Both / both of neither / neither of either / either of We use both/neither/ehher for two things. You can use these words with a noun (both books, neither book etc.). For example, you are talking about going out to eat this evening. There are two restaurants where you can go. You say: • Both restaurants are very good, {not 'the both restaurants') • Neither restaurant is expensive. • We can go to either restaurant. I don't mind, (either = one or the other, it doesn't matter which one) Both of... / neither of... / either of... When you use both/neither/either + of, you always need the... / these/those... / my/your/his/ Tom's... (etc.). You cannot say 'both of restaurants'. You have to say 'both of the restaurants', 'both of those restaurants' etc.: • Both of these restaurants are very good. • Neither of the restaurants we went to was (or were) expensive. • I haven't been to either of those restaurants. (= 1 haven't been to one or the other) You don't need of after both. So you can say: • Both my parents are from London, or Both of my parents... You can use both of / neither of / either of + us/you/them: • (talking to two people) Can either of you speak Spanish? • I asked two people the way to the station but neither of them knew. You must say 'both of before us/you/them (of is necessary): • Both of us were very tired, {not 'Both us were...') After neither of... a singular or a plural verb is possible: • Neither of the children wants {or want) to go to bed. You can also use both/neither/either alone: • I couldn't decide which of the two shirts to buy. I liked both, {or I liked both of them.) » 'Is your friend British or American?' 'Neither. She's Australian.' • 'Do you want tea or coffee?' 'Either. I don't mind.' You can say: both...and...: • Both Ann and Tom were late. 0 I was both tired and hungry when I arrived home. neither...nor...: o Neither Liz nor Robin came to the party. • She said she would contact me but she neither wrote nor phoned. either...or...: o I'm not sure where he's from. He's either Spanish or Italian. • Either you apologise or I'll never speak to you again. Compare either/neither/both {two things) and any/none/all {more than two): • There are two good hotels in the town. • There are many good hotels in the town. You can stay at either of them. You can stay at any of them. • We tried two hotels. Neither of them had • We tried a lot of hotels. None of diem any rooms. / Both of them were full. had any rooms. / All of them were full. Neither do I /1 don't either — IWHUiH Both of whom / neither of which 1 ih.'iwwji Both -» ir of aks, its t matter his/ irants', jf them. honed. he town. f them :re full. UNIT 109C EXERCISES 88.1 Complete the sentences with both/neither/either. 1 'Do you want tea or coffee?' \.. Either,... I really don't mind.' 2 'What day is it today - the 18th or the 19th?' '................................. It's the 20th.' 3 'There are two sandwiches here. Do you mind which I take?' 'No, take..............................' 4 A: Where did you go for your holidays - Scotland or Ireland? B: We went to................................. A week in Scotland and a week in Ireland. 5 'When shall I phone you, morning or afternoon?' '................................. I'll be in all day.' 6 'Where's Kate? Is she at work or at home?' '................................. She's away on holiday.' 88.2 Complete the sentences with both/neither/either. Use of where necessary. 1 ...£p£h.t?.f)... my parents are from London. 2 To get to the town centre, you can go along the footpath by the river or you can go along the road. You can go...................................................way. 3 I tried twice to phone George but...................................................times he was out. 4 ............................................Tom's parents is English. His father is Polish and his mother is Italian. 5 I saw an accident this morning. One car drove into the back of another. Fortunately ....................................driver was injured but....................................cars were quite badly damaged. 6 I've got two sisters and a brother. My brother is working but...................................................my sisters are still at school. 88.3 Complete the sentences with both/neither/either of us/them. 1 I asked two people the way to the station but....neither of them, could help me. 2 I was invited to two parties last week but I didn't go to.................................................... 3 There were two windows in the room. It was very warm, so I opened............................................. 4 Sarah and I play tennis together regularly but...................................................can play very well. 5 I tried two bookshops for the book I wanted but...................................................had it. 88.4 Write sentences with both...and... / neither...nor... / either...or... . 1 Tom was late. So was Ann.....Both..Tom and Ann were (ate,... 2 She didn't write and she didn't phone. . Shenather.^xpte nor phoned.. 3 Jim is on holiday and so is Carol. Both................................................................................................... 4 George doesn't smoke and he doesn't drink.......................................................................................... 5 Jim hasn't got a car. Carol hasn't got a car either............................................................................... 6 It was a very boring film. It was very long too. The film.................................................................. 7 Is that man's name Richard? Or is it Robert? It's one of the two. That man's name................................................................................................................................................ 8 I haven't got time to go on holiday. And I haven't got the money. I've got................................................................................................................................................................... 9 We can leave today or we can leave tomorrow - whichever you prefer. We........................................................................................................................................................................... 88.5 Complete the sentences with neither/either/none/any. 1 We tried a lot of hotels but ...none... of them had any rooms. 2 I took two books with me on holiday but I didn't read................................of them. 3 I took five books with me on holiday but I didn't read................................of them. 4 There are a few shops at the end of the street but................................of them sell newspapers. 5 You can phone me at................................time during the evening. I'm always at home. 6 I can meet you on the 6th or 7th. Would.............................of those days be convenient for you? 7 John and I couldn't get into the house because................................of us had a key. 8 There were a few letters this morning but................................of them were for me. UNIT 88 177