Hey there! This is TOP episode 136. EITHER – All You Need To Know!
My name’s Ola and I am an English teacher. My goal is to help you start speaking English with confidence and get rid of speaking barriers. I believe it is achievable for you and it’s time you started speaking English fearlessly! Go to my website for full transcripts and worksheets to each episode. Happy learning!
Hello to you! Thank you so very much for being here. I hope you’ll learn a lot. It’s a tine bit of grammar today, but useful for daily conversations. Either, either, let’s see how to pronounce the word and what are its four uses. Last but not least, the practical part. this is when you repeat the sentences out loud.
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First of all, pronunciation. there are two ways of pronouncing the word. You can say: /ˈaɪðə(r)/ or /ˈiːðə(r)/ and if you prefer American pronunciation still you have two options: /ˈiːðər/, /ˈaɪðər/.
Ok, now the meaning and use. There are four uses of the word either. As a determiner, a pronoun, an adverb and a conjunction. Let’s start with either as a determiner.
If you wanna talk about two possibilities, use either plus a noun. A countable, singular noun. For example:
I don’t like either dress.
Either sandwich will be fine, just don’t give me the soup.
So this needs explanation. There are two dresses, both look terrible in my view, I don’t like them. I don’t like the red one and I don’t like the yellow one, hence:
I don’t like either dress.
Now, the latter example: Either tea will be fine. You’re offering me two kinds of sandwiches. A cheese sandwich and a tuna sandwich. I don’t care which one I’ll have. I like both. It doesn’t matter to me. All that matters is that I don’t want the soup.
Either sandwich will be fine.
See? ‘sandwich’, a singular, countable noun.
If you have a plural noun, or the, these, those, or possessives: my, your, her, his the pattern is different. Listen to the examples:
Either of the books can help you to understand the history.
Either of your parents can come.
I don’t want either of you to talk to me like that!
Additionally, ‘either’ can be used like the word ‘both’. Both solutions will work. Mind that after ‘either’ you have to stick to a singular form.
Either solution will work.
Either of us can tell the difference.
There are cars on either side of the street.
The second thing we need to address today is using ‘either’ as a pronoun. For instance:
- Which dish do you want? Chicken or tofu?
- I don’t like either.
I don’t want chicken and I don’t want tofu.
- Which flavour do you prefer? Orange or watermelon?
- Either.
It doesn’t matter, I like both.
Thirdly, ‘either’ can be an adverb.
She’s a really nice girl, and she doesn’t complain either.
He doesn’t speak Spanish and he doesn’t know spanish cuisine either.
Lastly, ‘either’ can be used to join two phrases into one long sentence.
You can either walk or take a tram.
Either my mother or my father will call.
Eiter ice cream of cake will be served for dessert.
He is either foolish or unlucky.
Either we should call him, or we should text him today.
The very last thing before you practice. Can you omit ‘either’? Is it ok to say:
You can have pizza or past. Do you have to add ‘either’? Which is ok?
You can have either pizza or pasta.
or:
You can have pizza or pasta?
Both are ok, you can skip ‘either’ and it’s just fine.
Oh, I’m so sorry but there is one more thing I forgot to mention before. Should you use the plural or singular form of the verb? See the examples:
Either the teacher or the students know the answer.
plural, because ‘students’, so ‘students know’
but:
Either the students or the teacher knows the answer.
singular, because ‘teacher’, hence ‘’teacher knows’.
Time for you to practice speaking out loud. hear yourself, teach your mouth to move in a new way. By the way, learn more about befits that come out of speaking out loud in episode 9. Find it at teacherola.com/9. Ok, listen and repeat out loud.
I don’t like either dress.
Either sandwich will be fine, just don’t give me the soup.
Either of the books can help you to understand the history.
I don’t want either of you to talk to me like that!
Either solution will work.
Either of us can tell the difference.
There are cars on either side of the street.
She’s a really nice girl, and she doesn’t complain either.
He doesn’t speak Spanish and he doesn’t know Spanish cuisine either.
You can either walk or take a tram.
He is either foolish or unlucky.
Either we should call him, or we should text him today.
Beautiful! Glad you’ve made it! Don’t forget to go to your inbox and grab worksheet 136. How else can you test yourself? 🙂 Complete the worksheet with translations. Worksheets are designed for Polish listeners. Worksheet sets are available at teacherola.com, the links are below. I’m also preparing transcript sets because I know you’d like to read them on your e-book readers. Great idea by the way!
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Thank you so much for listening and I’ll see you next Wednesday! Till then, take care! Happy learning. Stay fearless and say it out loud! Bye!