Both,

neither
and either
ENGLISH WITH ANEU
Both
We use “both” to refer to two things or people together.

√√ Are both your parents going to Cusco?

both + noun (n.)

√ Are your mother and your father going to Cusco?

 Interview with producers of The Child in Time

Stephen’s adaptation is both

really *faithful and emotional.
Both (of)
Both (of) is used before a determiner –like a, an, the,
her, his, this, etc.- and a noun.

√√ My boyfriend knows both (of) my parents.

both of + determiner + n.

√√ Both (of) my cousins study art.

both of + determiner + noun (n.)
 Interview with the stars of Good Omens

There are so many *nuances

for both these characters.
Both and Pronouns
We can use “both” after a subject/object pronoun.

√√ We both enjoy watching tennis tournaments on TV.

Subject Pronoun + both

√√ Let’s open them both now.

Object Pronoun + both
Both and Pronouns
We use a “both” before a object pronoun., when they
are part of a subject or pronoun.

√√ Both of us dislike beer.

Both of + Object Pronoun

√√ They talked to both of us.

Prep. + both of + Object Pronoun
 Interview with the stars of Good Omens

Had both of you read the

book before getting this job?
Neither
We say “neither” to mean no one nor the other when we
are talking about two things of the same kind.

√√ Neither salad is fine. She dislike both salads.

neither + singular noun

√ No one nor the other is fine. She dislike both salads.

Neither of
We say “neither of” followed by a determiner and a
plural noun or by a pronoun.

√√ Neither of them has a car.

neither + singular noun

√ No one nor the other of them has a car.

Neither and Verbs
Neither is followed by a plural noun/pronoun and a
singular/plural verb. A plural verb is more informal.

√√ Neither of them has car.

neither of + P.P + to be / verb (singular)

√ Neither of them have a car.

neither of + P.P + to be /verb (plural)
Neither... nor...
People also use “neither... nor...” to refer to two
negatives statements of two things. This structure is
quite formal.

√√ He neither went to the theatre nor the cinema.

neither + (verb) + noun + nor + noun

√He didn’t go to the theatre. He didn't go to the cinema.

Both vs Neither
In negative clauses, we usually use “neither of” rather
than “both of...not”.

√√ Neither of them are particularly good.

neither of + Personal Pronoun (P.P)

√ Both of them are not particularly good.

neither of + P.P + to be / auxiliary verb + not
Interview with the stars of Good Omens

Neither of them are

particularly good.
Either
We say “either” to mean one or the other when we are
talking about two things of the same kind or two people.

√√ Either dessert is fine. I like both.

either + singular noun

√ One or the other dessert is fine. I like both.

Either
We say “either” to mean each of two things or people.

√√ Either answer is correct.

either + singular noun

√ One and the other answer are correct.

Either of
We say “either of” followed by a determiner and a plural
noun or by a pronoun.

√√ Either of us will be there.

neither + singular noun

√ One or the other of us will be there.

Either and Verbs
Either is followed by a plural noun/pronoun and a
singular/plural verb. A plural verb is more informal.

√√ Either of the dresses is fashionable.

either of + P.P + to be / verb (singular)

√ Either of the dresses are fashionable.

either of + P.P + to be /verb (plural)
Either... or...
People also use “either... or...” to refer to two different
things. This structure is quite formal.

√√ I’ll buy either some yogurt or some milk.

either + (verb) + noun + nor + noun

√I’ll buy some yogurt or I’ll buy some milk.

Both vs Either
We use “either (of)” after not + verb.

√√ Mark didn’t like either tie.

not + verb + either (of) + noun

He looked at two ties.

Fashion
conscious
I won’t buy
either blouse.
Both, Neither and Either on their own

You can use “both”, neither and either on their own

when you or other person has already said the noun.

Jane: Which ice cream do you want?

Rose: Neither! I’m on a diet.
Neither
 Interview with Roger Federer

Service volley
or power
baseline?
A bit of
both.
Interview with Roger Federer

Tennis is a good
live sports, and TV
- it works for both.