Either

Question

Hi,teachers I have a question about either. (The verb lack to be exact.)

I need the two rings at the same time. Because lacking either one of them means incompletion at all.

I need the two rings at the same time. Beacause lacking either of them means incompletion at all.

I wonder how lacking works here. If lack indicates not having, the meaning of entire sentense would change foundamentally.

Thanks.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Deleting 'one' from your first sentence to create your second sentence makes no difference.

I need both rings at the same time because lacking either (one) of them means incompletion.

What else do you want to know?

Kook j · Answer

I need both rings at the same time because lacking either (one) of them means incompletion.

I want to know how lacking works here. If lacking indicates not having, the meaning of entire sentence would change foundamentally.

As you know don't have either of two things means have neither of two things .

Mister Micawber · Answer

The sentence means that lacking only one is disastrous.

Kook j · Answer

Well, Mr.M it seems like you and me are getting into the confusion now. By the way do you think I need to use same thread instead of create a new one if my question is about a same word?

Mister Micawber · Answer

By the way do you think I need to use same thread instead of create a new one if my question is about a same word?-- Yes, you should, so that everyone can follow the developing discussion.

Dimsumexpress · Answer

kook j need the two rings at the same time. Because lacking either one of them means incompletion at all.
I need the two rings at the same time. Beacause lacking either of them means incompletion at all.

This is not a very natural sentence. "At all" is incorrectly used here and served no function.

kook jI wonder how lacking works here

Lacking - is a gerund, a noun form of the verb.

Kook j · Answer

Thank you both. Perhaps it's best to insert my dear teacher Jim's reply given to me to explain what I was tryng to say:

“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.)”

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)

I wondered if it could be said about lack (don't have) as well.

I need both rings at the same time beacause lacking either (one) of them means incompletion.

But this is the very simple answer:

Mister MicawberThe sentence means that lacking only one is disastrous.

Sorry Mr.M you mustn't be confused at all then.

I'd love to hear some proficient explanation considering these state of specific grammar.

Dimsumexpress · Answer

kook j
“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.)”

kook j

Kook,

I think you are so overly wound up with this word that you probably won't reat until you feel you have a handle on using it properly. I know the feeling all to well. From reading you past posts, you still haven't found that foot hold as yet. Go back and review what CJ had explained to you. My suggestion for is to use Google as a reference. Perfrom a search on "either" with quotations and see what comes up. Look for sites and entries from English speaking countries. That will be the best bet as far as getting a feel of how natives use this word naturally.

kook jThis 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)

I don't think it is so much about the polarity of the word as how a context interacts with the word "either" that determines whether it is used correctly. It can be misleading sometimes as many learners take "either" as having a fixed relationship with negative connotaion. But that is not all true. Consider this context: I consider John and Mary as the primary candidates to run the new Shanghai headquarter. I feel either one is very capable and has what it takes to suceed the mission. At this point, if your direction is to keep searching for that magic formula on how to use "either" and "neither", my take is, you may be spinning your own wheel for sometime to come. To sum it up, "either" mean [A or B].
Both- means [ A + B] and lastly " neither" means [not-A or not-B]. Hope that helps you.

Kook j · Answer

I'm still stucked with either.

I'll need both rings at the same time because failing to get either of them means total incompletion.

I met two girls on the trip. I forget either of their name(s).

What these sentences mean?

(I know what Not having either of them and can't remember either of their names means.)

Dimsumexpress · Answer

Again, as I suggested, you should spend more time looking up the "either" usages instead of creating your own context to add to you confusion. I modified your sentence to make the context more usible for explaning purpose.

kook j'll need both rings at the same time because failing to get either of them means total incompletion.

The valve requires both rings installed correctly to avoid leakage. Incorrect orientation of either rings can cause machine to fail. .

kook jI met two girls on the trip. I [will never] forget either of their name(s).

Either tea or coffee will be fine.

The teacher can't pronounce either of their names.

So "either" is used based on contexts rather than "polarity" as you described.

Either

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