither…nor connects two subjects, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. That’s the proximity rule, which is documented in major style references including the Chicago Manual of Style and Purdue OWL. Look at how the verb changes depending on which subject is placed last:
- “Neither the manager nor the employees are ready.” (plural verb, because “employees” is closest)
- “Neither the employees nor the manager is ready.” (singular verb, because “manager” is closest)
- “Either the director or the team leads are responsible for scheduling.” (plural verb, because “team leads” is closest)
Practical tip: when you’re writing a formal email and the sentence sounds awkward either way, just put the plural subject last. That naturally leads to a plural verb, which tends to read more smoothly.
Four Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
1. Mixing up the pairs (either/nor and neither/or)
This is the most frequent error in either vs neither usage. When used as correlative conjunctions, either pairs with or and neither pairs with nor, those pairings don’t swap. A quick mnemonic: both neither and nor start with the letter n, so they belong together.
- Wrong: “Neither tea or coffee is available.”
- Correct: “Neither tea nor coffee is available.”
2. Adding a double negative with neither…nor
Because “neither” already contains the negation, adding “not” or “don’t” creates a double negative that’s ungrammatical in standard American English. Drop the extra negative and let “neither” do its job alone.
- Wrong: “I don’t neither like it.”
- Correct: “I like neither option.”
3. Non-parallel structure on both sides
Always check that the word class on both sides of the construction matches. Wrong: “I neither eat chickpeas nor cooking them.” Correct: “I neither eat chickpeas nor cook them.” The test is quick: substitute one side for the other and ask if it still makes sense grammatically. If it doesn’t, adjust until both sides mirror each other. For an academic-focused walkthrough of common errors, Paperpal’s guide to either vs. neither is helpful.
4. Using “none” when you mean “neither”
Neither is for exactly two items. None is for three or more, or when the quantity is unspecified. Wrong: “None of the two books is mine.” Correct: “Neither of the two books is mine.” If you’re referring to a group of five people, a shelf of ten books, or a list of options, use “none.” If you’re choosing between exactly two things, use “neither.”
Try It Yourself: A Quick Practice Check
Read each sentence and choose the correct word or fill in the blank. The answers are below.
- _______ the CEO nor the board members were informed about the decision. (Either / Neither)
- “I haven’t been to that new restaurant yet.” / “_______ have I.” (Either / Neither)
- You can _______ pay online or stop by the office before 5 p.m. (either / neither)
- Neither of the two candidates _______ available for a second interview. (was / were)
- She is either confident _______ well-prepared for the presentation. (or / nor)
Answer key: 1. Neither / 2. Neither / 3. either / 4. was / 5. or
How did you do? If any of those tripped you up, go back to the relevant section and re-read the rule with the examples. Grammar sticks better the second time, especially when you can connect the rule to a mistake you just made.
FAQ: Neither vs Either
Is it “me neither” or “me either”?
Both appear in informal American speech, but “me neither” is the standard choice for agreeing with a negative statement. “Me either” is understood but considered non-standard by most usage guides.
Can I use “neither” with more than two things?
No. Neither applies to exactly two items. For three or more, use “none.”
What’s the verb rule for neither…nor with two subjects?
Follow the proximity rule: the verb agrees with whichever subject is closest to it. “Neither the manager nor the employees are ready” uses a plural verb because “employees” is the nearer subject.
Does “either” always mean a choice between two options?
In most uses, yes. As a determiner or pronoun, either refers to one of two specific things. As part of the either…or construction, it presents two real alternatives. For extra practice and user-friendly explanations on how to use either, neither, nor, and or in everyday speech, see this practical guide from Preply: using either, neither, nor, and or.
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