We use both/neither/either for two things.
You can use these words with a noun (bothbooks, 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:
Ø Both restaurants are
very good. (not ‘ the both restaurants’).
Ø Neither restaurant is
expensive.
Ø 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. :
Ø Both of these restaurants
are very good.
Ø Neither
of the
restaurants we went to was (or were)
expensive.
Ø 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:
Ø Both my
parents are from London. or Both of my
parents….
You can use both of / neither
of / either
of + us/you/them:
Ø (talking
to two people) Can either of you speaking
Spanish?
Ø 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):
Ø Both of us were
very tired. (not ‘ Both us were…’)
After neither of... a singular or a
plural verb is possible:
Ø Neither of the
children wants ( or want)
to go to bed.
You can also use both/neither/either alone:
Ø I
couldn’t decide which of the two shirts to buy. I liked both.
( or I
liked both ofthem. )
Ø ‘Is your friend
British or American?’ ‘Neither.
She’s Australian.’
Ø ‘Do
you want tea or coffee?’ ‘Either. I
don’t mind.’
You can say: Both… and…:
Ø Both Sara and Abdullah were late.
Ø I was both tired and hungry when I
arrived home.
Neither ….nor…:
Ø Neither Ali nor Omer came to the
party.
Ø She said she would
contact me but she neither wrote nor phoned.
Either… or…:
Ø I’m
not sure where he’s from. He’s either Arabic or Italian.
Ø Either you
apologies or I’ll
never speak to you again.
Compare either/neither/both (two things) and any/none/all (more than two):
Ø There
are two good
hotels in the town. You can stay at either of
them.
Ø There
are many good
hotels in the town. You can stay at any of
them.
Ø We
tried two hotels. Neither
of them
had any rooms. / Both of them
were full.
Ø We
tried a lot of
hotels. None of
them had any rooms.
/ All of
them
were full.
