089 : (both / both of) , (neither / neither of) , (either / either of)

   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. }