The meaning of either a, b, c, or d is from this answer sort of clear in that it means. There are two common pronunciations of either British /ˈaɪðər/ and american /ˈiːðər/ If americans are more or less consistent in this regard, then the brits seem to be freely using both We have a table and some fruits on it There are two people one of which is being asked by the other one
1) i will give you either the orange or the banana or the qiwi or the lemon 2) i will give you either the orange, the banana, the qiwi or the lemon Which phrase would be correct. The word either is derived from the old english ǣgther, which was a short for contracted form of ǣg (e)hwæther, of germanic origin Either is used where one is required and there are multiple options, usually two It can be used for more than two but it is most often is used for only 2 options. By either introduces the list, so it doesn't make much sense to me to repeat by
It says that it is informal to use either on more than two options, but is used widely especially in oral communication However, he didn't mention that what is the best alternative to either in three or more options in formal context, and hence i posted this question here. I agree that if the either is supposed to go with the or in the sentence then either if would be grammatically more correct, although the either would be redundant and the sentence would sound odd to me (you normally have either when there are only two things You can have either an apple or a banana. In fact, does either of you and do either of you are both used by native english speakers
But if the subject isn't either of you, you should use a singular verb with either of. Either should know how to open the door means whichever you should happen to come across, he will know how to open the door Of course this suggests that they both know, but it's not the same as saying that they both know The suggestion is that you will only encounter one, and that he will know (maybe he will be told at the last minute).
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