| A |
We use both/neither/either for two things. You can use these words with a noun (both books, neither book etc.).
For example, you are going out to eat. There are two possible restaurants. You say:
- Both restaurants are very good. (not The both restaurants)
- Neither restaurant is expensive.
- We can go to either restaurant. I don't mind.
(either = one or the other, It doesn't matter which one)
You can also use both/neither/either alone, without a noun:
- I couldn't decide which of the two shirts to buy. I liked both. (or I liked both of them.)
- 'Is your friend British or American?' 'Neither. She's Australian.'
- 'Do you want tea or coffee?' 'Either. I don't mind.'
|
| B |
Both of ... / neither of ... / either of ...
We use both of / neither of / either of + the/these/my/Tom's ... etc. So we say 'both of the restaurants', 'both of those restaurants' etc. (but not both of restaurants):
- Both of these restaurants are very good.
- Neither of the restaurants we went to was (or were) expensive.
- I haven't been to either of those restaurants. (= I haven't been to one or the other)
You don't need of after both. So you can say:
- Both my parents are from Egypt. or Both of my parents ...
You can use both of / neither of / either of + us/you/them:
- (talking to two people) Can either of you speak Russian?
- I asked two people the way to the station, but neither of them could help me.
You must say 'both of' before us/you/them:
- Both of us were very tired. (not Both us were ... )
After neither of ... a singular or a plural verb is possible:
- Neither of the children wants (or want) to go to bed.
|
| C |
You can say:
both ... and ...
- Both Chris and Paul were late.
- I was both tired and hungry when I arrived home.
neither ... nor ...
- Neither Chris nor Paul came to the party.
- There was an accident in the street where we live, but we neither saw nor heard anything.
either ... or ...
- I'm not sure where Maria's from. She's either Spanish or Italian.
- Either you apologise, or I'll never speak to you again.
|
| D |
Compare either/neither/both (two things) and any/none/all (more than two):
There are two good hotels here.
You could stay at either of them. |
There are many good hotels here.
You could stay at any of them. |
We tried two hotels.
{
Neither of them had any rooms.
Both of them were full.
} |
We tried a lot of hotels.
{
None of them had any rooms.
All of them were full.
} |
|
