' 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 talking about going out to eat this evening. There are two restaurants where you can go. You say:
• Bothrestaurants are very good, (not 'the both restaurants')
• Neitherrestaurant is expensive.
• We can go to eitherrestaurant. I don't mind, (either = one or the other, it doesn't matter which one)

B/ Both of... / neither of... / either of...

When you use both/ neither/ either + of, you always need the... / these/ those... / my/ your/ his/
Tom's... (etc.). You cannot say 'both of restaurants'. You have to say 'both of the restaurants', 'both of those restaurants' etc.:

• Bothof these restaurants are very good.
• Neitherof the restaurants we went to was (or were) expensive.
• I haven't been to eitherof those restaurants. (= I haven't been to one or the other) You don't need ofafterboth. So you can say:
• Bothmy parents are from London, or Both of my parents...

You can use bothof / neitherof / eitherof + us/you/them:
• (talking to two people) Can eitherof you speak Spanish?
• I asked two people the way to the station but neither of them knew.

You must say 'both ofbeforeus/ you/ them (of is necessary):
• Both of us were very tired, (not 'Both us were...')

After neitherof... a singular or a plural verb is possible:
• Neither of the children wants (or want) to go to bed.

C/ You can also use both/ neither/ either alone:
• I couldn't decide which of the two shirts to buy. I liked both, (or I liked bothof them.)
• 'Is your friend British or American?' 'Neither. She's Australian.'
• 'Do you want tea or coffee?' 'Either. I don't mind.'

D/ You can say:

Both... and...: Both Ann and Tom were late.
I was both tired and hungry when I arrived home.

Neither... nor...: Neither Liz nor Robin came to the party.
She said she would contact me but she neither wrote nor phoned.

Either... or...: I'm not sure where he's from. He's either Spanish or Italian.
Either you apologise or I'll never speak to you again.




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