Zorg Spaceboth, neither and either
The rule
These three all talk about two things. both means the two together and takes a plural verb: Both flats are free. neither means not one and not the other, and it is already negative, so the verb stays positive and singular: Neither flat is free. either means one or the other, and is also singular: Either day suits me. They pair up as both … and, neither … nor, either … or. Do not put not with neither — I do not like neither says the opposite of what you mean.
both + plural verb · neither / either + singular verb · neither … nor · either … or
Examples
Both flats have a garden.
Neither answer was correct.
Either Tuesday or Thursday suits me.
Neither my brother nor my sister could come.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong: I do not like neither of them.
Right: I like neither of them.
neither is already negative; a second negative reverses it.
-
Wrong: Both of the flat is free.
Right: Both of the flats are free.
both needs a plural noun and a plural verb.
-
Wrong: Neither the letter or the email arrived.
Right: Neither the letter nor the email arrived.
neither pairs with nor, not with or.
Practice questions
Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.
-
1Choose the correct sentence.
- Both of my parents works in the same hospital.
- Both of my parent work in the same hospital.
- Both of my parents work in the same hospital.
- Both my parents works in the same hospital.
Show answer
Answer: C Both of my parents work in the same hospital.
both takes a plural verb.
-
2Choose the correct sentence.
- Neither of the rooms was free.
- Neither of the rooms were not free.
- Neither of the room was free.
- Not neither of the rooms was free.
Show answer
Answer: A Neither of the rooms was free.
neither is singular and already carries the negative.
-
3Choose the correct sentence.
- You can pay either by card and in cash.
- You can pay either by card nor in cash.
- You can pay either by card or in cash.
- You can pay neither by card or in cash.
Show answer
Answer: C You can pay either by card or in cash.
either pairs with or.
-
4Choose the correct sentence.
- Neither my manager nor my colleagues did not know about it.
- Neither my manager nor my colleagues knows about it.
- Neither my manager or my colleagues knew about it.
- Neither my manager nor my colleagues knew about it.
Show answer
Answer: D Neither my manager nor my colleagues knew about it.
neither … nor, and the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
-
5Fill in the gap.
_____ of the two candidates has replied yet.
- Neither
- None
- Either of not
- Both
Show answer
Answer: A Neither of the two candidates has replied yet.
Two candidates and a negative meaning: neither.
-
6Fill in the gap.
_____ dates are fine for me.
- Each of
- Either
- Neither
- Both
Show answer
Answer: D Both dates are fine for me.
A plural verb are points to both.
-
7Fill in the gap.
You can take _____ the bus or the tram.
- nor
- both
- neither
- either
Show answer
Answer: D You can take either the bus or the tram.
either … or offers a choice of two.
-
8Fill in the gap.
Neither the heating _____ the hot water is working.
- nor
- and
- or
- either
Show answer
Answer: A Neither the heating nor the hot water is working.
neither is completed by nor.
-
9Put the words in the right order.
Both of the windows were open
Show answer
Answer: Both of the windows were open.
both of the + plural noun + plural verb.
-
10Put the words in the right order.
Neither of them wanted to drive
Show answer
Answer: Neither of them wanted to drive.
neither of + a pronoun, and the verb stays positive.
Practise this lesson in Zorg Space
In the app every rule becomes interactive practice: instant correction, reviews at the moment you are about to forget, and progress you can see from level to level — free.
Start for free