Both, either, neither: Quantifiers
Grammar / B1 Grammar lessons and exercises \ Both, either, neither: Quantifiers
Both, Either, Neither: Quantifiers
Using "both", "either", and "neither" to talk about two things or people
🟦Basic Meaning
We use both, either, and neither to talk about two things or people.
- ✅ Both = A and B (the two things or people)
- ✅ Either = A or B (one thing/person or the other)
- ✅ Neither = not A and not B (zero out of two)
🟩Both / Either / Neither + Noun
We can use both/either/neither + noun.
- ✅ I like both cars.
- ✅ You can park on either side of the street.
- ✅ Neither parent was at the meeting.
🔍 Note: both + plural noun; either/neither + singular noun.
🟪Both (of) / Either of / Neither of
We can use both (of) / either of / neither of + the/these/my/her/Peter’s/etc. + noun.
- ✅ Both (of) your parents are really nice.
- ✅ Either of those two dates is perfect for the wedding. (= We can choose one or the other)
- ✅ Neither of the tennis players had a great game.
🔍 Note: We don’t need of after both.
- ✅ Both of your parents are really nice. = Both your parents are really nice.
We can also use both of / either of / neither of + us/you/them.
- ✅ Both of them did very well in the exam.
- ✅ Can either of you give me a coin for the vending machine?
- ✅ Neither of us knows the truth.
🟨Both / Either / Neither (Without a Noun)
We can use both/either/neither alone, without a noun.
- ✅ A: Do you speak French or Spanish? B: I speak both.
- ✅ A: Do you want tea or coffee? B: Either. I don’t mind.
- ✅ A: Which car do you prefer? B: Neither. I think both of them are horrible.
🟦Both … and … / Either … or … / Neither … nor …
We use these structures to mention the two things or people we’re talking about.
- ✅ She ate both the rice and the meat.
- ✅ Both Susan and Peter helped me with my report.
- ✅ You need to speak one foreign language, either Spanish or French.
- ✅ You can either wait here or go home.
- ✅ I like neither maths nor physics.
- ✅ He neither called nor texted.
🟥Remember This!
- ✅ Use either and neither with a singular verb.
→ Either candidate is good.
→ Neither of the candidates is good. - ✅ Not either = neither.
→ I don’t like either of the options. = I like neither of the options. - ✅ Neither is negative → use with positive verbs.
❌ Neither John nor Paula can’t come.
✅ Neither John nor Paula can come. - ✅ Use either (not both or neither) in negative sentences.
❌ I didn’t like both/neither of the pictures.
✅ I didn’t like either of the pictures.