Both-either-neither 中文版 Grammar

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Both, either, neither Summary Chart

We Use the both, either and neither to refer to the people or things.

BOTH

Both = the other; That one and the other one; This one and that one

Both can used as a pronoun to refer to both things that we have already mentioned.

• A:do you want the blue shirt or the red one?
  B:i ' ll buy both (= the blue shirt and the red shirt = both shirts)

Both X and Y

= Not only X but also Y

Both + adjective + + + adjective

• He ' s both tall and handsome.
• I ' m both happy and confused at the same time!
• I have had a long, hard day and I ' m both tired and hungry.

Both + Noun + + + Noun

Both can used with a singular noun + and + singular noun

• She speaks both 中文版 and Arabic.
• They has both a cat and a dog.
• He is both an actor and a director.

We can also use Both + plural noun (see more below)

• She speaks both languages.

Both or Both of?

Both or Both of can be used without a difference in meaning though Both of are more common in th E-states.

Both (OF) + determiner + plural noun

You can use Both or Both of before a determiner (my, his, these, the etc.) and a plural noun.

• Both (OF) My friends arrived late to class.
• Both of the wheels wobble too much.
• A Prize is given to both of the players.

When we use Both (without of), we drop the article the.

• Both of the parents were nervous.
• Both parents were nervous.

Both of + Object pronoun

When using Both with a object pronoun (me, you, him, she, it, US them), we need the preposition of BEFO Re that pronoun.

• He has invited both us. (incorrect)
• He has invited both of us. (correct)
• I ' ll take both of them. (correct)
• I need to speak to both of you. (correct)

Verb + Object pronoun + both

We can use both after an object pronoun

• I hope they invite us both (= I hope they invite both of US)
• Do you need them both? (= Do you need both of them)
• The teacher sent them both to the principal ' s office.

To be + both

Both comes after to IS (or an auxiliary such as has or modal verbs).

• He is both intelligent and agile.
• My sister and I is both ready for the trip.
• We were both happy with our exam results.

Modal verb + both + verb

• My parents can both speak French.
• They should both try harder.
• My would both be shocked if they knew the truth.

Both + other Verbs

Both goes before the other verbs. If there is a accompanying auxiliary verb, then it goes in the middle of the verbs (i.e. auxiliary + both + verb)

• We both wanted to stay on bed and not go.
• They both liked the surprise.
• My parents Both work in the same building.
• They has both studied a lot.

Both-negative

We don ' t use the both in negative structures. Instead, we normally use neither.

• We don ' t say:both of them is not ready (incorrect)
• We say: Neither of them is ready (correct)

See more about neither below:

Neither

Neither = not one and isn't the other
Neither is a negative word and are accompanied by an affirmative singular verb.

Neither X nor Y

neither ... nor ... is used as a conjunction. It is the opposite of "Both ... and ..." If a verb comes after this phrase, then verb is in the singular form (sometimes you'll hear it used in the plural form t Hough It is not grammatically correct)

• neither John nor Fred likes doing the dishes. (= "Both John and Fred don ' t like doing the dishes")
• I want Neither the red shirt nor the blue shirt.
• I Neither smoke nor drink.

Neither + singular noun

Neither is used as a determiner before a single noun.

• Neither team wanted to lose.
• That's tennis game was very close. Neither player had a clear advantage.
• Neither parent knew about the accident.

Neither of + determiner + plural noun

You can use neither of before a determiner (my, his, these, the etc.) and a plural noun.

• Neither of my friends came to class today.
• Neither of the parents understood what the baby is trying to say.
• Neither of our cars had enough petrol so we had to take the bus.

Neither of + pronoun

When using neither + of + pronoun (you, us, them), we need the preposition of before. (If a verb comes after the phrase then it's in singular form)

• The present is for neither of us.
• Neither of them is married.
• Neither of us expected to be fired.

Neither in short responses

Neither is frequently used as part of a short response when someone says something negative and your agree with th Em.

• A:I has never been to Switzerland
• B:neither has I.
• A:I don ' t want to go.
• B:neither do I.

See more on So, neither and either as short answers

Neither can also be used alone.

• A:would a blue tie or a green tie?
• B:neither. (= neither tie)

Neither vs. either

You can use either with a negative verb to replace neither with a positive verb

• I have neither time nor money
• I don ' t has either time or money.

See more about either below.

Either

either = any one of the and the other one
either is accompanied by a affirmative singular verb and if mostly used in questions or negative sentences

Either X or Y

either ... or ... is used as a conjunction. It is used to express alternatives and or a choice between-B (and sometimes more) things. It's used a verb in singular form (sometimes you'll hear it used in the plural form though it's not grammatically Corr ECT).

• either you or John have to finish the report before 5pm.
• You can have either the red shirt or the blue shirt. (= but not both)
• either leave the building now or I call the security guards.

either + singular noun

either is used as a determiner before a single noun.

• There is only the options and I ' m not interested in either film.
• A:do you want it ready for Thursday or Friday? B: either day was fine for me.

Either of + determiner + plural noun

You can use either of before a determiner (my, his, these, the etc.) and a plural noun.

• We ' ve been dating for 6 months and I Haven ' t met either of her parents.
• I Haven ' t read either of these books.
• I don ' t want either of those apples. Does you have one of the are not rotten?

either + of + pronoun

When using either + of + object pronoun (you, us, them), we need the preposition of before N.

• I Don ' t think he's going to invite either of us.
• A:which photo do you prefer? B:i don ' t like either of them
• I think I left my keys and wallet at the office. I don ' t want to lose either of them.

either can also be used alone. It means it doesn ' t matter which alternative. Sometimes it is accompanied by the pronoun "one".

• A:would a coffee or a tea?
• B:either (one). (= I don ' t mind if it ' s coffee or tea, both alternatives is fine)

Either in short responses

Either can used at the end of a negative sentence if you agree with something negative someone else have said. It is similar to meaning TOO and ALSO (which be used in affirmative sentences).

• A:I wasn ' t thirsty. B:i wasn ' t either. (You cannot say "I wasn ' t too")
• A:I ' ve never been to Portugal. B:I Haven ' t either.
• A:I didn ' t go to class yesterday. B:i didn ' t either

See more on So, neither and either as short answers

Pronunciation of either and neither

You'll hear the word either pronounced the different ways:

• /?a?ð?r/(Eye-ther–with a long I sound at the beginning) –british 中文版
• /?i?ð?r/(Ee-ther–with a long E sound at the beginning) –american 中文版

Both forms of pronunciation are correct and supposedly one is British 中文版 and the other American 中文版. However within each country hear both forms used.

The same happens with the pronunciation of the word neither:

• /?na?ð?r/–british 中文版
• /?ni?ð?r/–american 中文版

Both-either-neither 中文版 Grammar