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Jooney Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Either

Hi all,

"I want to buy either of these two CDs."

Does 'either' in the above sentece has the meaning equivalent to 'both'?

How about the following sentence?

"Let me kwow if either of the students turn up."

I would appreciate it if someone could answer this.
  

Top answer

jooney I want to buy either of these two CDs. It isn't natural. More natural: I want to buy one of these two CDs.

— CalifJim

  • jooney I want to buy either of these two CDs.
  • It isn't natural.
  • More natural: I want to buy one of these two CDs.
  • But: I would be willing to buy either of these two CDs.
  • Fine.
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4 Answers
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jooneyI want to buy either of these two CDs.
It isn't natural. More natural:

I want to buy one of these two CDs.

But: I would be willing to buy either of these two CDs. Fine. (One or the other.)

I want to buy both of these two CDs has a different meaning. You want one AND the other.

Let me know i
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Hello, CJ.

Thank you very much for the answer. Could I ask you another question?

You suggested another way of saying "I want to buy either of these two CDs", stating that it was unnatural. Could you explain why it sounds unnatural to a native speaker's ear? Thanks.
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jooneyI want to buy either of these two CDs" ... Could you explain why it sounds unnatural to a native speaker's ear?
I was hoping you wouldn't ask!

either connotes something like "I don't care which one". (It's a little related to any in that way.) But if you say you want to buy something, it seems that you would know what you want
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Oh, I'm sorry.Emotion: sad

I figured it might be a little difficult for a native speaker to explain something like this.

But you
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