You use either in front of the first of two or more alternatives, when you are stating the only possibilities or choices that there are. The other alternatives are introduced by 'or'.
They gave money to the Conservative Party either personally or through their companies.
Sightseeing is best done either by tour bus or by bicycle.
The former President was demanding that he should be either put on trial or set free.
Either she goes or I go.
2. conjunction
You use either in a negative statement in front of the first of two alternatives to indicate that the negative statementrefers to both the alternatives.
...music that fails to be either funny or funky.
They found no sign of either him or his son.
3. pronoun
You can use either to refer to one of two things, people, or situations, when you want to say that they are both possible and it does not matter which one is chosen or considered.
There were glasses of champagne and cigars, but not many of either were consumed.
If either were killed, delicate negotiations would be seriously disrupted.
Either is also a quantifier.
They are able to talk openly to one another whenever either of them feels hurt.
Have either of you rented before?
Either is also a determiner.
I don't particularly agree with either group.
4. pronoun
You use either in a negative statement to refer to each of two things, people, or situations toindicate that the negative statement includes both of them.
She warned me that I'd never marry or have children. – I don't want either.
Either is also a quantifier.
There are no simple answers to either of those questions.
Either is also a determiner.
He sometimes couldn't remember either man's name.
5. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
You use either by itself in negative statements to indicate that there is a similarity or connection with a person or thing that you have just mentioned.
He did not even say anything to her, and she did not speak to him either.
'I'm afraid I've never been there.'—'Well, of course, I haven't myself either.'
6. adverb [ADVERB after verb]
When one negative statement follows another, you can use either at the end of the second one to indicate that you are adding an extra piece of information, and to emphasize that both are equally important.
Don't agree, but don't argue either.
I can't manage that by myself and I don't see why it should be expected of me either.
7. determiner
You can use either to introduce a noun that refers to each of two things when you are talking about both of them.
The basketball nets hung down from the ceiling at either end of the gymnasium.
I suddenly realized that I didn't have a single intelligent thing to say about eitherteam.
English Easy Learning GrammarDeterminersDeterminers are words that make the reference of nouns more specific. If I say ‘thiscar’ it is clear that I mean a particular car which is near me. If ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarDistributivesDistributives are determiners that are used to talk about how something is sharedout or divided. The distributives are each, every, either, and neither. ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarIndefinite pronounsThe indefinite pronouns are used when you do not know or do not need to say preciselywho or what you are referring to. The noun phrase which they substitute ... Read more
either in British English
(ˈaɪðə, ˈiːðə)
determiner
1.
a.
one or the other (of two)
either coat will do
b.
(as pronoun)
either is acceptable
2.
both one and the other
there were loudspeakers at either end of the hall
3. (coordinating)
used preceding two or more possibilities joined by "or"
you may have either cheese or a sweet
adverb(sentence modifier)
4. (used with a negative)
used to indicate that the clause immediately preceding is a partial reiteration of a previous clause
John isn't a liar, but he isn't exactly honest either
▶ USAGE Either is followed by a singular verb in good usage: either is good; either of these books is useful. Care should be taken to avoid ambiguity when using either to mean both or each, as in the following sentence: a ship could be moored on either side of the channel. Agreement between the verb and its subject in either…or… constructions follows the pattern given for neither…nor…
Word origin
Old English ǣgther, short for ǣghwæther each of two; related to Old Frisian ēider, Old High German ēogihweder; see each, whether
either in American English
(ˈiðər; ˈaɪðər)
adjective
1.
one or the other (of two)
use either hand
2.
each (of two); the one and the other
he had a tool in either hand
pronoun
3.
one or the other (of two)
conjunction
4.
the first element of the pair of disjunctive correlatives either … or, implying a choice of alternatives [either go or stay]
either … or is sometimes used to refer to more than two, although this use is objected to bysome
bring either cookies, doughnuts, or some other kind of pastry
adverb
5.
any more than the other; also
used after negative expressions
if you don't go, I won't either
6. Informal
certainly; indeed
used as an intensifier in a negative statement
“It's mine.” “It isn't either!”
Word origin
ME < OE æghwæther < a (æ), always (see ay) + gehwæther, each of two (see whether): akin to, and of same formation as, OHG eogihwedar
Examples of 'either' in a sentence
either
Either way think about why it was so easy to cheat.
The Sun (2016)
Nowhere has there been anything on either side resembling an infantry advance.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Most of the time people were either shouting or mumbling.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There is no turning back the clock on either of those fronts.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We either have the money or the car.
The Sun (2016)
Either you put it in the past or you get yourself down.
The Sun (2016)
And not just any nominee either.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Their attacks can either end inside the box, or they can score from long range.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A draw is not much use to either of them.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
An extra day is available for free with either three days for the price of two, or four days for the price of three.
The Sun (2017)
Scholars of violin performance will find little to detain them here about either technique or repertoire.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
Items at either end of the concert provided welcome ballast.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They may exist because either pastor or people have been hurt.
Christianity Today (2000)
This means your money will either be earning no interest or very little interest.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You put in either your fingerprint or a personal identification number.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He learnt how to tie knots and to use scissors with either hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They were either free transfers or loan signings.
The Sun (2009)
No one in either country has voted for more asymmetric devolution.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Things are either voluntary or they are not.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Say you either tackle the issues which are making her hold back or call it a day.
The Sun (2010)
People seemed to want either to cry or spit.
various & introduction by Deirdre Chapman A Roomful of Birds - Scottish short stories 1990 (1990)
Commitment goes deeper than either of you are yet to realise.
The Sun (2014)
The boss declined the invitation to criticise the lack of effort of his team afterwards either.
The Sun (2007)
Why are there so few women on either front bench?
The Sun (2015)
No one was hurt in either incident.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Regulation of the press is a matter either recognised in law or it is not.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Police said they would have objected if they had known either man was there.
The Sun (2008)
He just needs either to delve deeper or to have more life on which to report.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We want a civilised human being at either end of the competition and a savage in the middle.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The idea is to arrive at a design that cannot be improved either by taking anything away or adding anything to it.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Why did we come to think this was affordable, either personally or nationally?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Yet he was afraid of something, and not anything physical either.
various & introduction by Deirdre Chapman A Roomful of Birds - Scottish short stories 1990 (1990)
In other languages
either
British English: either /ˈaɪðə; ˈiːðə/ ADVERB
You use either in negative sentences to mean also.
He said nothing, and she did not speak either.
American English: either
Arabic: فَوْقَ ذَلِك
Brazilian Portuguese: tampouco
Chinese: 任一
Croatian: ni
Czech: ani
Danish: heller
Dutch: evenmin
European Spanish: tampoco
Finnish: kumpikaan
French: non plus
German: ebenso
Greek: ούτε
Italian: nemmeno
Japanese: ･･･もまた 否定
Korean: ...도 또한 ...아니다
Norwegian: heller
Polish: również
European Portuguese: tampouco
Romanian: nici
Russian: также
Latin American Spanish: tampoco
Swedish: antingen
Thai: ไม่เช่นกัน
Turkish: ikisinden biri
Ukrainian: також
Vietnamese: hoặc
British English: either /ˈaɪðə; ˈiːðə/ DETERMINER
eachEither means each.
The teams waited at either end of the gym.
American English: either
Arabic: إمَا
Brazilian Portuguese: cada
Chinese: 或者
Croatian: svaki
Czech: oba
Danish: enten
Dutch: beide
European Spanish: cada
Finnish: -kaan/-kään
French: soit
German: entweder
Greek: είτε
Italian: entrambi
Japanese: ･･･かまたは･･･か
Korean: ...이든 (아니면)...
Norwegian: enten
Polish: albo
European Portuguese: cada
Romanian: fiecare
Russian: каждый
Latin American Spanish: cada
Swedish: eller
Thai: แต่ละ
Turkish: ya o, ya bu
Ukrainian: кожен
Vietnamese: mỗi
British English: either /ˈaɪðə; ˈiːðə/ PRONOUN
You can use either when there are two things to choose from.
She wants a husband and children. I don't want either.
American English: either
Arabic: أَيُّ مِنْ
Brazilian Portuguese: cada um
Chinese: 任一
Croatian: bilo koji
Czech: kterýkoliv
Danish: begge
Dutch: beide
European Spanish: cualquiera
Finnish: jompikumpi
French: l’un ou l’autre
German: einer von beiden
Greek: εκάτερος
Italian: l'uno o l'altro
Japanese: どちらも
Korean: 어느 쪽 하나
Norwegian: begge
Polish: którykolwiek
European Portuguese: cada um
Romanian: niciunul
Russian: каждый
Latin American Spanish: cualquiera de los dos
Swedish: endera
Thai: อย่างใดอย่างหนึ่งในจำนวนสอง
Turkish: her ikisi de
Ukrainian: обидва
Vietnamese: một trong hai
British English: either /ˈaɪðə; ˈiːðə/ DETERMINER
one of two thingsEither means one of two things or people.
You can choose either date.
American English: either
Arabic: أَيُّ مِنْهُما
Brazilian Portuguese: um
Chinese: 任一两者中的
Croatian: bilo koji
Czech: jeden ze dvou
Danish: begge
Dutch: een van beide
European Spanish: cualquiera de los dos
Finnish: kumpi tahansa
French: l'un ou l'autre
German: eins von beiden
Greek: ένας από τους δύο
Italian: uno dei due
Japanese: どちらか
Korean: 각각
Norwegian: hvilken (som helst)
Polish: również
European Portuguese: um de dois
Romanian: oricare
Russian: любой из
Latin American Spanish: cualquier
Swedish: endera
Thai: อย่างใดอย่างหนึ่ง
Turkish: ya
Ukrainian: будь-який
Vietnamese: một trong hai
Chinese translation of 'either'
either
(ˈaɪðəʳ)
adj
(= one or other) 两(兩)者任一的 (liǎngzhě rèn yī de)
⇒ Either bus will take you there.两路公共汽车之中任一辆都会把你带到那儿。 (Liǎng lù gōnggòng qìchē zhī zhōng rèn yī liàng dōu huì bǎ nǐ dàidào nà'er.)