either
The word “either” indicates one or another thing or person. A choice is offered and a person picks one, or there are two choices of equal value:
- You can use either a blue pen or a black pen on the test.
- You can use either one.
- The students are either interested or bored during the day. It depends on the class they’re taking.
- Tom’s flight is leaving at either 1:00 or 1:30. I’m not sure when.
- Cindy either loves or hates her job. Some days are great while other days are terrible.
- We can order either Chinese food or pizza.
- Either one is okay.
- The children were offered either spinach or broccoli with their meal.
- Either choice looked bad.
- Neither choice was good. (The negative form of “either” is “neither.”)
The word “either” often appears at the end of a sentence when negative verbs are used to show a similarity:
- He didn’t like the movie, and she didn’t either.
- I don’t have much time, and they don’t either.
- You don’t have to work today, and I don’t either.
- You don’t have to work today, and neither do I. (The negative form of “either” is “neither.”)