Lesson
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 talking about going out to eat this evening. There are two restaurants where you can go. 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)
Both of... / neither of…/ either of…
When we use both/neither/either + of, you always need the …/ these/ those…/ my/ yours/ his/ Tom’s…. (etc.). You cannot say ‘both of restaurants’. You have to say ‘both of the restaurants’, ‘both of those restaurants’ etc. :
· Both of these restaurants are very good.
· Neither of the restaurants we went to was (or were) expensive.
· I haven’t been to be 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 London. 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 speaking Spanish?
· I asked two people the way to the station but neither of them knew.
You must say ‘both of’ before us/you/them (of is necessary):
· 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.
You can also use both/neither/either alone:
· 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.’
You can say: Both… and…:
· Both Sara and Abdullah were late.
· I was both tired and hungry when I arrived home.
Neither ….nor…:
· Neither Ali nor Omer came to the party.
· She said she would contact me but she neither wrote nor phoned.
Either… or…:
· I’m not sure where he’s from. He’s either Arabic or Italian.
· Either you apologies or I’ll never speak to you again.
Compare either/neither/both (two things) and any/none/all (more than two):
· There are two good hotels in the town. You can stay at either of them.
· There are many good hotels in the town. You can 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.
English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy .............It ‘s so nice !
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