Either / Or, Neither / Nor

Either This, Or That

A closer look at either / or and neither / nor — choices, rejections, and how to use them to add another negative point smoothly.

Notice it

Choosing a carrier

A:Have you decided on a carrier for the Almaty shipment yet?
B:Not yet. Honestly, either option works for us — DHL or the local carrier. Both can meet the deadline.
A:I'd lean toward DHL, though. The local carrier neither confirmed the pickup time nor sent updated pricing.
B:That's true. And to be fair, I don't fully trust either of them with fragile cargo.
A:Same here. Neither has a great track record with breakables.
B:So what do you suggest — do we go with a third option, or just accept the risk?
A:I think either choice comes with some risk, but DHL seems the safer bet.
B:Agreed. The client didn't confirm the budget increase, and neither did procurement approve the extra cost yet.
A:Right, so we can't move forward with either plan until that's sorted.
B:Exactly. Let's wait for confirmation — otherwise neither of us can make the call alone.
Work it out

Questions about the conversation

1.Find every sentence with "either." Which ones offer a real choice, and which one means "not one, not the other"?
2.Look at "The local carrier neither confirmed the pickup time nor sent updated pricing." What two facts are being joined here, and what do you notice about the verb forms after "neither" and "nor"?
3.Look at "And neither did procurement approve the extra cost yet." What's unusual about the word order right after "neither"? Compare it to a normal statement: "Procurement didn't approve..."
4.Compare "Neither has a great track record" and "Neither did procurement approve." Why does one use "has" and the other use "did... approve"?
5.Find "I don't fully trust either of them." Could this sentence be rewritten with "neither... nor"? Try it, and compare the tone.
Examples and rules

How either and neither work

1. either ... or — a choice between two (positive)

Presenting or choosing between two real options.

We can use either DHL or the local carrier.
You can send the invoice either today or first thing tomorrow.
2. neither ... nor — rejecting both (negative)

The sentence is already negative — no extra "not" is needed, and this structure tends to sound more formal or written than "didn't... or".

The carrier neither confirmed the pickup nor sent updated pricing.
Compare, more casual: The carrier didn't confirm the pickup or send updated pricing.
3. either / neither alone — referring back to two known things
"Which carrier do you prefer?" — "Honestly, either is fine."
"Which one should we drop?" — "Neither — we need both routes covered."
4. neither / nor to add another negative point (inversion)

When you want to add a second negative fact to one already mentioned, "neither" or "nor" can start the new clause — but the word order flips, just like in a question: auxiliary before the subject.

The client didn't confirm the budget. Neither did procurement approve the cost.
The shipment wasn't on time, nor was it complete when it arrived.
This inversion pattern is common in reports, emails, and more formal spoken English — it sounds more polished than starting a new sentence with "And also not...".
5. "not ... either" — the everyday alternative

In casual speech, it's often easier to just add "either" to the end of a negative sentence — no inversion required.

The supplier didn't call, and they didn't email either.
Same meaning, more formal: The supplier didn't call, nor did they email.
6. verb agreement with "neither of / either of"

The verb agrees with the noun closest to it. With "neither of / either of + plural noun," a singular verb is correct in careful writing, though a plural verb is common in speech.

Neither of the drivers has confirmed. (formal)
Neither of the drivers have confirmed. (common in speech)
When "either... or" or "neither... nor" joins two different subjects, the verb agrees with the one nearer to it: Neither the manager nor the drivers were informed.
Controlled practice

Fill in the gap

Complete each sentence with either or neither.

Part 1 — Choices and options
Part 2 — Rejections and negative facts
Controlled practice

Build the sentence

Put the words in the right order — some include the inversion pattern. Try it yourself first, then tap to check.

Speaking practice

1. Either way

Take turns offering a real work choice — two carriers, two routes, two suppliers, two deadlines, anything from your actual work or an invented scenario. Your partner responds honestly: naming one, saying "either is fine," or rejecting both with "neither."

  • Do at least 5 rounds.
  • Use "either... or" with two named things at least twice.
  • At least once, reject both options and explain why with "neither."

2. The complaint call

Partner A calls Partner B (a supplier or carrier) to complain about a shipment that went wrong in two separate ways. Partner A must describe both failures in one sentence using "neither... nor." Partner B responds and offers a solution — but using "either... or" to offer two ways to fix it.

  • Partner A: at least 2 different complaints, each using "neither... nor."
  • Partner B: at least 2 solutions offered with "either... or."
  • Switch roles with a new, invented shipment problem.

3. Add the second negative

Partner A makes a negative statement about a real or invented work situation. Partner B must add a second, related negative fact using the inversion pattern — "Neither did..." or "Nor was..." — not just "and also not."

  • Do at least 4 rounds.
  • Use the inversion pattern each time, not the easier "not... either."
  • If you get stuck on word order, say the sentence slowly and check the auxiliary comes right after "neither/nor."
One rule: after each round, restate the same idea the easier way — with "not... either" — so you can hear both versions side by side.
End of Lesson