✅ TOEIC Trap Spotlight: Both / Either / Neither

🪑 "You can sit in either seat," she said. I picked both. Now she’s mad.

It was 7:43 a.m. on test day. Taro and Aiko arrived at the TOEIC venue early — but tension was high.
The staff pointed at two chairs and said, "You may sit in either seat."

Taro dropped his bag and sat in both.

Aiko sighed.
"Not again, Taro."

This isn’t just an awkward moment. It’s exactly the kind of logic the TOEIC tests with a friendly smile — then punishes when your instinct is wrong.

Let’s fix that instinct — forever.

🧠 Why This Trap Exists

TOEIC tests more than grammar. It tests automatic, high-pressure understanding.
When you’re racing through a conversation or sentence completion, the test will:

  • Give you two choices, but the words look easy

  • Trick you into choosing the wrong one because it feels right

That’s why this is a trap. You don’t have time to think — you need to know.

💡 Coaching Breakdown

Let’s slow it down and build natural timing instinct:

🔹 Both

✅ Means two things, and you’re accepting or including both.
🗣 “Both Hiroshi and Ken passed the test.”
🧠 Think: 2 people, and it’s true for both

❗Grammar: Use plural verbs.
✅ “Both answers are correct.”
❌ “Both answers is correct.”

🔹 Either

✅ Means one of two — not both. It’s polite, useful, and common.
🗣 “You can take either the train or the bus.”
🧠 Think: Pick 1 from 2

❗Grammar: Usually takes singular verbs.
✅ “Either option is fine.”
❌ “Either option are fine.”

🔹 Neither

✅ Means not this one, not the other — 0 out of 2.
🗣 “Neither explanation made sense.”
🧠 Think: Two things… and you don’t want either

❗Grammar: Also singular.
✅ “Neither choice was correct.”
❌ “Neither choice were correct.”

🔥 TOEIC Practice Round – Train Your Reflex

Let’s build reaction speed. Each question is a trap waiting for you to blink.
Read fast. Choose fast. Then check the logic.

❓1. Choose the correct sentence.

A. Both of the reports was finished yesterday.

B. Either of the reports are good.

C. Neither of the reports is good.

D. Both of the reports were finished yesterday.

✅ Correct Answer: D

“Both” = plural. Use were.
A is wrong — “was” = singular.
B is wrong — “Either” = singular → should be is.
C looks close, but “is good” contradicts “neither” unless context matches.

❓2. You may choose _____ the soup or the salad — not both.

A. both

B. neither

C. either

D. all

✅ Correct Answer: C

“Either… or…” = polite way to say: pick one of two.
“Both” would mean choosing 2 — and the sentence says “not both.”
“Neither” = nothing — doesn’t match tone.
“All” = needs more than two items.

❓3. I asked two people for help. _____ of them knew the answer.

A. Both

B. Neither

C. Either

D. None

✅ Correct Answer: B

“Neither” = 0 out of 2.
“None” is used for 3+ items — sounds wrong here.
“Either” = 1 of 2 — doesn’t match.
“Both” = 2 out of 2 — completely wrong.

❓4. TOEIC Reading Tip: When the sentence talks about not choosing any of two things, what word does TOEIC prefer?

A. Not both

B. Not any

C. Neither

D. None

✅ Correct Answer: C

“Neither” = the default for 2 items, both rejected.
“None” = 3 or more. “Not both” is awkward. “Not any” is vague.

🔁 Recap & Coaching Insight

If your brain sees “either” and thinks “both” — you’re not alone.
This is one of the most common TOEIC time traps.
You won’t fix it by studying grammar. You fix it by building instinct.

Here’s how to lock it in:

  • 🧠 Visual trick:

    “Both = 2 ✅✅”
    “Either = 1 ✅❌”
    “Neither = 0 ❌❌”

  • 🗣 Say it aloud daily:

    “I’ll take both.”
    “Either option is fine.”
    “Neither works for me.”

  • 📝 Test reflex:

    Practice 10 rapid-fire examples.
    No time to think — just trust the phrase.

🎓 TOEIC doesn't just test English — it tests speed.
Let’s beat it at its own game.

FAQ — TOEIC Trap: Both / Either / Neither Q: What’s the difference between both and either in English? A: “Both” means two things together. “Either” means one of two. Example: “Both answers are correct” vs “You can choose either one.” Q: When do you use either or neither? A: Use “either” when one is possible. Use “neither” when none are possible. Example: “Either option is fine.” “Neither option works.” Q: Is either singular or plural in TOEIC grammar? A: “Either” takes a singular verb. Example: “Either option is correct.” Q: Is neither always negative? A: Yes. “Neither” means no to both options. Example: “Neither answer was right.” Q: Can I say both of them is? A: No. “Both” needs a plural verb. Say: “Both of them are.” Q: What’s the difference between none and neither? A: “Neither” is for two things. “None” is for more than two. TOEIC often traps you here. Q: How do you use both in a TOEIC sentence? A: “Both” joins two subjects or objects. Example: “Both the manager and the client agreed.” Q: What’s a common TOEIC mistake with either/neither? A: Using the wrong verb. “Either” and “neither” take singular verbs. TOEIC tests this often. Q: Is it correct to say either of them are? A: No. It should be “Either of them is.” Q: Can you use neither without ‘nor’? A: Yes. Example: “Neither idea worked.” But you can also use “Neither A nor B.” Q: What’s a TOEIC trick using both/either/neither? A: They all relate to two things. If the question has more than two, none/all should be used. Q: How does TOEIC test both vs either? A: TOEIC gives you two options and tests if you understand the right meaning. It also checks subject-verb agreement. Q: What’s the correct structure: “Both A and B” or “Both A or B”? A: Always “Both A and B.” Q: Should I say “Neither are good” or “Neither is good”? A: Say “Neither is good.” It’s singular. Q: What’s the opposite of either? A: “Neither” is the opposite of “either.” Either = one; neither = none. Q: Can I use either with three choices? A: No. “Either” is only for two. Use “any” for three or more. Q: Which is better for polite offers: both or either? A: “Either” is used for polite choices. Example: “You may take either.” Q: What does TOEIC want me to know about both/either/neither? A: Know how many things are involved, what’s being accepted or rejected, and match it to the correct verb. Q: Are both/either/neither always followed by “of”? A: Not always. “Both” can be used directly: “Both work here.” “Either” and “Neither” can be used alone or with “of.” Q: How can I remember the difference between either and neither? A: “Either = 1 out of 2” (E = One). “Neither = 0 out of 2” (N = None).