all + plural noun / all of + object pronounUse all with plural nouns for a complete group. Use all of before object pronouns.
All, Both, Neither, Either
B1Use all for a whole group, both for two together, neither for zero of two, and either for one of two choices.
What you'll learn
- Choose all for the whole group.
- Use both when two items are included.
- Use neither when no item in the pair is true.
- Use either for one of two possible options.
- Add of before us, them, these, and those.
- Match the verb form to the meaning after these words.
Structure
both + plural noun / both of + object pronounUse both only for two items together. Use both of before object pronouns.
neither + singular noun / neither of + object pronounNeither already means not this one and not the other one. Do not add another negative.
either + singular noun / either of + object pronounEither means one or the other of two. Use it for a pair, not for larger groups.
Build a sentence
Word
Target
Bothofthem
Both of them are here.
Use both of them, not both them.
When to use
Whole group
Use all when every member of the group is included. All guests are here.
Two included
Use both when the statement is true for item one and item two. Both doors are open.
Two excluded
Use neither when the statement is true for zero items in the pair. Neither answer is correct.
One of two
Use either when one option from a pair is possible or acceptable. You can sit in either chair.
Markers
allbothneithereitherall ofboth ofneither ofeither of
Common mistakes
Wrong
Both them are ready.
Correct
Both of them are ready.
Before an object pronoun, add of: both of them, all of us, neither of those.
Wrong
Neither of the answers isn't correct.
Correct
Neither of the answers is correct.
Neither is already negative, so do not add another negative word.
Wrong
Neither answer are correct.
Correct
Neither answer is correct.
With neither + singular noun, use a singular verb.
Wrong
Both options is fine.
Correct
Both options are fine.
Both refers to two items together, so use a plural verb.
Wrong
All parents came to the meeting.
Correct
Both parents came to the meeting.
When the group is exactly two, both is the natural choice.
Common misconceptions
❝ I need not after neither because neither is just a chooser word. ❞
Neither already carries the negative meaning. Say Neither answer is correct, not Neither answer is not correct.
❝ I can drop of before them, us, these, and those. ❞
Keep of before object pronouns and before these, those, the, or a possessive: both of them, neither of these, all of my friends.
Skills in this rule (7)
USE_ALL_FOR_THE_WHOLE_GROUPw4Use all for the whole group
Use all when every person or thing in a group is included. The group can be two, three, or more.
USE_BOTH_FOR_TWOw5Use both when two people or things are included
Use both for a pair when the answer is yes for item one and item two. Do not use it for groups larger than two.
USE_NEITHER_FOR_NOT_ONE_AND_NOT_THE_OTHERw5Use neither when no item in a pair is true
Use neither for two items when the answer is no for the first and no for the second. It already has a negative meaning.
USE_EITHER_FOR_ONE_OF_TWOw5Use either for one of two options
Use either when one of the two options is possible, acceptable, or true. It talks about a choice inside a pair.
USE_OF_BEFORE_OBJECT_PRONOUNS_AND_THESE_THOSEw5Use of before us, them, these, and those
Say all of us, both of them, neither of these, either of those. Keep of before object pronouns and before these, those, the, or a possessive.
CHOOSE_SINGULAR_OR_PLURAL_VERB_AFTER_THESE_WORDSw4Choose the verb form after all, both, neither, and either
Use plural verbs after all and both in normal plural meanings. With neither and either before a singular noun, use a singular verb.
USE_THESE_WORDS_AS_SHORT_ANSWERSw3Use all, both, neither, and either as short references
These words can stand alone when the context is clear: Both are fine. Neither works. Either is okay.