Both, Either, Neither; Each, Every — English Grammar Exercises
Both dishes are tasty and neither is expensive. Master determiners for pairs and groups.
Both, Either, Neither: Quick Reference Guide
The determiners both, either, and neither — along with their correlative conjunctions (both...and, either...or, neither...nor) — are a major stumbling block for B1–B2 English learners. Research from the English Profile Programme shows that determiner errors account for nearly 18% of all grammar mistakes at intermediate level, with both/either/neither ranking among the top 5 most confused word groups. The challenge is threefold: learners must choose the right word for meaning, use the correct verb agreement (singular vs plural), and master the paired conjunction patterns. Corpus data from the International Corpus of Learner English reveals that over 35% of "neither" uses at B1–B2 level contain a verb agreement error, and nearly 25% of "both...and" sentences show faulty parallelism. These 60 exercises systematically build your confidence across all three areas.
Both — The Two Together
Both refers to two things together and always takes a plural verb:
Both of them agreed to help.
She speaks both French and German.
Note: "Both of" requires a determiner — say "both of the students" or just "both students".
Either — One or the Other
Either means "one or the other" and takes a singular verb as subject:
You can park on either side of the street.
Either call me or send an email.
Neither — Not One, Not the Other
Neither is the negative counterpart and takes a singular verb:
Neither of them was happy with the result.
He neither called nor texted.
Each vs Every
Each = individuals separately; every = the whole group:
Every student passed the exam. (focus on the whole group)
Each of them has a unique style. (✓ "each of")
Every one of them was invited. (✓ NOT "every of them")
Common Mistakes
✗ Both candidates is qualified. → ✓ Both candidates are qualified.
✗ Neither of them are ready. → ✓ Neither of them is ready. (formal)
✗ I don't like neither option. → ✓ I don't like either option.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between both, either, and neither?
'Both' means the two together (positive): 'Both restaurants are good.' 'Either' means one or the other (it doesn't matter which): 'You can sit at either table.' 'Neither' means not one and not the other (negative): 'Neither option is acceptable.' Remember: 'both' takes a plural verb, while 'either' and 'neither' take a singular verb when used as subjects.
How do you use both...and, either...or, neither...nor?
These are correlative conjunctions that link parallel elements. 'Both...and' adds two things: 'She speaks both French and German.' 'Either...or' gives a choice: 'Either call me or send an email.' 'Neither...nor' rejects both: 'He neither called nor texted.' The elements after each part must be grammatically parallel (both nouns, both verbs, etc.).
What is the difference between each and every?
'Each' emphasises individuals separately (often for small groups or exactly two): 'Each student received a certificate.' 'Every' emphasises the group as a whole (three or more): 'Every student passed the exam.' Key difference: 'each' can be followed by 'of' ('each of them'), but 'every' cannot ('every of them' is wrong — say 'every one of them').
Is neither used with a singular or plural verb?
'Neither' as a determiner or pronoun takes a singular verb: 'Neither answer is correct', 'Neither of them was happy.' With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the nearest subject: 'Neither the teacher nor the students were ready.' In informal English, a plural verb after 'neither of' is increasingly accepted, but the singular remains the standard in formal writing.