Two-part connector 'entweder … oder' (either … or)

What it is. entweder … oder offers two alternatives - "either ... or". It marks an exclusive choice: one option or the other.

How it works. entweder introduces the first option, oder the second. The elements joined are parallel (two nouns, two clauses, etc.).

• entweder + Option A, oder + Option B.

Examples.

• Wir fahren entweder nach Italien oder nach Spanien. - We'll go either to Italy or to Spain.
• Du kannst entweder bleiben oder mitkommen. - You can either stay or come along.
• Entweder du hilfst mir, oder ich mache es allein. - Either you help me, or I'll do it alone.

Common mistakes. When entweder starts the whole sentence, you can keep normal order (Entweder du hilfst ...) or use inversion (Entweder hilfst du ...); both occur. Don't confuse it with weder … noch (which negates both options).

'entweder … oder' offers two alternatives (one or the other).

Offers two alternatives - one or the other.

'entweder … oder' nennt zwei Alternativen.