Both
We use both to refer to two things or people together: Both those chairs are occupied, I’m afraid. (The two chairs are occupied.)
Are both your parents going to Chile? (Are your mother and father going to Chile?)
Both with nouns
When we use both before a determiner (e.g. a/an, the, her, his) + noun, both and both of can be used: She knew both my children. (or … both of my children.)
Both her brothers are living in Canada. (or Both of her brothers …)
We can use both before a noun: This button starts both engines at the same time. (or … both of the engines …)
Are both cats female?
Both with pronouns
Pronoun + both
We can use both after a subject pronoun or an object pronoun: We both prefer classical music.
Let’s open them both now.
Both of + object pronoun
When we use both as part of a subject or object which is a pronoun, it may be followed by of + an object pronoun: We both dislike soap operas. (subject pronoun + both) or Bothof usdislike soap operas. (both + of + object pronoun)
She looked at both of us.
We usually use both of + object pronoun after prepositions: He shouted at both of them. (preferred to He shouted at them both.)
That’ll be so nice for both of you. (preferred to That’ll be so nice for you both.)
Both as a pronoun
We can use both on its own as a pronoun: There are two youth hostels in the city. Both are described as expensive, dirty, with poor lighting and poor security.
Applicants for this course must speak French or German, preferably both.
Both: position
If bothrefers to the subject of a clause, we can use it in the normal mid position for adverbs, between the subject and main verb, after a modal verb or the first auxiliary verb, or after be as a main verb: They both wanted to sell the house. (between the subject and the main verb)
They had both been refused entry to the nightclub. (after the first auxiliary or modal verb)
They were both very nice, kind and beautiful. (after be as a main verb)
Not: They both were very nice …
See also:
Adverbs
Both in short answers
We use both on its own in short answers:
A:
Would you like something to drink?
B:
A coffee and a tea, please.
A:
Both?
B:
Yeah, one for me and one for Brenda. She’s joining us in a minute.
A:
Are you working on Monday or Wednesday next week?
B:
Both!
Not: The both.
Both of or neither of in negative clauses
We usually use neither of rather than both of … not in negative clauses: Neither of them can swim. (preferred to Both of them can’t swim.)
Neither of my brothers lives at home any more. (preferred to Both of my brothers don’t live at home any more.)
When a negative verb is used, we use either (of). In informal speaking, we often use a plural verb after either, even though it is a singular word: She didn’t like either dress. (She looked at two dresses.)
A:
Are Yvonne and Lesleybothcoming?
B:
We don’t know ifeitherof them are coming. (or, more formally, … if either of themiscoming.)
See also:
Either
Both … and as a linking expression
We use both … and to emphasise the link between two things. This makes a stronger connection than and alone: Both Britain and France agree on the treaty. (stronger link than Britain and France agree on the treaty.)
She played both hockey and basketball when she was a student. (stronger link than She played hockey and basketball when she was a student.)
See also:
Conjunctions
Both: typical errors
We don’t use both with a negative verb; we use either instead:
There was not a considerable difference in percentages for either sex in terms of having a Bachelor’s degree.
Not: There was not a considerable difference in percentages for both sex. …
When we use the verb be as a main verb, both comes after the verb:
These films are both famous with people of all ages …
Not: These films both are famous …
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