Practice your English grammar skills with this fill-in-the-blank worksheet focusing on the determiners 'both', 'either', and 'neither'.
Educational worksheet for English grammar focusing on determiners both either and neither with fill-in-the-blank exercises.
JPG
1620×2290
405.9 KB
Free · Personal Use
Quality Assured by Worksheets Library Team
Reviewed for educational accuracy and age-appropriateness
ID: #531140
⭐
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: SOLUTION: Determiners both either neither grammar esl exercises ...
▼
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: SOLUTION: Determiners both either neither grammar esl exercises ...
Let's solve this grammar exercise step by step. The task is to fill in the blanks with "both," "either," or "neither", depending on the meaning of each sentence.
---
- Both: Used when two things are true (positive).
Example: I like both tea and coffee.
- Either: Used when one of two options is possible (choice between two).
Example: You can have either tea or coffee.
- Neither: Used when neither of the two is true (negative).
Example: Neither John nor Mary came.
Also note:
- "Neither...nor..." = not one and not the other.
- "Both...and..." = positive for both.
- "Either...or..." = choice between two.
---
Now, let’s go through each sentence:
---
1. That's enough! ____ you pay your debt to me or I take you to court.
→ This is a choice: pay or go to court. It's a threat: do one or else.
But the structure is: "____ you pay... or I take..." — this is a conditional statement implying only one option is acceptable.
✔ Either — because it presents two alternatives, only one of which must be chosen.
> ✔ Either
---
2. When we heard the good news, we were ____ happy and excited.
→ We felt happy AND excited → both emotions are true.
✔ Both — "both happy and excited"
> ✔ Both
---
3. They had ____ food to eat nor money to go to a restaurant.
→ "had ____ food to eat nor money" → this uses nor, so it's negative.
"Neither...nor" is the correct pair.
So: Neither food nor money.
✔ Neither
> ✔ Neither
---
4. Mr. Harrison wants to have ____ vanilla and chocolate in his ice-cream.
→ He wants vanilla AND chocolate — both flavors.
✔ Both
> ✔ Both
---
5. You should stop making up excuses. ____ you study hard or you will fail in the Maths exam tomorrow.
→ This is a warning: study hard OR fail. It's a choice: if you don't study, you'll fail.
"Either" is used in "either...or..." constructions.
So: Either you study hard or you will fail.
✔ Either
> ✔ Either
---
6. ____ of the two students had books with them so the teacher got very angry.
→ Both students did not have books → negative for both.
"Neither of the two students..." means not one and not the other.
✔ Neither
> ✔ Neither
---
7. We have ____ bread nor cheese so we can't make a cheese sandwich.
→ Again, "nor" is used → so we need neither.
"Neither bread nor cheese" = no bread and no cheese.
✔ Neither
> ✔ Neither
---
8. She can ____ buy a laptop or a tablet PC. She has got enough money.
→ She has enough money → she can afford either device.
So: either a laptop or a tablet.
✔ Either
> ✔ Either
---
9. I like ____ the green and the blue t-shirt, but I don't have enough money to buy two t-shirts.
→ I like both colors → but cannot afford both.
So: both the green and the blue.
✔ Both
> ✔ Both
---
10. The sports car was ____ nice and cheap so my father decided to buy it.
→ The car was nice AND cheap → both qualities.
✔ Both
> ✔ Both
---
11. My baby sister likes ____ soup nor spinach. She just likes milk.
→ She doesn’t like soup nor spinach → negative for both.
Use neither.
✔ Neither
> ✔ Neither
---
12. We have some flour and eggs. We can ____ make an omelette or pancake.
→ We can make either an omelette or a pancake — one or the other.
✔ Either
> ✔ Either
---
13. If you want to lose weight, you should ____ do exercises and go on a diet.
→ To lose weight, you need both exercises and a diet.
So: both do exercises and go on a diet.
✔ Both
> ✔ Both
---
14. You can ____ grow corn or wheat here in this season.
→ You can grow corn or wheat — one or the other.
So: either corn or wheat.
✔ Either
> ✔ Either
---
1. Either
2. Both
3. Neither
4. Both
5. Either
6. Neither
7. Neither
8. Either
9. Both
10. Both
11. Neither
12. Either
13. Both
14. Either
---
| No. | Answer | Reason |
|-----|------------|--------|
| 1 | Either | Choice between two actions |
| 2 | Both | Two positive emotions |
| 3 | Neither | Negative for both (with "nor") |
| 4 | Both | Wants both flavors |
| 5 | Either | Conditional choice |
| 6 | Neither | Both students lacked books |
| 7 | Neither | Lacks both items |
| 8 | Either | Can choose one device |
| 9 | Both | Likes both shirts |
| 10 | Both | Car is nice and cheap |
| 11 | Neither | Doesn't like either food |
| 12 | Either | Can make one or the other |
| 13 | Both | Needs both activities |
| 14 | Either | Can grow one or the other crop |
---
Let me know if you'd like this as a printable worksheet or explained further! 😊
---
🔹 Understanding the Words:
- Both: Used when two things are true (positive).
Example: I like both tea and coffee.
- Either: Used when one of two options is possible (choice between two).
Example: You can have either tea or coffee.
- Neither: Used when neither of the two is true (negative).
Example: Neither John nor Mary came.
Also note:
- "Neither...nor..." = not one and not the other.
- "Both...and..." = positive for both.
- "Either...or..." = choice between two.
---
Now, let’s go through each sentence:
---
1. That's enough! ____ you pay your debt to me or I take you to court.
→ This is a choice: pay or go to court. It's a threat: do one or else.
But the structure is: "____ you pay... or I take..." — this is a conditional statement implying only one option is acceptable.
✔ Either — because it presents two alternatives, only one of which must be chosen.
> ✔ Either
---
2. When we heard the good news, we were ____ happy and excited.
→ We felt happy AND excited → both emotions are true.
✔ Both — "both happy and excited"
> ✔ Both
---
3. They had ____ food to eat nor money to go to a restaurant.
→ "had ____ food to eat nor money" → this uses nor, so it's negative.
"Neither...nor" is the correct pair.
So: Neither food nor money.
✔ Neither
> ✔ Neither
---
4. Mr. Harrison wants to have ____ vanilla and chocolate in his ice-cream.
→ He wants vanilla AND chocolate — both flavors.
✔ Both
> ✔ Both
---
5. You should stop making up excuses. ____ you study hard or you will fail in the Maths exam tomorrow.
→ This is a warning: study hard OR fail. It's a choice: if you don't study, you'll fail.
"Either" is used in "either...or..." constructions.
So: Either you study hard or you will fail.
✔ Either
> ✔ Either
---
6. ____ of the two students had books with them so the teacher got very angry.
→ Both students did not have books → negative for both.
"Neither of the two students..." means not one and not the other.
✔ Neither
> ✔ Neither
---
7. We have ____ bread nor cheese so we can't make a cheese sandwich.
→ Again, "nor" is used → so we need neither.
"Neither bread nor cheese" = no bread and no cheese.
✔ Neither
> ✔ Neither
---
8. She can ____ buy a laptop or a tablet PC. She has got enough money.
→ She has enough money → she can afford either device.
So: either a laptop or a tablet.
✔ Either
> ✔ Either
---
9. I like ____ the green and the blue t-shirt, but I don't have enough money to buy two t-shirts.
→ I like both colors → but cannot afford both.
So: both the green and the blue.
✔ Both
> ✔ Both
---
10. The sports car was ____ nice and cheap so my father decided to buy it.
→ The car was nice AND cheap → both qualities.
✔ Both
> ✔ Both
---
11. My baby sister likes ____ soup nor spinach. She just likes milk.
→ She doesn’t like soup nor spinach → negative for both.
Use neither.
✔ Neither
> ✔ Neither
---
12. We have some flour and eggs. We can ____ make an omelette or pancake.
→ We can make either an omelette or a pancake — one or the other.
✔ Either
> ✔ Either
---
13. If you want to lose weight, you should ____ do exercises and go on a diet.
→ To lose weight, you need both exercises and a diet.
So: both do exercises and go on a diet.
✔ Both
> ✔ Both
---
14. You can ____ grow corn or wheat here in this season.
→ You can grow corn or wheat — one or the other.
So: either corn or wheat.
✔ Either
> ✔ Either
---
✔ Final Answers:
1. Either
2. Both
3. Neither
4. Both
5. Either
6. Neither
7. Neither
8. Either
9. Both
10. Both
11. Neither
12. Either
13. Both
14. Either
---
📝 Summary Table:
| No. | Answer | Reason |
|-----|------------|--------|
| 1 | Either | Choice between two actions |
| 2 | Both | Two positive emotions |
| 3 | Neither | Negative for both (with "nor") |
| 4 | Both | Wants both flavors |
| 5 | Either | Conditional choice |
| 6 | Neither | Both students lacked books |
| 7 | Neither | Lacks both items |
| 8 | Either | Can choose one device |
| 9 | Both | Likes both shirts |
| 10 | Both | Car is nice and cheap |
| 11 | Neither | Doesn't like either food |
| 12 | Either | Can make one or the other |
| 13 | Both | Needs both activities |
| 14 | Either | Can grow one or the other crop |
---
Let me know if you'd like this as a printable worksheet or explained further! 😊
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of either or neither nor worksheet.
