8.4 Both ... and, either ... or, neither ... nor

Here are examples of the use of both ... and (tanto ... como), either ... or (o bien ... o bien) and neither ... nor (ni ... ni):

Both Robin and Richard are good swimmers.
(Tanto Robin como Richard son buenos nadadores.)

Sally can both sing and play the piano.
(Sally sabe tanto cantar como tocar el piano.)

You can pay either by cheque or in cash.
(Puedes pagar o bien con cheque o bien en metálico.)

Either they come tomorrow or there will be trouble.
(O vienen mañana o habrá problemas.)

We don't have either the expertise or the time.¹
(No tenemos ni la experiencia ni el tiempo.)

We have neither the expertise nor the time.¹
(No tenemos ni la experiencia ni el tiempo.)

Neither Tom nor Eric passed the exam.
(Ni Tom ni Eric aprobaron el examen.)

¹ Notice that if there is already a negative word (here: don't), we use either ... or. The two versions mean the same; the version with neither ... nor is more formal.

For both, see also all, both.