Both, either, neither, all, none

ADJECTIVES OR PRONOUNS
1. If we have two people or things in mind, we use both, neither, either
    a) both means 'one and the other'. It takes a plural verb.

Both of my parents like reading.

Both parents went to the meeting.

Both of them are teachers.

Both banks of the river were very dirty.

She has two children. Both are very clever.

They both live in a huge house.

I like them both/both of them.

     b) neither means 'not one and not the other'. It takes an affirmative singular verb (formal) or a plural verb.

Neither of them helped the old lady.

Neither of them drinks coffee. 

Which one did you buy? Neither

     c) either means 'anyone of two'. It takes a negative verb.

'Did you like his two books?' 'No, I didn't like either (of them)'

 He didn’t sing either of the songs.

2. If we have more than two, we use none and all. 

    a) None can be used with an uncountable and countable (plural) nouns 

None of this farming land belongs to them

‘Which of this farming land belongs to them?’ ‘None (of it)

 'Which of these books have you read?' 'None (of them)     

None of these ballpoint pens work(s).

They didn’t buy any of the vases.

All of them took the pedestrian crossing.

     b) With All we use a singular verb if they come before uncountable nouns; and a plural verb, before plural nouns.

All (of) the money is on the table.

All (of) the flowers are dying.

All of the children love pineapples.

All the children have got hepatitis.

All children need to play.

All of them love their mother country. 

They all/All of them killed time reading magazines. 

'Which miniskirts do you like best?’    ‘I like them all/all of them.

CONJUNCTIONS

1. Both...and

He has both the time and the money to play golf.

She can both swim and dive.

They were both clever and beautiful. 

2. Either ... or 

We can drink either tea or coffee. (We can choose tea or coffee)

3. Neither...nor

We can drink neither tea nor coffee. (We won't drink coffee or tea)

ACTIVITIES 

Exercises (agendaweb) 

Choose the correct option 

Gap-fill Exercise