Both and neither

NEITHER
We use neither to refer to two people or things only. The word neither ( none of the two) is usually followed by a verb in the singular. The verb which follows neither is always in the affirmative.
Example: Neither book was interesting.
Neither is used:

• 
  At the beginning of the sentence.
  

Neither may be followed by of.
Example: Neither of the books was interesting.
Neither has a negative meaning.

BOTH
We use both to refer to two people or things only. Both is followed by a verb in the plural.
Examples: We both like fish.
They are both intelligent.
Both is used:

• 
  After the verb to be
  
• 
  After an auxiliary verb
  
• 
  Before the main verb
  
• 
  At the beginning of a sentence
  

Both may be followed by of.
Example: Both of them are intelligent.
Both has a positive meaning.



EXERCISE
Complete the following sentences with both or neither.
1-I’ve got two sisters. __________of them live in Lisbon.
2-___________ can play the piano but they _________ want to learn.
3-We __________ like love stories.
4- ____________ of us wants to go camping. We prefer staying in a hotel.
5- _________ of them came to my birthday party yesterday.
6- _________ skirts are too expensive. I don’t have enough money to buy them.
7- _________ of these films is interesting.
8- ___________of these books are boring.
9- ___________ of these exercises is right. They are __________ wrong.
10-I’m waiting for Peter and Sarah. They are ______________ late.
11-We have got two cats. ________ of them are old.
12- ___________of them don’t feel well. They aren’t coming to school today.
13- ____________ of them feels well and they stayed at home.
14- ____________ of us like detective stories.
15. ____________ is good at tennis.

K EY

EXERCISE
Complete the following sentences with both or neither.
1-I’ve got two sisters. Both of them live in Lisbon.
2-Neither can play the piano but they both want to learn.
3-We both like love stories.
4- Neither of us wants to go camping. We prefer staying in a hotel.
5- Both of them came to my birthday party yesterday.
6- Both skirts are too expensive. I don’t have enough money to buy them.
7- Neither of these films is interesting.
8- Both of these books are boring.
9- Neither of these exercises is right. They are both wrong.
10-I’m waiting for Peter and Sarah. They are both late.
11-We have got two cats. Both of them are old.
12- Both of them don’t feel well. They aren’t coming to school today.
13- Neither of them feels well and they stayed at home.
14- Both of us like detective stories.
15. Neither is good at tennis.