TKG English Learner's Dictionary

both

2 entries: pronoun · determiner

bothpronoun

American /boʊθ/ British /bəʊθ/
very commondefining vocabulary

  1. the two togetherthe two people or things already mentioned, thought of together

    Both stands alone, without a following noun, often before of: both of us, I'll take both. Directly before a noun, both is a determiner, a separate entry.

    Collocations

    phrase both of, both of them

    For translators (sense 1)

    Grammar trap Both takes a plural verb: both are ready, not is.

Usage

Both used alone or with of is a pronoun; directly before a noun, with no of, it is a determiner (both hands), a separate entry. Both with a negative verb is easy to misread. To say that each of the two is not liked, use either or neither: I don't like either of them, I like neither of them.

Common mistakes

Both of they are happy about the news. Both of them are happy about the news.
After both of, the object pronoun (them, us, you) is used, not the subject pronoun they.

See also both (both directly before a noun: both hands)

bothdeterminer

American /boʊθ/ British /bəʊθ/
very commondefining vocabulary

  1. the two togetherused before a plural noun to say that something is true of two people or things, not just one of them

    Both goes directly before a plural noun (both hands), or before the, these, those, or a possessive plus a plural noun (both the boys, both my sisters). Both used alone, without a following noun (both of us, I'll take both), belongs to a separate entry.

    Collocations

    phrase both hands, on both sides, both ways

    Compare each (each looks at the two members one at a time; both treats them together)

Phrases

both ... and

used to join two words or phrases and say that each one is true or included

Both goes before the first word or phrase and and before the second: both funny and kind. The two parts joined this way are usually the same kind of word: two nouns, two adjectives, or two verbs.

Usage

A negative verb with both does not mean the same as neither: I didn't visit both museums says I skipped at least one, but not necessarily both; I visited neither museum says I skipped both. Both, used alone without a noun, is a separate entry.

Common mistakes

Both my brother speak French. Both my brothers speak French.
Both is followed by a plural noun, not a singular one.
Both the two brothers are doctors. Both brothers are doctors.
Both already means two, so it is not usually used together with the two.

See also each; both (both used alone, without a following noun: I'll take both)

For translators

Meaning across languages Many languages use the ordinary word for two where English distinguishes both (the two together) from the two; both always implies exactly two, never more.
Grammar trap Both is followed directly by a plural noun, or by the, these, those, or a possessive plus a plural noun.