Mixed — Both, Either, Neither, Each, Every in Context — English Grammar Exercises
Both dishes are tasty and neither is expensive. Master determiners for pairs and groups — 60 exercises across 6 subtopics.
Mixed Practice: Both, Either, Neither, Each, Every in Context
Choosing between both, either, neither, each, and every requires simultaneous control of meaning (two together, one or the other, neither, one by one, the whole group), verb agreement (plural for both, singular for the rest), and structural constraints (e.g. 'every' cannot take 'of'). Mixed exercises simulate real-world reading and writing, where context — not category labels — determines the correct form. Corpus analysis shows that mixed-context errors are the most persistent at B1–B2 level because learners who master the forms in isolation still revert to L1 patterns when processing for meaning simultaneously. Common traps include choosing 'either' when 'neither' is needed (positive vs negative context), and using 'both' when 'each' is more appropriate (group vs individual focus).
Distinguishing Both, Either, and Neither by Meaning
There are two routes. You can take either one — they're the same distance. (one or the other, free choice)
I asked two friends for help, but neither of them was free. (not one and not the other)
Neither...nor in Longer Sentences
When 'neither...nor' connects two noun phrases as subject, the verb agrees with the nearest noun (proximity rule).
The flat is neither cheap nor spacious.
Every Single and Emphatic Forms
Each of us has a different opinion.
Common Mistakes
✗ Neither the manager or the staff were informed. → ✓ Neither the manager nor the staff were informed.
✗ I can't cook good and my sister can't too. → ✓ … my sister can't either.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between both, either, and neither?
'Both' means the two together (positive): 'Both restaurants are good.' It always takes a plural verb. 'Either' means one or the other — it doesn't matter which: 'You can take either bus.' As a subject it takes a singular verb. 'Neither' means not one and not the other (negative): 'Neither option is acceptable.' It also takes a singular verb and already contains a negative meaning, so never add a second negative word ('neither of them don't want' is wrong — say 'neither of them wants').
How do you use both...and, either...or, neither...nor?
These are correlative conjunctions that link two parallel elements. 'Both...and' adds two things: 'She speaks both French and German.' 'Either...or' presents a choice: 'Either call me or send an email.' 'Neither...nor' rejects both: 'He neither called nor texted.' A common error is writing 'neither...or' — always use 'neither...nor'. The elements after each part must be grammatically parallel: both nouns, both verbs, both adjectives, etc.
What is the difference between each and every?
'Each' emphasises individuals one by one (possible for two or more): 'Each student received a certificate.' 'Every' emphasises the group as a whole (three or more): 'Every student passed the exam.' The key rule: 'each' can be followed by 'of' ('each of the students'), but 'every' cannot — 'every of the students' is wrong. Say 'every student' or 'every one of the students'. Both take singular verbs.
How do you express negative agreement in English — 'neither do I' or 'I can't either'?
Both forms are correct but structurally different. 'Neither do I' (or 'Nor do I') uses inversion: neither + auxiliary + subject. 'I can't either' keeps normal word order but adds 'either' at the end. Match the auxiliary to the first sentence: 'She hasn't finished' → 'Neither have I' / 'I haven't either'. The key error to avoid is 'too' in negative contexts: 'I can't too' is wrong — use 'either'. The informal 'Me neither' works in spoken English.