Unit 82 · Determiners and pronouns

both either neither

Study

We use both/either/neither to talk about two things or people:

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Rebecca has two children. Both are married. (both = the two children)

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Would you like tea or coffee? You can have either. (either = tea or coffee)

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A: Do you want to go to the cinema or the theatre? B: Neither. I want to stay at home. (neither = not the cinema or the theatre)

Compare either and neither:

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'Would you like tea or coffee?' 'Either. I don't mind.' (= tea or coffee) 'I don't want either.' (not I don't want neither) 'Neither.' (= not tea or coffee)

both/either/neither + noun

both	+ plural	both	windows/books/children etc.
either	+ singular	either	window/book/child etc.
neither		neither

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Last year I went to Paris and Rome. I liked both cities very much.

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First I worked in an office, and later in a shop. Neither job was very interesting.

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There are two ways from here to the station. You can go either way.

both of ... / either of ... / neither of ...

both	(of)	the ...
either	of	these/those ...
neither		my/your/Paul's ... etc.

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Neither of my parents is British.

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I haven't read either of these books.

You can say both of the/those/my ... or both the/those/my ... (with or without of):

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I like both of those pictures. or I like both those pictures.

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Both of Paul's sisters are married. or Both Paul's sisters are married.

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but Neither of Paul's sisters is married. (not Neither Paul's sisters)

both of them / neither of us

both	them
either	of	us
neither	you

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Paul has two sisters. Both of them are married.

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Sue and I didn't eat anything. Neither of us was hungry.

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Who are those two people? I don't know either of them.

Exercises (3)

0/3 exercises checked

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82.1

Write both/either/neither. Use of where necessary.

1
Last year I went to Paris and Rome. I liked cities very much.example
2
There were two pictures on the wall. I didn't like . them.example
3
It was a good football match. teams played well.
4
It wasn't a good football match. team played well.
5
'Is your friend English or American?' ' She's Australian.'
6
We went away for two days, but the weather wasn't good. It rained days.
7
A: I bought two newspapers. Which one do you want?
B: . It doesn't matter which one.
8
I invited Sam and Chris to the party, but them came.
9
'Do you go to work by car or by bus?'
' I always walk.'
10
'Which jacket do you prefer, this one or that one?'
'I don't like them.'
11
'Do you work or are you a student?'
' I work and I'm a student too.'
12
My friend and I went to the cinema, but us liked the film. It was really bad.
13
Helen has two sisters and a brother. sisters are married.
14
Helen has two sisters and a brother. I've met her brother, but I haven't met her sisters.

82.2

Complete the sentences for the pictures. Use Both ... and Neither ...

1
Both cups are empty.example
2
Both windows are .
3
Neither man is wearing a hat. / Neither of them is wearing a hat.
4
Both men have beards. / Both of them have beards.
5
Both buses go to the airport. / Both of them go to the airport. / Both buses are going to the airport. / Both of them are going to the airport.
6
Neither answer is .

82.3

A man and a woman answered some questions. Their answers were the same. Write sentences with Both/Neither of them ...

1
1 Are you married? No No
Neither of them is married. example
2
2 How old are you? 21 21
Both of them are 21. example
3
3 Are you a student? Yes Yes
Both of them are .
4
4 Do you have a car? No No
Neither of them has . / Neither of them has got a car.
5
5 Where do you live? London London
Both of them live in .
6
6 Do you like cooking? Yes Yes
Both of them like .
7
7 Can you play the piano? No No
Neither of them can play the .
8
8 Do you eat seafood? Yes Yes
Both of them eat .
9
9 Are you interested in sport? No No
Neither of them is interested in .