Confusing English words Challenge 9

Question

Algunas palabras en inglés pueden crear confusion en los principiantes.

Some words in English can be confusing for learners.

This one is to practice the 2 words "both" and "either"

Both native Spanish and English speakers may answer - but write both Spanish and English sentences.

I would appreciate some help in checking the Spanish sentences.

Agradecería una cierta ayuda en la comprobación de las oraciones españolas.

I will "accept" the best effort after about a week

This is not so difficult but every attempt will get a vote.

NOTE - we need sentences in both Languages that illustrate how the the following are used.

a) both

b) either

Futher explanation as to the different meanings may be given.

Please do not suggest new words.

Update

Ok I accepted an answer from bandit because it taught me something new.

Answer 1

Ian: From the SD dictionary

conjunción - también:

•either … or… -> o… o…, (o) bien… o bien…

•either you or your brother -> o tú o tu hermano

•either come in or go out! -> ¡o entras o sales!

•I don't eat either meat or fish -> no como (ni) carne ni pescado

So I tried to use the above. The use of either is in the use of the O's. (I hope)

O puedo trabajar....o estudio.

A more fluent Spanish speaker might be needed to let me know my errors in my reasoning

Maybe - I am not good enough to comment. Sorry. - ian-hill, Apr 27, 2011

You are correct - see Fidalgo's answer bandit. - ian-hill, Apr 27, 2011

Cool, looks like several of us learned a different way of this!! I appreciate these challenges, Ian! Gracias - bandit51jd, Apr 27, 2011

Answer 2

I will show you both dresses, but you may borrow either one.

Te mostraré ambos vestidos, pero puedes pedir prestado cualquier de los dos.

I would say:

Both= "One and the other." Either= "One or the other."

Answer 3

1	Sir Ian is willing to help us improve both our English and our Spanish.	Señor Ian está dispuesto a ayudarnos a mejorar tanto nuestro castellano como nuestro inglés.
2	We can give Sir Ian either a tasty cake or a new pair of shoes to thank him.	Podemos dar o un pastel sabroso o un nuevo par de zapatos a Señor Ian para agradecerlo.

Hi amigo - it looks like you agree with bandit o ..........o - now I have learned something too. Gracias. - ian-hill, Apr 27, 2011

Gracias Fidalgo! I wasn't sure if I was using the either - or (o....o) concept correctly! I apprciate your answer! - bandit51jd, Apr 27, 2011

Gracias, Bandit and Sir Ian :) - Fidalgo, Apr 27, 2011

Answer 4

My attempt:

One way to use both and either in English are as correlative conjunctions. One purpose of the correlative conjunction is to express the relationship between the ideas in the different parts of the sentence.

Example 1. both...and

1

He is both intelligent and handsome.

Él es inteligente y además guapo.

Example 2. either...or

2

I can either work on the SD forum or study for my Spanish class.

O puedo trabajar en el foro SD o estudio para mi clase de español.

Hola thanks bandit - but where is the "either" in your Spanish sentence? - ian-hill, Apr 27, 2011

Example - I can either work on the SD forum or study for my Spanish class but not both. - ian-hill, Apr 27, 2011

Answer 5

Él puede elegir cualquiera coche, pero no puede tener ambos.

He can choose either car, but he can not have both.

Is this a good example of what you are requesting? I don't know, but it is very common for those two words to be used together in an English sentence! (Often by mothers who are trying to keep their children from taking too much of something).

Answer 6

Dos de mis hijos están en el ejército.

Ambos son oficiales.

Two of my sons are in the military.

Both of them are Officers.

Cualquiera de ellos te protegen.

Ellos viajan ya sea por avión o barco.

Either one of them will protect you.

They travel either by Plane or ship.