grammar · neutral
either ... or ...
Used to indicate a choice between two alternatives (either A or B).
Examples
“You can either study at home or go to the library.”
“Either the coach or the players will give a statement after the match.”
“Either option has advantages and disadvantages.”
Band 8 sentence
“Either governments act decisively to regulate emerging technologies, or society will face widening inequality and instability.”
Collocations
- either A or B + verb (verb agrees with nearest subject)
Common mistakes
Either my friend or my brother are coming to help.→Either my friend or my brother is coming to help.
You can either to study or relax.→You can either study or relax.
I don't know either he will come or not.→I don't know whether he will come or not.
Say it for a higher band
5or→6either ... or→7+either ... or ...
Synonyms
one of the two
Easily confused
neither ... nor ...
“Either you start on time or you will miss the introduction.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Tenses
Learn it with its set