---
title: either — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «either» in the school dictionary: Either means one or the other of two: you can have either an apple or a pear. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# either

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, trees, I, she, ticket, lamps · **What happens:** mean, have, be, not like, do, pick · **To what, where:** one, apple, each, it, 2 red, book

<!-- .vabout -->
«either» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [either in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/either.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Either means one or the other of two: you can have either an apple or a pear.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:either:m1:1
# text = Either means one or the other of two: you can have either an apple or a pear.
1	Either	either	CCONJ	CC	_	2	cc:preconj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	2	obj	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	conj	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	12	punct	_	_
10	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	12	nsubj	_	_
11	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
12	have	have	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	parataxis	_	_
13	either	either	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc:preconj	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	apple	apple	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	pear	pear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  | one of two |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Topic |
| 2 | **have** | can | you | a apple or a pear |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent apple=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Either also means each of two, both: there are trees on either side of the road.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:either:m2:1
# text = Either also means each of two, both: there are trees on either side of the road.
1	Either	either	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc:preconj	_	_
2	also	also	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
8	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	11	punct	_	_
10	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	11	expl	_	_
11	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
12	trees	tree	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	11	nsubj	_	_
13	on	on	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
14	either	either	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	15	det	_	_
15	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nmod	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	road	road	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  | each |  |  |  | both *obl* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent each=Topic |
| 2 | **does** | present | trees on either side of the road |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After «not», either means also.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:either:m3:1
# text = After «not», either means also.
1	After	after	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	7	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	either	either	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc:preconj	_	_
7	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	also	also	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
The example in this meaning, parsed on its own:

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I do not like it, and she does not either.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:either:m3e:1
# text = I do not like it, and she does not either.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	like	like	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	11	advmod	_	_
11	either	either	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **like** | present · do-support | I | it |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot it=Theme |
| 2 | **do** | present | she |  |  |  |  | either *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You can pick either 2 red or 3 blue marbles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:either:x1:1
# text = You can pick either 2 red or 3 blue marbles.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	pick	pick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	either	either	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	5	advmod	_	_
5	2	2	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	red	red	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
8	3	3	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	10	nummod	_	_
9	blue	blue	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	marbles	marble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pick** | can | You | 2 red or 3 blue marbles |  |  |  |  | vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent red=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Either ticket costs $5.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:either:x2:1
# text = Either ticket costs $5.
1	Either	either	CCONJ	CC	_	2	cc:preconj	_	_
2	ticket	ticket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	costs	cost	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	$	$	SYM	$	_	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cost** | present | ticket |  |  |  |  |  | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme $=Value |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She did not like either book.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:either:x3:1
# text = She did not like either book.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	like	like	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	either	either	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **like** | past · do-support | She | either book |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot book=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Which costs less, either way?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:either:x4:1
# text = Which costs less, either way?
1	Which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	2	nsubj	_	_
2	costs	cost	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	less	less	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
5	either	either	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cost** | present |  | either way |  |  |  | less *property* | vn cost-54.2 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
There are lamps on either side of the door.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:either:x5:1
# text = There are lamps on either side of the door.
1	There	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	2	expl	_	_
2	are	be	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	lamps	lamp	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	either	either	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	side	side	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	door	door	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **does** | present | lamps on either side of the door |  |  | there |  |  | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You can sit on either chair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:either:x6:1
# text = You can sit on either chair.
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	sit	sit	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	either	either	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	6	det	_	_
6	chair	chair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **sit** | can | You |  |  | either chair |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent on chair=Location |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I cannot swim, and my brother cannot either.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:either:x7:1
# text = I cannot swim, and my brother cannot either.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	swim	swim	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	brother	brother	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
11	either	either	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **swim** | can | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Either we take the bus or we walk.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:either:x8:1
# text = Either we take the bus or we walk.
1	Either	either	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc:preconj	_	_
2	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	take	take	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bus	bus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
7	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
8	walk	walk	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | present | we | the bus |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent bus=Theme |
| 2 | **walk** | present | we |  |  |  |  |  | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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