Either Meaning(定義、用法、例句與發音)

either

conjunction

快速理解

What does "Either" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Either"?

用於表示兩個選項中的任一個,或在否定句中表示「也」。

  1. 1

    兩者擇一

    EN: You can choose either option.

    翻譯: 你可以選擇兩個選項中的任一個。

  2. 2

    兩者皆(用於否定)

    EN: I don't like either of them.

    翻譯: 我兩個都不喜歡。

  3. 3

    用於「either...or...」結構

    EN: Either you come with us, or you stay here.

    翻譯: 你要麼跟我們一起來,要麼就留在這裡。

小提醒:注意:在否定句中,'either' 表示「也」,相當於肯定句中的 'too'。例如:'I don't like it either.'(我也不喜歡。)

發音(How to Pronounce "Either" in English

How to pronounce "Either" in English?"Either" US vs UK pronunciation

點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。

Real-life Examples of "Either" from YouTube Videos

Steven Schwaitzberg: A universal translator for surgeons

TED

Surgeons are not made either. There are no little tanks where we're making surgeons. Surgeons are trained one step at a time.

(1 out of 188)

Definitions(定義)

What are the definitions of "Either"?How does "Either" change by context?

1. used before the first of two (or occasionally more) alternatives that are connected by 'or'

用於「or」連接的兩個(偶爾更多)選項中的第一個之前

You can have either tea or coffee.

你可以喝茶或咖啡。

Either we leave now, or we miss the train.

我們要麼現在離開,要麼就趕不上火車了。

The answer is either yes or no.

答案是要麼是,要麼不是。

2. used to indicate a similarity or link between two statements

用於表示兩個陳述之間的相似性或關聯

I haven't seen the movie, and my brother hasn't either.

我沒看過那部電影,我弟弟也沒看過。

She doesn't like spicy food, and I don't either.

她不喜歡辣的食物,我也不喜歡。

3. one or the other of two people or things

(兩者中的)任一個

There are trees on either side of the road.

道路的兩旁都有樹。

You can park on either end of the street.

你可以把車停在街道的任一端。

She held a bag in either hand.

她兩手各拿著一個袋子。

4. one or the other of two people or things

(兩者中的)任一個

I've read both books, and I didn't like either.

兩本書我都讀了,我都不喜歡。

We can meet on Monday or Tuesday. Either is fine for me.

我們可以週一或週二見面。我哪一天都可以。

There are two ways to solve this problem, but either will work.

有兩種方法可以解決這個問題,但任一種都行得通。

5. used after a negative statement to agree or add a similar negative statement

用於否定句後,表示同意或補充一個類似的否定陳述

"I don't like sushi." "I don't either."

「我不喜歡壽司。」「我也不喜歡。」

He isn't coming, and she isn't either.

他不來了,她也不來了。

Grammar & Patterns(句型)

What are common sentence patterns for "Either"?How to make natural sentences with "Either"?
PatternMeaningExample
either A or B要麼 A,要麼 BYou can have either coffee or tea. (你要麼喝咖啡,要麼喝茶。)
not A and not B / not either A or BA 和 B 兩者都不I don't like either option. (這兩個選項我都不喜歡。)
either (of the two)(兩者中的) 任何一個Either of the answers is correct. (這兩個答案中的任何一個都是對的。)
either way無論哪種方式;不管怎樣We can go by train or bus; either way is fine with me. (我們可以搭火車或公車;不管怎樣我都可以。)
me either (informal)我也不 (用於否定句後)"I don't like this movie." "Me either." (「我不喜歡這部電影。」「我也不喜歡。」)

用法說明

How is "Either" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Either"?

either...or vs. either...nor

  • either...or 用於連接兩個(或多個)選項中的一個,表示「要麼...要麼...」或「或者...或者...」。
  • either...nor 是常見的錯誤用法。正確的否定形式是 neither...nor,表示「既不...也不...」。
  • either 本身可以單獨用於否定句句尾,表示「也(不)」,例如 "I don't like it either."。
  • either...or 結構中,動詞的人稱和數通常與最靠近的主詞保持一致。 EN: You can either have coffee or tea. 翻譯: 你要麼喝咖啡,要麼喝茶。

EN:You can neither have coffee nor tea.

翻譯:你既不能喝咖啡,也不能喝茶。

EN:Either my brother or my sisters are going to help.

翻譯:要麼我哥哥,要麼我的姐妹們會來幫忙。

EN:Neither my brother nor my sisters are going to help.

翻譯:我哥哥和我的姐妹們都不會來幫忙。

總結建議

在表達肯定選項時使用 either...or,表達否定(兩者皆非)時則使用 neither...nor

易混淆對比

What is the difference between "Either" and similar words?How to choose "Either" vs alternatives?

either vs neither

"either" 表示「兩者中任一」,用於肯定句或提供選擇;"neither" 表示「兩者皆不」,用於否定句。

either vs too

"either" 和 "too" 都表示「也」,但 "either" 用於否定句,"too" 用於肯定句。

either vs both

"either" 指「兩者中任一(一個)」,"both" 指「兩者都」。

口語用法

How is "Either" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Either"?

引述

在口語中,常用來引述一個選項,尤其是當對方剛提到時。 EN: A: I'm thinking of pizza. B: Yeah, either that or burgers. 翻譯: A: 我在考慮披薩。 B: 嗯,要嘛披薩,要嘛漢堡。

EN:So your plan is to either call her or just show up?

翻譯:所以你的計畫是要嘛打電話給她,要嘛直接出現?

語氣強調

與 "not" 連用時,常用來加強「兩者都不」的否定語氣。 EN: I don't like coffee. — I don't like it either. 翻譯: 我不喜歡咖啡。 — 我也不喜歡。

EN:This isn't working, and that one isn't either.

翻譯:這個不行,那個也不行。

停頓填充

在思考或猶豫時,用作填充詞,帶出接下來要說的選項。 EN: We could meet... either... Friday or Saturday. 翻譯: 我們可以… 要嘛… 星期五或星期六見。

EN:The issue is with, either, the software or the connection.

翻譯:問題出在,要嘛是軟體,要嘛是連線。

正式寫作注意:在正式書寫中,應避免將 "either" 用作單純的停頓填充詞,並確保其引導的並列結構清晰、完整。

常見短語

What common collocations use "Either"?What fixed phrases with "Either" should I remember?

either ... or ...

either [A] or [B]

表示在兩個選項中選擇其一。

not ... either

[Subject] [verb] not ... either

表示「也不…」,用於否定句後附和。

either way

either way

無論如何;不管哪種情況。

either of

either of [plural noun/pronoun]

(兩者中的)任何一個。

me either

me either (informal)

「我也不」,用於口語否定附和。

on either side/end

on either side/end (of)

在(某物的)兩邊/兩端。

常見錯誤

What are common mistakes with "Either"?Which "Either" sentences look correct but are wrong?

×I don't like neither coffee nor tea.

I like neither coffee nor tea. / I don't like either coffee or tea.

在否定句中,'either...or' 與 'neither...nor' 不可同時使用,否則會造成雙重否定。

×You can either have cake, ice cream, or fruit.

You can have cake, ice cream, or fruit.

'either' 只用於連接兩個選項。當有三個或以上的選項時,應直接使用 'or'。

×Either you come with me, and I'll be happy.

If you come with me, I'll be happy.

'either...or' 用於提出兩個可能性或選擇,不用於表達條件句。條件句應使用 'if'。

×I haven't been to Paris. I haven't been there either.

I haven't been to Paris. I haven't been there either.

此句文法正確,但學習者常誤將否定句中的 'either' 拼寫為 'neither'。在否定句句尾表示「也」時,應使用 'either',而非 'neither'。

×You can either choose the blue one.

You can choose either the blue one or the red one.

'either' 必須與 'or' 配對使用,以完整呈現兩個選項。單獨使用 'either' 會使句子不完整。

×Either of the books are interesting.

Either of the books is interesting.

當 'either of' 後接複數名詞時,動詞通常使用單數形式,因為它指的是兩個中的「任何一個」。

詞形變化

What are the word forms of "Either"?What are tense/participle forms of "Either"?