Eithe of .../either one of...

Question

Hi, teachers I have two questions about either.

1. Would it be okay to rephrase 1 to 2?

1.Mary and Jack were poisoned, both of them died the next day.

Mary and Jack were poisoned, they both died the next day.

2.Mary and Jack were poisoned, either of them died the next day.

Mary and Jack were poisoned, they either died the next day.

2. Would it be okay to rephrase 1 to 2?

1.Mary and Jack were poisoned, one of them died the next day.

2.Mary and Jack were poisoned, either one of them died the next day.

(I think in 2 there's a slight difference: the speaker of 1 probably know which one is dead. But in 2 the speaker doesn't know the name of whom dead.)

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

You must fix your originals:

1. Would it be okay to rephrase 1 to 2?-- No, the sentences in #1 do not mean the same as those in #2

1.Mary and Jack were poisoned, and both of them died the next day.

Mary and Jack were poisoned, and they both died the next day.

2.Mary and Jack were poisoned, and one of them died the next day.

Mary and Jack were poisoned, and one of them died the next day.

2. Would it be okay to rephrase 1 to 2?-- No. 'Either' is offering an option, but there is no option: one died, not the other.

1.Mary and Jack were poisoned, and one of them died the next day.

2.Mary and Jack were poisoned, and one of them died the next day.

(I think in 2 there's a slight difference: the speaker of 1 probably know which one is dead. But in 2 the speaker doesn't know the name of whom dead.-- No, this is not a valid difference; see my comment above in #2.)

This is OK: Mary and Jack were poisoned, and they either died or recovered (I don't know which)

CalifJim · Answer

kook j1. Would it be okay to rephrase 1 to 2?
...
2. Would it be okay to rephrase 1 to 2?

No. And no. 1.1 and 2.2 don't make any sense at all.

Probably the main use of either is after a negative. It's like any, but when there are only two choices.

Many things: I don't like any of them.

Two things: I don't like either of them.

Many things: Robert won't buy any of those cars.

Two things: Robert won't buy either of those cars.

Many things: Karen didn't deny any of the charges against her.

Two things: Karen didn't deny either of the charges against her.

either is also used in questions. Note the agreement:

Many things: Are any of those items for sale now?

Two things: Is either of those items for sale now?

Many things: Do you want any of these old shirts?

Two things: Do you want either of these old shirts?

Many things: Can you see any of them?

Two things: Can you see either of them?

And in if-clauses:

Many things: If any of them calls, let me know.

Two things: If either of them calls, let me know.

either does not always work comfortably in affirmative statements; it is like any in this respect as well:

Many: Any of them came to the door. (Wrong.)

Two: Either of them came to the door. (Wrong.)

CJ

Kook j · Answer

Hi, thank you for answering me. I got what you mean about sentense2, but about sentense1 I cannot.

Jim, do you remember this?:

He needed to meet two requirements for joining the team.1.physical strength. 2.mental flexibility.
But he failed to meet either of them.
(He failed to meet 1.And he failed to meet 2.)

Mary and Jack were poisoned, either of them died the next day.

(Mary and Jack were poisoned, and one of them died the next day.)

Would you let me know how do I tell which is which?

CalifJim · Answer

kook jHe needed to meet two requirements for joining the team.1.physical strength. 2.mental flexibility.
But he failed to meet either of them.
(He failed to meet 1.And he failed to meet 2.)

This one is tricky. 'fail' is a negative polarity verb. When you "fail to meet a requirement", you "don't meet the requirement". So the verb 'fail' acts like 'not'. So this one is a case similar to the use of either after a negative (the same as we use any after a negative).

Remember the comparisons between 'many' and 'two'? It's almost the same thing here:

There were 15 requirements. He [failed to / did not] meet any of them.

There were two requirements. He [failed to / did not] meet either of them.

_________

kook jMary and Jack were poisoned, either of them died the next day.
(Mary and Jack were poisoned, and one of them died the next day.)

Here you have two sentences, which you have not puntuated correctly. You should have this:

Mary and Jack were poisoned. Either of them died the next day.

Now you can see that you have either in the subject position of an affirmative sentence. As I said above, these very often do not work. You have two choices for rewriting this, and I don't know which one you thought you were trying to say:

1 Mary and Jack were poisoned. One of them died the next day.

2 Mary and Jack were poisoned. Both of them died the next day.

Compare with the case of more than two:

Mary, Jack, and Susan were poisoned. One of them died the next day.

Mary, Jack, and Susan were poisoned. All of them died the next day.

We cannot say for more than two:

Mary, Jack, and Susan were poisoned. Any of them died the next day.

Therefore we cannot say for only two:

Mary and Jack were poisoned. Either of them died the next day.

It's the same mistake whether you make the mistake with any or with either.

____________

One of the few ways you can place any or either as the subject is with a modal like can, could, may, or might.

Any of those bombs could explode unexpectedly. (many bombs)

Either of those bombs could explode unexpectedly. (two bombs)

CJ

Kook j · Answer

Though I know I could see your many similar answers in other threads, they may include learne's incorrest sentenses which would make me doubtful. That's why I make my own questions.

And you gave me a perfect answer. Thank you.

Kook j · Answer

Hi.

1. Neither of them could help./ None of them could help.

2. I don't think either of them could help./ I don't think any of them could help.

3. Either of them couldn't help.

I think sentence 3 sounds unnatural or incorrect. I want to hear why. Would let me know about it if I'm not mistaken?

Kook j · Answer

Woo! I misunderstood the google's function completely. I would have to apologize for having made so many useless questions. Sorry everyone.

Eithe of .../either one of...

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