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.
A 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."
B 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 two people) Can either of you drive a van?
- 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.
C 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.
D 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. |
- You could stay at either of them.
- You could stay at 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.
Exercises
89.1 Complete the sentences with both, neither or either.
"Bus or train?" "Either. I really don't mind."
"Bus or train?" "Either. I really don't mind."
"Is the meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday?" ". It's on Thursday."
"Is the meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday?" "Neither. It's on Thursday."
"Did you go to Cornwall or Devon?" "We went to . Four days in each."
"Did you go to Cornwall or Devon?" "We went to both. Four days in each."
"Shall we sit upstairs or downstairs?" ". Wherever there's a seat."
"Shall we sit upstairs or downstairs?" "Either. Wherever there's a seat."
"Is Raj in the kitchen or in the garden?" ". He's nipped out to the shop."
"Is Raj in the kitchen or in the garden?" "Neither. He's nipped out to the shop."
"Does Lily really play the piano and the violin?" "Yes, she plays beautifully."
"Does Lily really play the piano and the violin?" "Yes, she plays both beautifully."
89.2 Complete the sentences with both, neither or either. Use of where it is needed.
Both my grandparents are from Jamaica.
Both my grandparents are from Jamaica.
You can get to the station along the canal or along the main road. You can go way.
You can get to the station along the canal or along the main road. You can go either way.
I rang the plumber twice, but times nobody answered.
I rang the plumber twice, but both times nobody answered.
Megan's parents is Welsh. Her father is Scottish and her mother is Irish.
Neither of Megan's parents is Welsh. Her father is Scottish and her mother is Irish.
A van reversed into a bus this morning. Luckily driver was hurt, but vehicles were badly damaged.
A van reversed into a bus this morning. Luckily neither driver was hurt, but both vehicles were badly damaged.
I have two brothers and a sister. My sister has retired, but my brothers are still working.
I have two brothers and a sister. My sister has retired, but both my brothers are still working.
89.3 Complete the sentences with both, neither or either + of us or of them.
I asked two shop assistants where the toilets were, but neither of them knew.
I asked two shop assistants where the toilets were, but neither of them knew.
I was offered two jobs last month, but I didn't want .
I was offered two jobs last month, but I didn't want either of them.
There were two doors into the hall. It was so stuffy that I opened .
There were two doors into the hall. It was so stuffy that I opened both of them.
Nadia and I go to salsa classes every week, but can dance very well.
Nadia and I go to salsa classes every week, but neither of us can dance very well.
I tried two chemists for the cream I needed, but had it in stock.
I tried two chemists for the cream I needed, but neither of them had it in stock.
89.4 Write one sentence with both ... and, neither ... nor or either ... or. Where words are given in brackets, begin with them.
Ali was tired. So was Jess.
Both Ali and Jess were tired.
Both Ali and Jess were tired.
She didn't phone, and she didn't write.
She neither phoned nor wrote.
She neither phoned nor wrote.
It was a cold evening. It was wet too. (The evening)
The evening was both cold and wet.
Mo hasn't got a passport. Lucy hasn't got one either.
Neither Mo nor Lucy has a passport.
Rhian plays the guitar, and she plays the drums too.
Rhian plays both the guitar and the drums.
Colin doesn't drink tea, and he doesn't drink coffee. (Colin)
Colin drinks neither tea nor coffee.
Is the new manager called Sarah? Or is she called Susan? It's one of the two. (The new manager)
The new manager is called either Sarah or Susan.
I haven't got the energy to go out. And I haven't got the money. (I have)
I have neither the energy nor the money to go out.
We can eat now, or we can eat later. Whichever you like. (We)
We can eat either now or later.
89.5 Complete the sentences with neither, either, none or any.
We rang loads of plumbers, but none of them could come out.
We rang loads of plumbers, but none of them could come out.
Chloe has two brothers, but I haven't met of them.
Chloe has two brothers, but I haven't met either of them.
Gary has five cousins, but I haven't met of them.
Gary has five cousins, but I haven't met any of them.
There were several cafés along the seafront, but of them was open.
There were several cafés along the seafront, but none of them was open.
Paris, Rome, Madrid, Lisbon: have you been to of these cities?
Paris, Rome, Madrid, Lisbon: have you been to any of these cities?
I'm free on Tuesday or Friday. Would of those days be all right?
I'm free on Tuesday or Friday. Would either of those days be all right?
Rob and I couldn't get the car going because of us knew anything about engines.
Rob and I couldn't get the car going because neither of us knew anything about engines.