Both, either, neither, all and none
Talking about two things (both, either, neither) or more than two (all, none): neither of them knows, none of us came.
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For two people or things, we use both (the two together), either (one or the other) and neither (not one and not the other). For three or more, we use all and none. With neither and none, the verb is positive: the negative is already in the word.
Two or more than two
Meaning | Two | Three or more |
|---|---|---|
every one | both | all |
one, no matter which | either | any |
not one | neither | none |
- I've got two sisters. Both of them live in Leeds.
- I've got four cousins. All of them live in Leeds.
- Incorrect: I've got two brothers, and all of them are doctors.
- Correct: I've got two brothers, and both of them are doctors.For two people, use both.
- Incorrect: I invited three friends, but neither of them could come.
- Correct: I invited three friends, but none of them could come.Neither is for two. For three or more, use none.
Both, either, neither + a noun
Before a noun, both takes a plural noun. Either and neither take a singular noun.
- Both restaurants are good.
- You can sit at either end of the table.
- Neither answer is correct.
- Incorrect: Neither answers is correct.
- Correct: Neither answer is correct.Neither + a noun takes the singular.
Don't put the before both: say both books or both the books.
Of + the, my, them
Before the, my, these, use of with either, neither and none (with both and all it is optional, see below). Before a pronoun (us, you, them), of is always needed: both of us, not both us.
- Both of my parents are teachers.
- Have either of you seen my keys?
- None of us knew the answer.
- All of them were late.
With a noun, you can leave out of after both and all: both my parents, all the students.
Neither and none: no second negative
Neither and none already mean "not". Don't add not or don't to the verb.
- Incorrect: Neither of them don't know the answer.
- Correct: Neither of them knows the answer.Neither already has the negative, so the verb is positive.
- Incorrect: None of my friends didn't come to the party.
- Correct: None of my friends came to the party.
After neither of and none of, a singular verb is the careful choice in writing (neither of them knows). In speech a plural verb is also common (neither of them know).
Not ... either
With a negative verb, use either, not neither. The meaning is the same as neither with a positive verb.
- I don't like either of them. = I like neither of them.
- Incorrect: I don't want neither of these jackets.
- Correct: I don't want either of these jackets.The verb is already negative, so use either.
Either ... or, neither ... nor, both ... and
These pairs join two words or phrases.
- You can pay either by card or in cash.
- Neither my brother nor my sister speaks German.
- The flat is both cheap and close to the station.
Both and all after the subject
Both and all can also come after the subject: before the main verb, after be, or after the first helping verb.
- We both work from home.
- They are all very tired.
- The guests have all gone home.
Short answers
Either and neither can stand alone as an answer.
- "Tea or coffee?" "Either. I don't mind."
- "Which one do you like?" "Neither, to be honest."
Practise this rule
Related rules
Where this rule sits
All B1 rulesPronouns and determiners: all rules