English Either/Or and Neither/Nor (Without Headaches)

Learn the patterns, avoid the classic mistakes, and get real-life sentences you can steal (politely).

Either/or helps you talk about choices. Neither/nor helps you say “not this and not that.” They’re super common in American English, and once you see the patterns, they’re surprisingly simple.

Bonus: you’ll also learn the one grammar rule that trips people up the most—verb agreement when either/or or neither/nor connects two subjects.

Yak Box: The One-Sentence Cheat

Either/or = a choice (A or B). Neither/nor = negative choice (not A and not B).

Quick examples: “You can have either tea or coffee.” / “I want neither tea nor coffee.”

Either/Or: How To Talk About Choices

Use either/or when there are two options. It often means “one of these two.”

Pattern	Meaning	Example	Natural Reply
Either A or B	Choose one	You can sit either here or there.	Either is fine.
Either + noun	One of the two	Can I try either flavor?	Sure—pick one.
Either way	No difference to the result	Either way, we should call ahead.	Agreed.

Either/Or Meaning

Meaning: “One of two choices.”

Example: You can pay either by card or in cash.
Example: We can meet on Friday or Saturday—either works for me.
Example: Pick either the blue one or the black one.

Neither/Nor: How To Say “Not This, Not That”

Use neither/nor when you want to say both options are not true (or you want none of the two choices).

Pattern	Meaning	Example
Neither A nor B	Not A and not B	I speak neither French nor Spanish.
Neither one	Not this one or that one	Neither one looks right.
Neither… (short answer)	Also not me	A: I don’t like mushrooms. B: Me neither.

Neither/Nor Meaning

Meaning: “Not one and not the other.”

Example: Neither option nor the backup plan will work.
Example: She’s neither rude nor shy—she’s just quiet.
Example: I have neither time nor energy today.

Parallel Structure: Make Both Sides Match

Either/or and neither/nor like things that match. If you use a noun on one side, use a noun on the other side. If you use a verb, use a verb.

✅ Good (Matches)

We can either drive or take the train.
She’s neither tired nor hungry.
Pick either the salad or the soup.

❌ Not So Good (Doesn’t Match)

We can either drive or the train. (verb vs noun)
She’s neither tired nor she wants dinner. (adjective vs clause)

Fix it: make both sides the same type of words.

Verb Agreement: The Rule People Mess Up

When either/or or neither/nor connects two subjects, the verb usually agrees with the subject closest to the verb. This is very common in American English.

Sentence	Why
Either my brother or my parents are picking me up.	Closest subject = parents (plural → are)
Either my parents or my brother is picking me up.	Closest subject = brother (singular → is)
Neither the manager nor the employees were ready.	Closest subject = employees (plural → were)
Neither the employees nor the manager was ready.	Closest subject = manager (singular → was)

Tip: If it sounds awkward, you can often rewrite the sentence: “My parents or my brother will pick me up.” / “The manager and the employees weren’t ready.” (Different meaning, but sometimes cleaner.)

American Vs British Note: In both American and British English, the “closest subject” rule is common. Also, neither is traditionally singular (“Neither is…”), but in casual speech you’ll sometimes hear plural verbs (“Neither are…”), especially when the subjects feel plural. For clear, safe writing, use the closest-subject rule above.

Useful Phrases You Can Use Today

These are natural, everyday American English sentences with either/or and neither/nor. Steal them. That’s what language is for.

You can either email me or text me.
Meaning: Two choices for contacting me.
Either way, let’s leave by 6.
Meaning: The result is the same.
It’s either too hot or too cold in here.
Meaning: One of two problems is happening.
We can go either now or after lunch.
Meaning: Two time options.
Either you apologize, or we’re done talking.
Meaning: A firm choice (a bit dramatic, but useful).
I want neither drama nor gossip.
Meaning: I want none of these two things.
He’s neither late nor early—he’s exactly on time.
Meaning: Both descriptions are false.
Neither the app nor the website is working.
Meaning: Both are not working.
I can do it on Monday or Tuesday—either is fine.
Meaning: Both options work for me.
Neither answer is correct.
Meaning: Not this one, not that one.
Do you want pizza or tacos? Either is okay with me.
Meaning: I don’t have a strong preference.
A: I didn’t sleep well. B: Me neither.
Meaning: Also not me.

Common Mistakes And Quick Fixes

Mistake

Using neither/or (wrong pair)
Mixing word types: “either eat or dessert”
Wrong verb: “Neither my friends nor my sister are coming.” (closest subject is singular)
Double negative: “I don’t want neither…” (common in some dialects, but not standard)

Fix

Use either/or or neither/nor as a set.
Keep both sides parallel: verb + verb, noun + noun, adjective + adjective.
Make the verb match the closest subject: “Neither my friends nor my sister is coming.”
Use standard form: “I want neither…” or “I don’t want either…”

Practice Time: Quick Drills

Drill 1: Choose Either/Or Or Neither/Nor

We can _______ walk _______ take the bus.
I like _______ horror movies _______ super sad movies.
She’s _______ angry _______ upset. She’s just tired.
It’s _______ my phone _______ the Wi-Fi causing the problem.
He wants _______ help _______ advice. He just wants to complain.

Check yourself: If you mean “choose one,” use either/or. If you mean “not this and not that,” use neither/nor.

Drill 2: Fix The Verb

Either my cousins or my dad are driving. (Fix the verb if needed.)
Neither the teachers nor the principal were happy. (Fix the verb if needed.)
Either the manager or the assistants is calling you back. (Fix the verb if needed.)

Rule reminder: match the verb to the closest subject.

Drill 3: Make It Parallel

We can either go or a taxi.
He’s neither busy nor he wants to help.
She’ll either call or an email later.

Goal: rewrite each sentence so both sides match (verb + verb, noun + noun, adjective + adjective).

Quick Reference Summary

What You Want To Say	Use This	Mini Example
A choice between two options	either A or B	Either Monday or Tuesday works.
Both options are false / you want none	neither A nor B	Neither plan nor backup plan worked.
You don’t care which one	Either is fine	Tea or coffee? Either is fine.
The result is the same	Either way	Either way, we should leave early.
Verb choice with two subjects	Closest subject wins	Either my parents or my sister is coming.

FAQ: Tiny Questions That Pop Up A Lot

Can I say “I don’t want neither”?

In standard American English, that’s considered a double negative. Use: “I want neither,” or “I don’t want either.” (Some dialects use double negatives on purpose, but it’s not the “safe” version for school or work.)

Is “Me either” wrong?

In American English, “Me neither” is the standard reply to a negative statement: “I don’t know.” → “Me neither.” You’ll also hear “Me either” in casual speech, but if you want the clean, widely accepted version, go with me neither.

Do I always need “either” and “neither”?

Nope. Sometimes plain or is enough: “We can meet Friday or Saturday.” But either/or adds clarity (and sometimes emphasis) that it’s a two-choice situation.

Final Yak

If you remember only two things, remember this: either/or is for choices, neither/nor is for “none of the two,” and your verb usually matches the closest subject. That’s basically the whole game.

If you want extra reading, you can also check this guide: Using either, neither, nor, and or in English.

Now go make two choices like a confident human: use either/or when you mean “pick one,” and neither/nor when you mean “nope to both.”