Either & Neither

Either & Neither

•    Either (one or the other) and neither (not one, nor the other) are used with singular nouns (sostantivi). 

        

         a). (At a restaurant): 

                  What kind of water would you like- sparkling or still?          

                  'Either one is fine with me.'

                  'Neither - I'll drink wine only!'

                  Which language should we speak?  Italian or English?

                  'Either language is fine.'

         b) Use 'either' with singular nouns to indicate one or the other person, place, or thing is fine with you.

         c) Use 'neither' to indicate that not one, nor the other is fine with you.

                  'Can we please speak Spanish? Neither language you mentioned

                  is a strong language for me.'

         d). Neither....nor.   Very often, you will see 'neither' together with 'nor' when you want to inform someone about two people, places or things, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc, in a negative sentence.

                  - Are Joe and Anna coming to the party?

                  - Neither Joe nor Anna is coming. They have no electricity and                         have to wait for the electrician.

                  -I don't enjoy neither horror nor noir films. They drive me crazy!

                  -Neither blue nor black is a good color to wear in the summer. 

         e). Either...or.       Use 'either...or' when you want to inform someone about two people, places or things, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc, in a positive sentence.  Often, it is used to offer choices.

                  - Tonight, we can either eat at home, or go out to a restaurant.

                  -For my final project, I will either give an oral presentation or make                   a video.  I am undecided.

'Too', Either & Neither for negative agreement

•     In conversation, we may use 'either' and 'neither' for negative agreement.

         -I hate pistacio ice cream.    'I don't like it either'

         -I don't like playing tennis.  "Me neither"

         -I love jogging at the Villa Borghese park.  "Me too!"

'Me neither' is in response to negative verbs only.   Negative verbs + either.  "Me too," is in response to positive verbs.

Practice:   Tell someone about what you like or don't like. Interview someone about their tastes. Do they agree or disagree?  Respond by choosing one.

                                   me too              me neither / I don't like it either

Chocolate ice cream

Playing golf

Taking the bus

Driving

Smoking

Swimming

Travelling

Speaking foreign languages