Both:
With nouns preceded by determiners, 'both' and 'both of' occur:
"We have, in both those markets, spent a lot The problem is both of those statements are of time and effort on public relations. true, aren’t they?"
#Advanced_Grammar_Points
With nouns preceded by determiners, 'both' and 'both of' occur:
"We have, in both those markets, spent a lot The problem is both of those statements are of time and effort on public relations. true, aren’t they?"
#Advanced_Grammar_Points
"This year we’ve had both your nieces here, And what changes have you had to make to haven’t we? both of your lives in order to accommodate your baby?"
However, determiners are often omitted after 'both':
" I also told both neighbours on both sides that I was going to be away for that fortnight and could they keep an eye out in the day because there wouldn’t be
anyone in during the daytime."
" I also told both neighbours on both sides that I was going to be away for that fortnight and could they keep an eye out in the day because there wouldn’t be
anyone in during the daytime."
When 'both' is part of a subject or object which has a pronoun head, it may be followed by of + an object pronoun. Alternatively, both may postmodify a subject
pronoun or an object pronoun:
pronoun or an object pronoun:
both of + pronoun pronoun + both:
subject : "Both of them were sitting there looking up at it like that."
object: "Do you two want a lift? I can take both of you?"
subject : "Both of them were sitting there looking up at it like that."
object: "Do you two want a lift? I can take both of you?"
pronoun + both:
Subject: " We both play the violin."
Object: "Which do you prefer? Cos I like them both."
Subject: " We both play the violin."
Object: "Which do you prefer? Cos I like them both."
(The both of + object pronoun) construction is generally preferred after prepositions:
"I think there’s different information on both of them."
(preferred to: … different information on them both)
"I think there’s different information on both of them."
(preferred to: … different information on them both)
(The object pronoun + both) construction is not used:
1. where a pronoun is the complement:
A: There’s nothing new happening.
B: No.
C: You know.
A: And that’s both of you?
(And that’s you both?)❌
C: Yes.
1. where a pronoun is the complement:
A: There’s nothing new happening.
B: No.
C: You know.
A: And that’s both of you?
(And that’s you both?)❌
C: Yes.
2. in elliptical short answers:
A: Which one was that? Is that the eldest?
B: Both of them.
(Them both.)❌
A: They both came over did they?
B: Yeah.
A: Which one was that? Is that the eldest?
B: Both of them.
(Them both.)❌
A: They both came over did they?
B: Yeah.
3. where there is a pronoun phrase in apposition:
Were your mum and dad Irish, both of them?
(Were your mum and dad Irish, them both?)❌
Were your mum and dad Irish, both of them?
(Were your mum and dad Irish, them both?)❌
In informal speech, 'the' may precede both of + pronoun:
"Oh, look, I don’t know. You decide, the both of you."
If 'both' refers to the subject of a clause, it may be used in the normal mid position:
"Oh, look, I don’t know. You decide, the both of you."
If 'both' refers to the subject of a clause, it may be used in the normal mid position:
"We both decided he was going to be a ballet dancer."
"Shall I sit in between so you can both look at the story together?"
"These are both £79"
"Shall I sit in between so you can both look at the story together?"
"These are both £79"
'Both' may be used alone in short questions and answers. 'The both' is not used:
A: Do you want rice, Bob, or noodles?
B: Both.
(The both.)❌
'Neither' of is usually preferred to 'both … not' in negative clauses:
A: Do you want rice, Bob, or noodles?
B: Both.
(The both.)❌
'Neither' of is usually preferred to 'both … not' in negative clauses:
"Neither of them can walk very far."
(preferred to: Both of them can’t walk very far.)
(preferred to: Both of them can’t walk very far.)
"Both … and' is used to emphasise the link between parallel constructions, and is stronger than simple coordination with 'and':
"Knowing both Pat and Fran Powell, I would be careful if I were you."
(Knowing both Pat and knowing Fran Powell, I would …)❌
"Knowing both Pat and Fran Powell, I would be careful if I were you."
(Knowing both Pat and knowing Fran Powell, I would …)❌
Loading suggestions...