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.'
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.
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.
} |
