Introduction
Do you ever pause mid-sentence, wondering whether to say “me either” or “me neither”? You’re not alone. The words either and neither are two of the most confusing pairs in English, yet they appear constantly in everyday conversations, emails, and exams. Understanding the difference will immediately boost your fluency and confidence—so let’s untangle this grammar puzzle together.
What Is Either vs Neither?
At their core, either and neither help us talk about two options. Either means “one of two” and is positive—it shows a choice is available. Neither means “not one and not the other” and is negative—it rejects both options.
Think of them as opposites: either opens a door, neither closes it. They also work in three main contexts: agreement (“I don’t like coffee.” “Me neither.”), choice (“You can have either tea or coffee.”), and negative statements (“Neither answer is correct.”).
Rules
- Either + singular noun + singular verb: When either refers to one of two things, use a singular verb. Example: Either option works for me.
- Neither + singular noun + singular verb: Neither always takes a singular verb because it means “not one and not the other.” Example: Neither answer is right.
- Either…or for positive choice: Use this structure to present two options. The verb agrees with the noun closest to it. Example: Either John or his brothers are coming.
- Neither…nor for negative choice: Use this to reject both options. The verb also agrees with the nearest noun. Example: Neither the manager nor the employees were informed.
- Me either vs Me neither: Use “me neither” to agree with a negative statement. “Me either” is informal and often considered incorrect in writing. Example: “I can’t swim.” “Me neither.”
- Either…or and Neither…nor pair with two items only: Do not use them for three or more options. For three or more, use “any” or “none.”
- Either and neither can act as pronouns: They can stand alone. Example: “Which shirt do you want?” “Either is fine.” / “Neither fits me.”
- Use “either” at the end of negative sentences: In informal English, “either” can mean “also” in negative sentences. Example: “I don’t like sushi.” “I don’t like it either.”
How to Use It
Follow this simple three-step process to choose correctly every time.
Step 1: Decide if the sentence is positive or negative
Ask yourself: Am I offering a choice (positive) or rejecting options (negative)? If you are offering a choice between two things, use either. If you are rejecting both, use neither.
📝 Example: “You can take either the bus or the train.” (Positive choice) vs. “Neither the bus nor the train is running today.” (Negative rejection)
Step 2: Check if you’re agreeing with someone
When someone makes a negative statement and you want to agree, use neither or not…either.
📝 Example: “I haven’t finished my homework.” “Me neither.” / “I haven’t finished mine either.”
For positive statements, use “so” or “too”—not either/neither. Example: “I love pizza.” “So do I.” (NOT “Me neither.”)
Step 3: Match the verb to the nearest subject
With either…or and neither…nor, the verb agrees with the subject that comes right after “or” or “nor.”
📝 Example: “Either your sister or your parents are picking you up.” (Parents = plural) vs. “Either your parents or your sister is picking you up.” (Sister = singular)
Examples in Sentences
- Either route will get us to the beach in an hour.
- Neither restaurant in town serves vegan food.
- You can have either the window seat or the aisle seat.
- Neither the teacher nor the students knew the answer.
- “I don’t speak French.” “Me neither.”
- I don’t like horror movies, and my brother doesn’t like them either.
- Either of the two doctors can see you today.
- Neither of my parents enjoys loud music.
- She said she would call either today or tomorrow.
- Neither answer was correct, so I guessed again.
- We can watch either a comedy or a drama tonight.
- He doesn’t eat meat, and she doesn’t either.
- Neither the blue shirt nor the green one fits me properly.
- You can choose either the red or the black bag—both are on sale.
- “I’ve never been to Japan.” “I haven’t been there either.”
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “me either” instead of “me neither”
❌ Wrong: “I can’t drive.” “Me either.”
✅ Correct: “I can’t drive.” “Me neither.”
Explanation: To agree with a negative statement, use “neither.” “Me either” is informal slang and not accepted in formal writing or exams.
Mistake 2: Using a plural verb with neither
❌ Wrong: Neither of the answers are correct.
✅ Correct: Neither of the answers is correct.
Explanation: “Neither” means “not one,” so it is singular. Always use a singular verb with “neither of + plural noun.”
Mistake 3: Mixing up either…or and neither…nor
❌ Wrong: Neither the manager or the assistant was available.
✅ Correct: Neither the manager nor the assistant was available.
Explanation: “Neither” pairs with “nor,” not “or.” Similarly, “either” pairs with “or,” not “nor.”
Mistake 4: Using either/neither for three or more options
❌ Wrong: Either apples, oranges, or bananas are in the basket.
✅ Correct: Any of the fruits—apples, oranges, or bananas—are in the basket.
Explanation: Either/neither are strictly for two options. Use “any” or “none” for three or more.
Mistake 5: Double negative with neither
❌ Wrong: I don’t want neither of them.
✅ Correct: I don’t want either of them. OR I want neither of them.
Explanation: “Neither” is already negative. Using “don’t” creates a double negative, which is incorrect in standard English.
Quick Summary
- Either = one of two (positive). Neither = not one of two (negative).
- Both take singular verbs when used alone.
- Use either…or for positive choices and neither…nor for negative choices.
- Verb agrees with the closest subject in either…or / neither…nor.
- Agree with negative statements using “me neither” or “not…either.”
- Never use either/neither for three or more options.
- Avoid double negatives—don’t pair “not” with “neither.”
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with either or neither. Answers are below.
- I don’t like spicy food, and my wife doesn’t ______.
- ______ of the two proposals was accepted by the board.
- You can borrow ______ the blue pen or the black pen.
- ______ my brother nor my sister can attend the wedding.
- “I’ve never seen that movie.” “Me ______.”
Answers: 1. either (I don’t like…she doesn’t either) | 2. Neither (singular verb “was”) | 3. either (positive choice) | 4. Neither (neither…nor structure) | 5. neither (agreeing with negative)
Conclusion
Mastering either vs neither is a game-changer for your English fluency. Remember the golden rule: either offers a positive choice between two, while neither rejects both. Practice daily with the examples above, and soon you’ll use these words naturally without hesitation.
FAQ
1. Is “me either” ever correct?
In strict grammar, “me neither” is the correct way to agree with a negative statement. “Me either” is used in informal spoken English, especially in American English, but it is not accepted in formal writing, IELTS, or TOEFL exams. To be safe, always use “me neither” for negative agreement.
2. Can I use “either” or “neither” for more than two items?
No. Both words are strictly for two options. If you have three or more choices, use “any” (positive) or “none” (negative). For example: “Any of these three apps will work” or “None of these apps work.” Using either/neither with three items is a common error.
3. What’s the difference between “neither…nor” and “not…either”?
They mean the same thing but have different structures. “Neither…nor” connects two negative subjects: “Neither John nor Mary came.” “Not…either” places “not” before the verb and “either” after: “John didn’t come, and Mary didn’t come either.” Both are correct; choose based on sentence flow.
4. Should the verb be singular or plural with “neither of”?
Use a singular verb with “neither of + plural noun.” Example: “Neither of the cars is new.” This is because “neither” means “not one.” However, in informal spoken English, some native speakers use a plural verb (“Neither of the cars are new”), but this is not standard and should be avoided in exams or professional writing.