both
both — adjective
1. placed before a plural noun phrase that already has words like 'the', 'these', o
placed before a plural noun phrase that already has words like 'the', 'these', or 'my', to show that the statement is true of those two known people or things together.
Both the doors were locked when Leila reached the clinic.
both + the + plural noun
Both my sisters sing in the station choir every Sunday morning.
both + possessive + plural noun
The dog chewed both our garden gloves during the stormy night.
Both these chairs wobble if guests lean back too far.
At noon, both those windows shone above the bakery.
- the two
close in meaning, but more often names the pair rather than modifying the noun directly.
- each of the two
looks at the members separately, while 'both' keeps them together as one pair.
- neither
means not one and not the other.
- one of the two
refers to only half of the pair.
文法句型
both + the/these/those + plural noun
both + my/our/your/his/her/their + plural noun
用法筆記
Put 'both' before the determiner or possessive, not after it: both the rooms, both my bags, both these cakes. Distinguish from determiner/1, which goes straight before a plural noun with no extra word in between.
常見錯誤
2. showing that something affects, includes, or belongs to the two sides, groups, o
showing that something affects, includes, or belongs to the two sides, groups, or matching parts, not just one of them.
The cold wind made both eyes water on the walk home.
both + body-part noun
After the crash, traffic backed up on both sides of the bridge.
on both sides
The coach thanked both parents after the school match ended.
Paint had peeled from both ends of the wooden bench.
The new rule applies to both teams in Saturday's final.
- each side
splits the pair into separate members, while 'both' keeps the whole pair in view.
- the two ... together
explains the same idea, but is less compact and less natural in normal sentences.
文法句型
both + body-part noun
both + sides/ends/teams/parents
on both sides
at both ends
用法筆記
Common with nouns that name natural pairs or opposite groups, such as eyes, hands, sides, ends, teams, and parents. Distinguish from determiner/1: here the main idea is that a condition or action reaches each side or part.
常見錯誤
both — determiner
1. used directly before a plural noun to mean the two members of a pair, with no on
used directly before a plural noun to mean the two members of a pair, with no one left out.
Both children drew rockets on the wall while Aunt Rosa cooked.
both + plural noun as subject
Both buses stop outside the library after six in winter.
both + transport noun
A loud crash woke both neighbours before dawn.
During lunch, both teams laughed at the referee's muddy shoes.
In July, both markets sell fresh mangoes near the river.
文法句型
both + plural noun
用法筆記
Use this sense only with a plural noun. If the noun phrase already has 'the', 'these', 'my', or another determiner, use adjective/1 instead: both the children, both my shoes.
常見錯誤
both — conjunction
1. used before one item and followed by 'and' before another to show that each of t
used before one item and followed by 'and' before another to show that each of the two is included or true.
Both Ravi and Beatriz forgot the map on the kitchen table.
both + noun phrase + and + noun phrase
The new cafe is both cheap and clean after the repaint.
both + adjective + and + adjective
Both the guidebook and the website warned us about snakes.
On stage, Tomas both sang and played the drum.
The trip was both tiring and exciting for the children.
- as well as
adds another item, but does not stress the pair as evenly as 'both ... and ...'.
- not only ... but also
stronger and more rhetorical; often used for emphasis or surprise.
- either ... or
offers a choice between two items instead of including both.
- neither ... nor
excludes the two items instead of including them.
文法句型
both ... and ...
用法筆記
The two parts after 'both' and 'and' should match in form as far as possible: both tired and hungry, both the film and the book, both sing and dance. When the joined words are the subject, the verb is plural.
常見錯誤
both — pronoun
1. the two people or things already being talked about, treated together rather tha
the two people or things already being talked about, treated together rather than choosing only one.
We invited Mei and Luka, and both came before noon.
both used alone after two named people
The cakes looked dry, but both tasted soft inside.
both referring back to two things
Priya kept two umbrellas by the door, and both were broken.
Of the two nurses on duty, both stayed past midnight.
The twins wanted red shoes, and Grandfather bought both.
- the two
very close in meaning, especially when the pair has just been mentioned.
- both of them
more explicit; often used when the speaker wants extra clarity.
文法句型
both
both of + object pronoun
both of + determiner + plural noun
用法筆記
This sense often appears alone after two things have just been named, or in the pattern 'both of' before pronouns and noun phrases. Distinguish from determiner/1, which must be followed immediately by a noun.