• Mary has two children. Both are married. (Both = the two children)
• Would you like tea or coffee? You can have either. ( Either = tea or coffee)
• A: Do you want to go to the cinema or the theatre?

B: Neither. I want to stay at home. (Neither = not the cinema or the theatre)

So sánh giữa either và neither:

• A: Would you like tea or coffee?

Either. I don’t mind. (= tea or coffee)

I don’t want either. (not “I don’t want neither”)

B: Neither. (= not tea or coffee)

Both/ either/ neither + Noun

Both + plural: Ex: both windows/ books/ children, etc.

Either/ Neither + singular: Ex: either/ neither window/book/child, etc

• Last year I went to Paris and Rome. I like both cities very much.
• First I worked in an office, and later in a shop. Neither job was very interesting.
• There are two ways from here to the station. You can go either way.

Both of…/ either of…/ neither of…

• Neither of my parents is English.
• I haven’t read either of these books.

Bạn có thể nói both (of) the …/both (of) those…/both (of) my …etc

• I like both of those pictures. Or I like both those pictures.
• Both of Ann’s sisters are married. Or Both Ann’s sisters are married.

Both of them/ Neither of us…

• Ann has got two sisters. Both of them are married.
• Tom and I didn’t eat anything. Neither of us was hungry.
• Who are those two people? I don’t know either of them.

Exercises: Put in both/ either/ neither. Use “of” where necessary.

1. Last year I went to Paris and Rome. I liked …cities very much.

2. There were two pictures on the wall. I didn’t like … them

3. It was a good football match. ….teams played well.

4. It wasn’t a good football match. ….teams played well.

5. “Is your friend English or American?” “ ………..She’s Australian”.

6. I invited Diana and Mike to the party but ……..them came.

7. “Which jacket do you prefer, this one or that one?” “I don’t like ………them.”

8. Paula and I didn’t know the time because …….us had a watch.

9. We went away for two days but the weather wasn’t good. It rained on …days.

10. Ann has got two sisters and a brother. …….sisters are married.

Keys:

1. both

2. either of

3. Both

4. Neither

5. Neither

6. neither of

7. either of

8. neither of

9. both

10. both

(Cẩm Nhung - Global Education, Sưu tầm - Nguyễn My)