Question

“What do you prefer, Kathakali or Bharatanatyam?” “I don’t like ______ of them. I love contemporary dance forms like jazz.” Fill in the blank with the correct distributive/ reciprocal pronoun from the options given below:
A. Each
B. Either
C. Neither
D. Both

Answer 1

Hint: The distributive or reciprocal pronouns consider the members of a group separately and not in collective form. They include words like ‘either’, ‘neither’, ‘each’, etc. There is also a category of distributive determinants which is quite similar to the distributive or reciprocal pronouns. Due to the fact that they denote everything separately rather than collectively, which is why they always become singular and are followed by singular verbs.

Complete answer:
1. In order to find the correct word to fill the blank, we need to have a look at each of the options given and check the most suitable one.
2. The word 'each' is used to refer to every one of two or more than two things or people who were regarded and identified separately. Its usage is similar to pronouns or as determinants. Here, we can see that the use of this word is inappropriate in the given context. Hence, the option is incorrect.
3. The third option 'neither' is used generally before the first of the two or more alternatives to specify that they are untrue and have never happened. Here also, we can see that this word is not contextual to the given situation. Hence, this option is also incorrect.
4. The fourth option is 'both' which means constituting of the two quantities/ persons given. Here, in the statement, there is negation used. Hence, the word 'both' cannot be used in such a situation. Therefore, this option is incorrect.
5. Now, if we see the second option, the word 'either' is a conjunctive adverb as well which is used to specify among the two or more alternatives given. The use of this word is very suitable in such context which is given in the above statement. Hence, the correct answer is the second option. In this option, it is intended to indicate that either Kathakali or Bharatanatyam, both the speaker does not like.

Hence the correct answer is option ‘B’.

Note: While dealing with such questions, one should always keep in mind that there are very minor differences between the distributive pronouns and distributive determinants. Hence, while using such words the writer should be clear about the perspective, he/she wants to deliver, otherwise this could be a cause of utter confusion.