Either- or

Either means “one or the other, but not both”.

- She wanted to eat either spaghetti or steak. (She wanted to eat spaghetti or steak, but not both)

- I can't remember if either Fred or George stole a car. (One of the boys stole a car, but not both)

Whether-or is sometimes used instead of either-or.

- Whether out of avarice or out of need, he asked for a much higher price for his property than it was worth.

If two singular subjects are connected by neither-nor or either-or, match the verb with whichever subject it's closer to.

- Neither Olive nor the boys eat mushrooms.

- Neither the boys nor Olive eats mushrooms.

- Either one rat or several mice are eating everything in the cupboard.

- Either several mice or one rat is eating everything in the cupboard.