Thursday, 1 July 2010

both (of) with nouns and pronouns, verbs and both...and...

A. both (of) with nouns and pronouns


1 We can put both (of) before nouns and pronouns.
Before a noun with a determiner (for example: the, my, these), both and both of are both possible.

  • Both (of) my parents like riding

  • She s eaten both (of) the chops.


We can also use both without a determiner.

  • She's eaten both chops. ( = ... both of the chops.)


Only both of is possible before a personal pronoun (us, you, them).

  • Both of them can come tomorrow.

  • Mary sends her love to both of us


2 We can put both after object pronouns.

  • I've invited them both.

  • Mary sends us both her love.

  • I've made you both something to eat.


3 Note: we do not put the before both.

  • both children(NOT the both children)


B. both with verbs


Both can go with a verb, in 'mid-position', like some adverbs.

1

auxiliary verb + both
am/are/is/was/were + both




  • We can both swim.

  • They have both finished.

  • We are both tired.


2.

both + other verb




  • My parents both like travelling.

  • You both look tired.


C. both.....and...


both + adjective + and + adjective
both +
noun + and + noun
both + clause + and + clause


We usually put the same kind of words after both and and.

  • She's both pretty and clever (adjectives)

  • I spoke to both the Director and his secretary (nouns) (NOT / both spoke to the Director and his secretary )

  • She both plays the piano ana sings (verbs) (NOT She both plays the piano and she sings ) (verb, clause)

No comments:

Post a Comment