Collins Cobuild

Unit 28
Both, either, neither
Main points
You  use  ‘both’,  ‘either’,  and  ‘neither’  to  talk  about  two  people  or
things that have been mentioned or are known to the hearer.
You  use  ‘both’  with  plural  nouns,  and  ‘either’  and  ‘neither’  with
singular nouns.
You use ‘both of’, ‘either of’, and ‘neither of’ with plural nouns or
pronouns.
1
You use ‘both’, ‘either’, and ‘neither’ when you are saying something
about two people or things that have been mentioned, or are known to
the person you are talking to.
There were excellent performances from both actresses.
Denis held his cocoa in both hands.
No argument could move either man from this decision.
Neither report mentioned the Americans.
2
You use ‘both’ when you think of the two people or things as a group.
You use ‘both’ with a plural noun.
Both children were happy with their presents.
Both policies make good sense.

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3
 You  use  ‘either’  when  you  think  of  the  two  people  or  things  as
individuals. You use ‘either’ with a singular noun.
Either way is acceptable.
She could not see either man.
4
You use ‘neither’ when you are thinking of the two people or things as
individuals and you are making a negative statement about them. You
use ‘neither’ with a singular noun.
In reality, neither party was enthusiastic.
Neither man knew what he was doing.
5
You can use ‘both’ with a specific determiner such as ‘the’, ‘these’, or
‘my’.
Both the young men agreed to come.
Both these books have been recommended to us.
Both her parents were dead.
 WARNING:  You  cannot  use  ‘either’  or  ‘neither’  with  a  specific
determiner.
6
You can use ‘both of’, ‘either of’, or ‘neither of’ with a plural noun or
pronoun.
Note that when ‘both of’, ‘either of’, and ‘neither of’ are followed by a
noun rather than a pronoun, you must use a specific determiner such
as ‘the’, ‘these’, or ‘her’ before the noun.
Both of these restaurants are excellent.
Either of them could have done the job.
Neither of our boys was involved.
Note that ‘neither of’ is normally used with a singular verb but it can
be used with a plural verb.
Neither of us was having any luck.

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Neither of the children were there.
7
 Remember  that  you  can  also  use  ‘both’,  ‘either’,  and  ‘neither’  as
conjunctions.  You  use  ‘both…and’  to  give  two  alternatives  and  say
that each of them is possible or true.
I am looking for opportunities both in this country and abroad.
Both I and my wife were surprised to see you there.
You use ‘either…or’ to give two alternatives and say that only one of
them is possible or true.
You can have either fruit or ice cream.
I was expecting you either today or tomorrow.
You either love him or hate him.
You also use ‘neither…nor’ to give two alternatives and say that each
of them is not possible or is not true.
Neither Margaret nor John was there.
He did it neither quickly nor well.

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