Either' and 'both' compared

Either refers to two things considered separately Compare

You can t have either of them (= you can't have one or the other) You can t have both of them (= you can have only one of them)

5.30 The use of 'one (of)' after distributives [compare > 4.10]

We may use one of after another any each either every and neither before nouns or pronouns One is optional except in the case of every Each guidebook in the series has been carefully written Every guidebook in the series has been carefully written Each of these guidebooks has been carefully written Each one of these guidebooks has been carefully written Every one of these guidebooks has been carefully written

We can use single after every for special emphasis Every single apple in the bag was bad Every single one of the apples in the bag was bad

If we wish to use another each and either as pronouns, we can use

them with or without one I didn t like the red skirt so I asked to see another (one) Look at these names Each (one) should have a tick beside it

Neither is generally used without one I ve tested both those TVs Neither works very well

Distributives

Every and the only cannot stand on their own as pronouns they must always be followed by a noun or one (also ones after the only) We need some more eggs You ate every one last night You can t borrow my pen It s the only one I ve got These keys are the only ones I ve got

5.31 Singular and plural verbs with quantifiers [compare > 4.40]

Sometimes the reference is clearly singular or plural and a singular or plural verb is needed

Most of us have experienced sorrow in our lives

Most of our steel is imported But after neither (= not either) and none (= not one) when the reference is plural we can use a plural verb in everyday speech or a singular verb when we wish to sound correct or formal