2022-02-18
ศัพท์ น่าสับสน - Set – E - either + are / is / or & nor
แนะนำการใช้ ตามที่ส่วนใหญ่ใช้ แต่ละท้องถิ่น
ความหมาย อาจผันแปร ตาม ตำแหน่ง/หน้าที่ ในประโยค
Dictionary.com:
ออกเสียง either = “EE-ther” or “AHY-ther”
ออกเสียง neither = “NEE-ther” or “NAHY-..”
The A-Z of Correct English Common Errors in English Dictionary:
either . . . or
(i) Take care with singular and plural verbs.
Use these exemplar sentences as a guide:
Either Jack or Tom was there.
(singular verb to match Jack (singular) and Tom (singular)
Either Jack or his brothers were there.
(plural verb to match ‘brothers’ (plural) which is closer to it than ‘Jack’ (singular) )
Either his brothers or Jack was there.
(singular verb this time because
‘Jack’ (singular) is closer to the verb than ‘brothers’)
(ii) Be careful to place each part of the ‘either . . . or’ construction correctly. I have decided either that I have to build an extension or I have to move.
I have decided that either I have to build an extension or I have to move.
In the example above, there are these two possibilities:
I have to build an extension. I have to move.
‘Either’ precedes the first one and ‘or’ precedes the second
The second one could be shortened:
I have decided that either
I have to build an extension
or (I have to) move.
I have decided that either I have to build an extension or move.
It is important that the two constructions following ‘either’ and ‘or’ should be parallel ones:
either meat or fish either green or red either to love or to hate either with malice or with kindness.
If the second construction is shortened to avoid repetition, this is fine.
The missing words are obvious and can be supplied readily
Common Errors in English Usage Dictionary:
Either
“Either” often gets misplaced in a sentence:
“He either wanted to build a gambling casino or a convent” should be
“He wanted to build either a gambling casino or a convent.”
Put “either” just before the first thing being compared.
Common Errors in English Usage Dictionary:
Either are & is
As a subject, “either” is singular.
it’s the opposite of “both,” and refers to one at a time:
“Either ketchup or mustard is good on a hot dog.”
But if “either” is modifying a subject in an “either . . . or” phrase,
then the number of the verb
is determined by the number of the second noun:
“Either the puppy or the twins seem to need my attention every other minute.”
Dictionary of Problem Words and Expressions:
either … or & neither ... nor
Either means “one of two”;
Neither means “not one of two.”
Or goes witheither, nor withneither:
“Either Sarah or I will go, but neither Bill nor Jane will.”
When used alone, both either andneither take verb in the singular:
“Either is ready to go with you.”
“Neither isnow ready
The use ofeither … or andneither … nor
to coordinate more than two words, phrases, or clauses
is considered permissible by some authorities but not by the majority:
“Either telephoneor write.”
“Neither Jacknor Jill knows.”
“He is studying mathematics, chemistry, and physics, but he is proficient in none (preferably not neither).”
In either … or and neither … nor constructions,
these conjunctions are properly followed
by similar parts of speech or similar structures.
That is, write “Either he keeps quietor he leaves the room,”
not “Heeither keeps quietor . . . . “
Dictionary.com:
GRAMMAR NOTES FOR EITHER
When the pronoun either is the subject
and comes immediatelybefore the verb, the verb is singular:
Either is good enough.
Either grows well in this soil.
When either is followed by a prepositional phrase with a plural object,
there is a tendency to use a plural verb,
but a singular verb is more common:
Either of them is (or are) good enough.
Either of the shrubs grows (or grow) well in this soil.
As an adjective either refers only to two of anything:
either side of the river;
using either hand.
As a pronoun either sometimes occurs in reference to more than two ( either of the three children ),
but any is more common in this construction ( any of the three children ).
As a conjunction, either often introduces a series of more than two:
The houses were finished with either cedar siding or stucco or brick.
The pizza is topped with either anchovies, green peppers, or mushrooms.
Usage guides say that the verb used with subjects
joined by the correlative conjunctions either … or (or neither … nor )
is singular or plural depending on the number
of the noun or pronoun nearer the verb:
Either the parents or the school determines the program.
Either the school or the parents determine the program.
Practice in this matter varies, however,
and often the presence of one plural, no matter what its position,
results in a plural verb:
Either the parents or the school determine the program.
In carefully edited writing,
these correlative conjunctions are usually placed
so that what follows the first correlative
is parallel to what follows the second:
The damage was done by either the wind or vandals or either by the wind or by vandals (not done either by the wind or vandals).
See also neither.
Dictionary.com:
GRAMMAR NOTES FOR NEITHER
As an adjective or pronoun meaning “not either,”
neither is usually followed by a singular verb and
referred to by a singular personal pronoun:
Neither lawyer prepares her own briefs.
Neither performs his duties for reward.
When neither is followed by a prepositional phrase
with a plural object, there has been, ever since the 17th century,
a tendency, especially in speech and less formal writing,
to use a plural verb and personal pronoun:
Neither of the guards were at their stations.
In edited writing, however,
singular verbs and pronouns are more common in such constructions:
Neither of the guards was at his station.
As a correlative conjunction,
neither is almost always followed by nor, not or:
Neither the liberals nor the conservatives had originally supported the winner.
Subjects connected by neither … nor take singular verbs and pronouns
when both subjects are singular
( Neither Diane nor Nicole has her own apartment ),
plural when both are plural:
Neither the Yankees nor the Dodgers got much help from their bull pens that year.
Usage guides commonly say that
when a singular and a plural subject are joined by these correlative conjunctions,
the noun or pronoun nearer the verb should determine the number of the verb:
Neither the mayor nor the council members have yielded on the issue. Neither the council members nor the mayor has yielded on the issue.
Practice in this matter varies, however,
and often the presence of one plural, no matter what its position, results in a plural verb.
In edited writing
the construction following neither is parallel to the one following nor :
The great days of American political oratory are neither dead nor waning (not neither are dead nor waning ).
This sale sacrifices neither quality nor availability (not This sale neither sacrifices quality nor availability ).
Although some usage guides say that
neither may introduce a series of no more than two, i
t often is used to introduce a series of three or more:
The head of that department is neither skillful nor well-prepared nor honest.
See also either.
Dictionary.com:
HOW TO PRONOUNCE EITHER
The pronunciations [ee-ther] and [nee-ther],
with the vowel [ee] of see,
are the usual ones in American English for the words either and neither.
The pronunciations [ahy-ther] and [nahy-ther],
with the [ahy] vowel of bite,
occur occasionally for these words,
chiefly in the speech of the educated
and in the network standard English of radio and television.
Both the [ee] and [ahy] pronunciations existed in British English,
and in the 19th century
the [ahy] came to predominate in standard British speech.
In American English, therefore,
it reflects a recent borrowing from British speech
rather than a survival from the time of early settlement,
influenced as well
by the ei spelling, which is pronounced as [ahy]
in such words as height and stein.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language:
Usage Note:
The traditional rule holds that
either should be used only to refer to one of two items,
and that any is required when more than two items are involved:
Any (not either) of the three opposition candidates still in the race would make a better president than the incumbent.
But reputable writers have often violated this rule,
and in any case
it applies only to the use of either as a pronoun or an adjective.
When either is used as a conjunction,
no paraphrase with any is available, and so either is unexceptionable
even when it applies to more than two clauses:
Either the union will make a counteroffer or the original bid will be refused by the board or the deal will go ahead as scheduled.
· In either ... or constructions,
the two conjunctions should be followed by parallel elements.
The following is regarded as incorrect:
You may either have the ring or the bracelet
(properly, You may have either the ring or the bracelet).
The following is also incorrect:
She can take either the exam offered to all applicants
or ask for a personal interview
(properly, She can either take ... ).
· When used as a pronoun,
either is singular and takes a singular verb:
The two left-wing parties disagree with each other
more than either does (not do) with the Right.
When followed by of and a plural noun,
either is often used with a plural verb:
Either of the parties have enough support to form a government.
But this usage is widely regarded as incorrect.
In our 2009 survey, 87 percent of the Usage Panel rejected it,
a percentage that has barely budged
since the question was first posed in 1967.
· When all the elements in an either ... or construction
(or a neither ... nor construction)
used as the subject of a sentence are singular, the verb is singular:
Either Eve or Herb has been invited.
Analogously,
when all the elements in the either ... or construction are plural,
the verb is plural too:
Either the Clarks or the Kays have been invited.
When the construction mixes singular and plural elements,
however, there is some confusion
as to which form the verb should take.
It has sometimes been suggested that
the verb should agree with whichever noun phrase is closest to it;
thus one would write
Either the owner or the players are going to have to give in,
but Either the players or the owner is going to have to give in.
In our 2009 survey, 64 percent of the Usage Panel accepted this pattern.
Others have maintained that the construction is fundamentally inconsistentwhichever number is assigned to the verb,
and that such sentences should be rewritten accordingly.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language:
Usage Note:
According to the traditional rule,
neither is used only to mean "not one or the other of two."
To refer to "none of several," none is preferred:
None (not neither) of the three opposition candidates would make a better president than the incumbent.
· The traditional rule also holds that neither is grammatically singular:
Neither candidate is having an easy time with the press.
However, it is often used with a plural verb,
especially when followed by of and a plural:
Neither of the candidates are really expressing their own views.
· As a conjunction
neither is properly followed by nor, not or, in formal style:
Neither prayers nor curses (not or curses) did any good.
See Usage Notes at either, every, he1, none, nor1, or1.
Collins English Dictionary:
Usage:
Either is followed by a singular verb in good usage:
either is good; either of these books is useful.
Care should be taken to avoid ambiguity
when using either to mean both or each,
as in the following sentence:
a ship could be moored on either side of the channel.
Agreement between the verb and its subject
in either…or… constructions follows the pattern
given for neither…nor…
Collins English Dictionary:
Usage:
A verb following a compound subject that uses neither…
should be in the singular if both subjects are in the singular:
neither Jack nor John has done the work
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary:
usage:
When used as the subject,
the pronoun either usually takes a singular verb
even when followed by a prepositional phrase with a plural object:
Either of the shrubs grows well in this soil.
As an adjective either refers only to two of anything.
As a pronoun either sometimes occurs in reference to more than two
(either of the three children),
but any is more common (any of the three children).
As a conjunction, either often
introduces a series of more than two:
pizza topped with either onions, peppers, or mushrooms.
―Usage guides say that the verb used with subjects
joined by the correlative conjunctions either… or (or neither… nor)
is singular or plural depending on
the number of the noun or pronoun nearer the verb:
Either the parents or the school determines the program.
Either the school or the parents determine the program.
Practice varies, however,
and often the presence of one plural, no matter where,
results in a plural verb. See also neither.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary:
pron:
In American English, either and neither
are usu. pronounced as (ˈi ðər) and (ˈni ðər) with the vowel of see.
The pronunciations (ˈaɪ ðər) and (ˈnaɪ ðər) with the vowel of bite,
occur chiefly among the educated
and in the network standard English of radio and television.
Both (ē) and (ī) pronunciations existed in 17th-century Britain,
but it was not until the 19th century that (aɪ) came to predominate there.
In American English, (aɪ) therefore reflects a recent borrowing
rather than a survival from the time of early settlement.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary:
usage:
When neither, a singular form, is followed
by a prepositional phrase with a plural object,
there is a tendency, esp. in speech and less formal writing,
to use a plural verb and pronoun:
Neither of the guards were at their stations.
In edited writing, however,
singular verbs and pronouns are more common:
Neither of the guards was at his station.
This use of a singular verb and pronoun
is usually recommended by usage guides.
Subjects connected by neither…nor
take singular verbs and pronouns when both subjects are singular,
plural when both are plural.
Usage guides commonly say
that when a singular and a plural subject are joined by these correlatives,
the subject nearer the verb determines the verb:
Neither the mayor nor the demonstrators have yielded.
Neither the demonstrators nor the mayor has yielded.
Practice varies, however, and often the presence of one plural subject,
no matter what its position, results in a plural verb.
pron: See either.
Collins COBUID English Dictionary:
either
1. used as a determiner
You use either in front of the singular form of a countable noun
to say that something is true about each of two people or things.
Many children don't resemble either parent.
In either case, Robert would never succeed.
2. 'either of'
Instead of using either, you can use either of with a plural noun.
For example, instead of saying 'Either answer is correct',
you can say 'Either of the answers is correct'.
There is no difference in meaning.
You could hear everything that was said in either of the rooms.
They didn't want either of their children to know about this.
You use either of in front of plural pronouns.
I don't know either of them very well.
He was better dressed than either of us.
Be Careful!
Don't use either without of in front of a plural noun or pronoun.
Don't say, for example 'He was better dressed than either us.'
Some people use a plural form of a verb after either of and a noun phrase.
For example,
instead of saying 'I don't think either of you is wrong',
they say 'I don't think either of you are wrong'.
I'm surprised either of you are here.
This use is acceptable in conversation and in less formal writing,
but in formal writing you should always use
a singular form of a verb after either of.
Either of these interpretations is possible.
3. used in negative statements
You can use either or either of in a negative statement
to emphasize that the statement applies to both of two things or people.
For example,
instead of saying about two people 'I don't like them',
you can say 'I don't like either of them'.
She could not see either man.
There was no sound from either of the rooms.
'Which one do you want – the red one or the blue one?'
– 'I don't want either.'
4. used to mean 'each'
If there are things on either side of something
or either end of something, they are on both sides or both ends.
There were trees on either side of the road.
There are toilets at either end of the train.
5. used as an adverb
When one negative statement follows another,
you can put either at the end of the second one.
I can't play tennis and I can't play golf either.
'I haven't got that address.' – 'No, I haven't got it either.'
See neither, nor, either ... or
Collins COBUID English Dictionary:
neither
1. 'neither' and 'neither of'
You use neither or neither of to make a negative statement
about two people or things.
You use neither in front of the singular form of a countable noun.
You use neither of in front of a plural pronoun or a plural noun phrase
beginning with the, these, those, or a possessive.
So, for example, you can say
'Neither child was hurt' or 'Neither of the children was hurt'.
There is no difference in meaning.
Neither man spoke or moved.
Neither of them spoke for several moments.
Be Careful!
Don't use 'neither' without of in front of a plural form.
Don't say, for example, 'Neither the children was hurt'.
Also, don't use 'not' after neither.
Don't say, for example, 'Neither of the children wasn't hurt'.
People sometimes use a plural form of a verb
after neither of and a noun phrase.
For example, they say 'Neither of the children were hurt'.
Neither of them are students.
Neither of them were listening.
This use is acceptable in conversation and in less formal writing,
but in formal writing
you should always use a singular form of a verb after neither of.
2. 'neither' in replies
When a negative statement has been made,
you can use neither to show that this statement
also applies to another person or thing.
You put neither at the beginning of the clause,
followed by an auxiliary verb, a modal, or be, then the subject.
You can also use nor in the same way with the same meaning.
'I didn't invite them.' – 'Neither did I.'
If your printer does not work, neither will your fax or copier.
Douglas can't do it, and nor can Gavin.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Frequently Asked Questions About neither
How do you pronounce neither?
Neither has two acceptable pronunciations.
Its first syllable can sound like knee or like nigh.
Is it 'neither is' or 'neither are'?
Neither is usually used with a singular verb,
as in "Neither one is here."
But sometimes, especially when a prepositional phrase with a plural in itcomes between neither and the verb,
a plural verb is used, as in "Neither of those are going to work."
Does neither mean "two"?
Neither is most often an adjective
meaning "not one or the other of two people or things."
