Both, either, neither

  • B1 · Intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min

both, either and neither for two people or things: Both animals eat almost anything, but neither of them should get food from people. From black bears and raccoons, two clever neighbors, to a guessing game with pairs.

Teach this lessonDownload PDF

Free, no card needed. The PDF has every slide, the homework and an answer key.

botheitherneither

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Reading: two clever neighborsReading comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find both, either and neitherGrammar exercise
  6. 6both, either, neitherGrammar rule
  7. 7both, either or neither?Grammar exercise
  8. 8Two summer campsGrammar exercise
  9. 9Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  10. 10Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  12. 12Guess the pairSpeaking practice
  13. 13About youGrammar exercise
  14. 14Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: two used carsGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: which word fits?Grammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: build the sentencesGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: two of a kindDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. Have you ever seen a wild animal in a town or a city? What was it doing?
  2. Which animals do you think are the cleverest? Why?
  3. Do you have two of something, like two bikes or two phones? Do you use both of them?

Grammar rule

both, either, neither

For two people or things

Meaning+ a nounVerbExample
boththe two togethera plural nounpluralBoth trains stop here.
eitherone or the other: it doesn't matter whicha singular nounsingularEither day is good for me.
neithernot one and not the othera singular nounsingularNeither train was on time.

With of, and after a pronoun

  • both (of) + the / my… + a plural noun: both my uncles = both of my uncles. both of + us / you / them.
  • either of / neither of + the / my… + a plural noun, or us / you / them: neither of my uncles, either of them. In writing, the verb is singular: Neither of them is here.
  • After a pronoun: We both like jazz. After be and helping verbs: They're both tired. We can both swim.

not … either = neither

I haven't seen either of those movies. = I've seen neither of them. (The first one is more common in conversation.)

Short answers

"The green shirt or the gray one?" "Both! I'll take two." / "Either. I don't mind." / "Neither. I don't like them."

Watch out

  • neither is already negative: Neither of them doesn't smoke. → Neither of them smokes.
  • With a negative verb, don't use both: Both of them don't smoke. → Neither of them smokes.
  • both of uncles, the both uncles → both uncles, both of the uncles
  • These words are for two. For three or more, use all, every or each: all my cousins, each of the five rooms.

Teach it live with video and a whiteboard, or print it: the PDF has every slide, the homework and the answers.

Teach this lesson
← Unit 9All, every, each