EITHER
/ˈēT͟Hər,ˈīT͟Hər/
Determiner
one or the other of two people or things.
There were no children of either marriage
each of two.
The road was straight with fields of grass on either side
There are stations at either side of the block
Pronoun
One or the other of the two things or people
Which movie do you want to see?—Either will be fine
each of two or “both
When it means “each of two”, it sends the signal of SINGULAR
Either of them is good enough
When it means "both" , it sends the signal of PLURAL
Either of them are enough to drive a man to distraction.
I do not think either of them are at home.
Conjunction
used before the first of two (or occasionally more) alternatives that are being specified (the other being introduced by “or”).
Parallel Structure
Noun sandwiches
You may have either the ring or the bracelet.
Phrase sandwiches
Either I'll accompany you to your room, or I'll wait here
Verb sandwiches
You can either write or phone to request a copy
Verb-Subject Agreement
Either he or they are to blame.
Either you or I am to blame.
Verb follows its nearest SUBJECT (singular or plural)
Adverb
used to indicate a similarity or link with a statement just made.
"You don't like him, do you? I don't either"
POSITION: end of sentence
Didn’t she tell you her name?” – “No, and I didn’t ask, either.
If you don’t go, I won’t either
I don’t like the red shirt, and I don’t like the green one either
I know a good Italian restaurant. It’s not far from here, either
If you don’t order a dessert, I won’t either
for that matter; moreover.
"I was too tired to go. And I couldn't have paid my way, either"
NEITHER
/ˈnēT͟Hər,ˈnīT͟Hər/
Pronoun
We saw a couple of houses, but neither was really what we wanted
Determiner
not the one nor the other of two people or things; not either.
Neither side of the brain is dominant over the other
Neither boy is to blame
Neither shoe feels comfortable
Neither man has arrived.
Neither box has arrived.
Neither clocks keeps good time
Neither candidates is having an easy time with the press
BUT
Neither of the candidates are really expressing their own views= sending the signal of PLURAL
MORE THAN TWO, USE NONE
None of the three candidates would make a better president than the incumbent.
Conjunction
neither ...nor
used before the first of two (or occasionally more) alternatives that are being specified (the others being introduced by “nor”) to indicate that they are each untrue or each do not happen.
Parallel Structure
Subject sandwiches
Neither she nor her mother knows English
Neither Brad nor Mike was at the party
Adjective sandwiches
The equipment is neither accurate nor safe
I am neither a liberal nor a conservative
Verb sandwiches
She neither called nor wrote
He neither knows nor cares what happened
Idioms
Neither here nor there: not important because it does not affect or change an act or situation
The boys all like the coach, but that is neither here nor there; the question is “Does he know how to teach football?”
Idiom (cliché):
neither rhyme nor reason: utter nonsense. There was no rhyme or reason for the decision; As far as I am concerned, his proposal makes no sense; it has neither rhyme nor reason
Adverb
used to introduce a further negative statement.
He didn't remember, and neither did I
I haven’t been to New York and neither has my sister (INVERSION)
Neither am I. Neither does she. Me neither. (NOT CORRECT: me either)
