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Tara2 Posted 6 years ago
Grammar

Either

Can we take either bag?

Can't this sentence mean:
1. Can we take either one of these two bags?
2. Can we take both of these bags?

According to the dictionary 'either' could have both meanings... or either meaning!

Look under 'adjective':

ADJECTIVE:

Any one of two; one or the other: Wear either coat.
One and the other; each: rings on either hand.
From the American Heritage Dictionary.

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Top answer

1) yes 2) no

— Clive

  • 1) yes 2) no
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2 Answers
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I think we're not making much progress. Let me try another approach.

Can we take either bag?
Can't this sentence mean:
1. Can we take either one of these two bags? OK.
2. Can we take both of these bags? Not OK. If he meant this, a native speaker would not say Can we take either bag? He'd say Can we take both of these bags?

Clive

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