Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 89 · B1

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

Use both, neither and either when there are two things or people, with a noun, with of, or on their own. Learn both ... and, neither ... nor, either ... or, and how these words compare with all, none and any.

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 27 minutes

In this lesson

both, neither, either: for two thingsA2 screens of questions
both of, neither of, either ofB3 screens of questions
both ... and, neither ... nor, either ... orC2 screens of questions
Two things and more than two: comparedD2 screens of questions

Point A of 4

both, neither, either: for two things

Use both, neither and either when there are two things or people. They can go before a singular or plural noun as follows:

Word Noun Meaning
both plural: both pubs the one and the other
neither singular: neither pub not the one and not the other
either singular: either pub one or the other, it does not matter which

Say both pubs, not the both pubs.

Suppose there are two pubs in the village and you are choosing where to go for Sunday lunch.

All three words can also stand alone, without a noun.

  • Both pubs do a good roast. (not the both pubs)
  • Neither pub is very busy on a Sunday.
  • We can go to either pub. I'm not fussy.
  • I haven't eaten at either pub before.
  • "Do you prefer cricket or rugby?" "I enjoy both."
  • "Is your boss Irish or Scottish?" "Neither. She's from Wales."
  • "Red or white?" "Either. I'll drink whatever's open."

Point A · Exercise 89.1 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences with both, neither or either.

  1. Example

    "Bus or train?" "Either. I really don't mind."

    Answer"Bus or train?" "Either. I really don't mind."

  2. "Is the meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday?" ". It's on Thursday."

  3. "Did you go to Cornwall or Devon?" "We went to . Four days in each."

  4. "Shall we sit upstairs or downstairs?" ". Wherever there's a seat."

  5. "Is Raj in the kitchen or in the garden?" ". He's nipped out to the shop."

Point A · Exercise 89.1 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences with both, neither or either.

  1. "Does Lily really play the piano and the violin?" "Yes, she plays beautifully."

Point B of 4

both of, neither of, either of

Use both of / neither of / either of + the, these, those, my, Tom's etc. Say both of the pubs, not both of pubs.

After both, the of is optional: both of these pubs or both these pubs.

Use the same words with us, you, them. Before these, both needs of: say both of us, not both us.

After neither of ..., the verb can be singular or plural.

  • Both of these pubs serve food all day.
  • Neither of the pubs we tried had a table free.
  • I've never been inside either of those pubs.
  • Both of these pubs serve food. / Both these pubs serve food.
  • (to a couple) Does either of you speak French?
  • I asked two neighbours to feed the cat, but neither of them was free.
  • Both of us fell asleep on the train. (not Both us)
  • Neither of them is answering. / Neither of them are answering.

Point B · Exercise 89.2 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences with both, neither or either. Use of where it is needed.

  1. Example

    Both my grandparents are from Jamaica.

    AnswerBoth my grandparents are from Jamaica.

  2. You can get to the station along the canal or along the main road. You can go way.

  3. I rang the plumber twice, but times nobody answered.

  4. Megan's parents is Welsh. Her father is Scottish and her mother is Irish.

  5. A van reversed into a bus this morning. Luckily driver was hurt, but vehicles were badly damaged.

Point B · Exercise 89.2 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences with both, neither or either. Use of where it is needed.

  1. I have two brothers and a sister. My sister has retired, but my brothers are still working.

Point B · Exercise 89.3

Complete the sentences with both, neither or either + of us or of them.

  1. Example

    I asked two shop assistants where the toilets were, but neither of them knew.

    AnswerI asked two shop assistants where the toilets were, but neither of them knew.

  2. I was offered two jobs last month, but I didn't want .

  3. There were two doors into the hall. It was so stuffy that I opened .

  4. Nadia and I go to salsa classes every week, but can dance very well.

  5. I tried two chemists for the cream I needed, but had it in stock.

Point C of 4

both ... and, neither ... nor, either ... or

Pattern Meaning
both ... and ... the one and the other
neither ... nor ... not the one and not the other
either ... or ... one or the other

either ... or is also how one issues an ultimatum politely enough that it still counts as an ultimatum.

  • Both Leanne and Craig forgot the tickets.
  • By the end of the walk I was both cold and starving.
  • Neither Leanne nor Craig remembered the tickets.
  • The ceiling collapsed while we were out, so we neither saw nor heard it.
  • I can't remember where Pavel's from. He's either Polish or Czech.
  • Either you turn that music down, or I'm calling your mother.

Point C · Exercise 89.4 · part 1 of 2

Write one sentence with both ... and, neither ... nor or either ... or. Where words are given in brackets, begin with them.

  1. Example

    Ali was tired. So was Jess.

    Both Ali and Jess were tired.

    AnswerBoth Ali and Jess were tired.

  2. Example

    She didn't phone, and she didn't write.

    She neither phoned nor wrote.

    AnswerShe neither phoned nor wrote.

  3. It was a cold evening. It was wet too. (The evening)

  4. Mo hasn't got a passport. Lucy hasn't got one either.

  5. Rhian plays the guitar, and she plays the drums too.

  6. Colin doesn't drink tea, and he doesn't drink coffee. (Colin)

Point C · Exercise 89.4 · part 2 of 2

Write one sentence with both ... and, neither ... nor or either ... or. Where words are given in brackets, begin with them.

  1. Is the new manager called Sarah? Or is she called Susan? It's one of the two. (The new manager)

  2. I haven't got the energy to go out. And I haven't got the money. (I have)

  3. We can eat now, or we can eat later. Whichever you like. (We)

Point D of 4

Two things and more than two: compared

Use either, neither, both for two things, and any, none, all for more than two.

Two things More than two
There are two decent B&Bs in the village. You could stay at either of them. There are lots of decent B&Bs in town. You could stay at any of them.
We rang two B&Bs. Neither of them had a room. We rang a dozen B&Bs. None of them had a room.
Both of them were full. All of them were full.
  • There are two campsites. You could book either of them.
  • There are five campsites. You could book any of them.
  • Neither of them had a room.
  • None of them had a room.
  • Both of them were full.
  • All of them were full.

Point D · Exercise 89.5 · part 1 of 2

Complete the sentences with neither, either, none or any.

  1. Example

    We rang loads of plumbers, but none of them could come out.

    AnswerWe rang loads of plumbers, but none of them could come out.

  2. Chloe has twin sisters, but I've never met of them.

  3. Gary has five cousins, but I haven't met of them.

  4. There were several cafés along the seafront, but of them was open.

  5. Paris, Rome, Madrid, Lisbon: have you been to of these cities?

Point D · Exercise 89.5 · part 2 of 2

Complete the sentences with neither, either, none or any.

  1. I'm free on Tuesday or Friday. Would of those days be all right?

  2. Rob and I couldn't get the car going because of us knew anything about engines.

Lesson 89 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: all every wholeBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. both, neither, either: for two things–Not checkedB. both of, neither of, either of–Not checkedC. both ... and, neither ... nor, either ... or–Not checkedD. Two things and more than two: compared–Not checked