Either — Exercises

Practice 'either' as a determiner (either bus), pronoun (either of them), and correlative conjunction (either...or). Covers singular verb agreement and the meaning of free choice between two options.

Either in English: One or the Other

Either refers to one of two things, with the implication that it doesn't matter which. Like 'both', it works as a determiner, a pronoun, and the first element of a correlative conjunction. The defining grammatical feature that distinguishes 'either' from 'both' is verb agreement: either takes a singular verb when used as subject or predeterminer. A corpus study of B1–B2 learner writing found that 23% of 'either' errors involve using a plural noun after the determiner ('either students' instead of 'either student'), and another 19% involve 'either of this' instead of 'either of these' — a number/demonstrative mismatch caused by treating the following noun as if it were singular.

Either as Determiner

'Either' + singular noun expresses 'one or the other (of two)'. As subject, it takes a singular verb.

You can take either bus — they both go to the centre.
Either restaurant is fine for dinner.
There are cafés on either side of the street.

Either as Pronoun and in Responses

As a standalone pronoun, 'either' means 'whichever of the two, I don't mind'. 'Either of' requires a plural noun with a determiner.

Do you want tea or coffee? — Either is fine, thanks.
I don't like either of these options. ('either of' + determiner + plural noun)

Either...or — Correlative Conjunction

'Either...or' presents two alternatives. 'Either' can be placed before the subject or before the verb depending on scope.

We can either stay home or go to the cinema.
Either we'll fly or we'll take the train.

Common Mistakes

✗ Either students can present the project. → ✓ Either student can present the project.
✗ I don't like either of this options. → ✓ I don't like either of these options.