Kevin
December 17, 2020
...: What's The Difference?
The English language is one of the most complex languages to learn and as a result one of the most exciting and rewarding. When you are able to remember the words that sound the same but are spelled differently and words that are spelled and sound the same but have different meanings, you are already well on your way to avoiding common, cringeworthy English grammar mistakes.
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According to Merriam Webster, both either and neither are a set of words that can become confusing when learning English. Using them in the correct context can take a bit of practice and in conversation, they can sound different, too.
Either means, ‘any of the two’.
Neither means, ‘none of the two’.
Both either and neither are determiners that be used in the following parts of speech:
The use of either as an adjective:
Neither as an adjective in a negative statement:
The use of either as a pronoun:
Neither as a pronoun:
The use of either as a conjunction:
Using neither as a conjunction:
The use of either as an adverb:
Using neither as an adverb:
Wikitionary identifies either from Middle English, from Old English ǣġhwæþer, from Proto-Germanic, ultimately corresponding to ay (“always, ever”) + whether. It was first used in the 12th C.
Compare to Latin neuter. Alteration (after either) of ‘nauther’, from Middle English ‘nawther’. From Old English ‘nāwþer’, corresponding to no + whether.
If English isn’t your first language it’s a good idea to pay attention to the cultural cues to determine what phonetics will be used in conversation. The main differences are between American and British english.
In America the pronunciation tends to be:
In England the pronunciation is commonly:
However this is a very general observation and since neither is wrong, either versions could be used in both countries. This is a great example of how confusing English can be. To be truly fluent there are elements of the language that don’t follow any hard and fast rules and must simply be memorized. Don’t let this deter you from trying to become proficient in English or any other language you might choose to learn.
A research study conducted by Pamela Rausch for St Cloud University explored the traditional methods of language learning that separates writing, speaking and listening. However, when you take into consideration the nuances of conversational English demonstrated with the varying pronunciations i.e. either and neither, Rausch’s study proved there are benefits to combining writing, speaking and listening and doing so strengthens each of the skills.
Either and neither are very handy words to be able to formulate sentences, offer opinions in conversation and/or writing and offer instruction to another person by giving two options.
To follow are some sentences where you can fill in the blank. Let’s test your knowledge so far:
Answers:
To learn English or to teach English means grasping all its rules and irregularities — which can be tricky, even as a native English speaker. Either and neither are a great example of that. Hopefully, you can now use both words with a level of proficiency that propels your language courses and grammar tips to a new level of expertise. Keep practicing your English lessons every day so you can get better all the time.
