Either

Question

Hi, there.I'm stuck with the meaning of "either."  Do those below mean by "BOTH" or "1 of 2?"1. Either of you is/are right.2. Either of the two answers will do.3. Either of these methods are successful.4. Either of the students may fail the exam.Thank you in advance.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

#1 doesn't make sense. All the others mean both.

CalifJim · Answer

The pattern 'either of plural noun' doesn't go well with the present tense unless you have a modal verb.

1. Either of you could be right. Either of you might be right.
2. Either of the two answers will do. Both answers are correct. Each of the two answers is correct.
3. Either of these methods will be successful. Both of these methods will be successful. Each of these methods will be successful.
4. Either of the students [may / might / could] fail the exam.

"either" by itself is ambiguous regarding "both" or "only one".

In the first sentence, for example, if one person says "Yes" and the other says "No", then "either" cannot possibly mean "both". "Both of you could be right" does not mean the same as "Either of you could be right" in that case.
In the second sentence, the answers clearly cannot be contradictory, as in "Yes" and "No". In this case "Both answers are correct" has the same meaning.
The third sentence is like the second.
The fourth sentence most likely means "Either or both students might fail the exam", i.e., "Only the one student might fail, and only the other student might fail, and both students might fail", i.e., all three situations are possible.

CJ

Avianvirus · Answer

Thank you, Anonymous and Califjim.

Sometimes the explanations in grammar books and dictionaries published in Japan could not be correct. I checked "either" out in some online references written by English speakers. But I could not get it at all because almost all they are too simplified.

>1. Either of you is/are right.

Indeed this is from one of reputable Japanese dictionaries.

Your explanation is really understandable. Thank you as always.

Either

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