Question
Today, Mr. M came by to ask a grammar question: What is the meaning of “either?” Does it mean “both” or does it mean “just one?” He gave two examples. The first example comes from a dictionary: “Either of his parents will come to the meeting.” Doesn’t this mean that “just one” of his parents will come? However, a worksheet gave the following usage: “Either of the answers is correct.” Doesn’t this mean “both” of the answers are correct?” What’s the deal?
Answer
The word “either” means “one or the other.” So it means that both are possibilities between a choice. “Either” is always used in the context of a choice, and you have to explain that context when you define the word either or else it will seem arbitrary.
I think that you could probably make a chart that matches the tense of the verb with the appropriate meaning of “either.” …
“Both of his parents will come to the meeting” could not be correctly used in place of “Either of his parents will come to the meeting.” One will be chosen. “One of his parents will come to the meeting” is correct, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. It might mean that specifically my father will come to the meeting, but I have chosen not to say so exactly. “Either” could not be used with that meaning. “Either” means that my father OR my mother could be the one who comes, depending on the circumstances.
To give a real-world example, I might say that “I teach Current English with one of the 3rd Year English teachers.” That teacher happens to be Mr. Fukuda. This fact is correct. If I said, “I teach Current English with either of the 3rd Year English teachers,” that would mean that sometimes I teach with Mr. Fukuda, and sometimes I teach with Mr. Okumura. This is NOT correct. I only teach with Mr. Fukuda. I don’t have any choice. If I said, “I teach Current English with both of the 3rd Year English teachers,” that would mean that I teach with Mr. Fukuda AND Mr. Okumura.
This has been interesting. I could go into more and more detail but it’s difficult to think about. I like getting this kind of question from teachers and I’m going to start keeping a record of them online (I get them a lot). I’ll make a new category on the blog for them. For now, the day is over and I am going home.