Skip to main content

Either … or…

Either… or… connects two choices:

  • I’ve saved some money to buy either [choice 1] a DVD player or [choice 2] an MP3 player.

We use either… or… to connect items which are the same grammatical type, e.g. words, phrases, clauses:

  • We can either pre- or post-date the document. I don’t mind. (connecting prefixes)
  • It’s either black or grey. I can’t remember. (connecting words)
  • You can stay either with me or with Janet. (connecting phrases)
  • Either I drive to the airport or I get a taxi. (connecting clauses)

The opposite of either… or… is neither… nor…. We use it to make negative statements connecting items:

  • We got so wet. We had neither umbrellas nor raincoats with us!
  • Neither our families nor our friends know that we are getting married!
See also
  • Conjunctions
  • Neither … nor