PRONOUNS

BOTH, ALL, EITHER, NEITHER, EACH, EVERY

1. Both is used to talk about two people or things taken together. It can be used with or without of or a determiner before a noun, but it is always used with of before an object pronoun.

e.g. Both children go to the same school.

Both my children ...

Both the children...

Both of my children...

Both of them...

Both, as well as all, is used before a notional but after an auxiliary verb.

e.g. They are both married and with children.

My parents both work in education.

When choosing between two objects, either is used. In negative sentences, neither (of) is used instead of both.

e.g. I don't care which dress you put on - either will do.

Neither of my friends is here.

2. Each is used for any number of people or things taken separately, one at a time.

e.g. Each person in turn went to see the doctor.

Each can precede a singular noun or an of-phrase with a plural noun or pronoun, but the verb is always singular.

e.g. Each answer is correct.

Each of us sees the world differently.

When each is used after a plural noun or pronoun, the verb is plural.

e.g. They each want to do something different.

You have each been told beforehand.

Every is used to talk about a whole group, it is closer to all. It is used with words and expressions like almost, practically, nearly, without exception, etc.

Every is followed by a singular noun and a singular verb, except for some set phrases denoting intervals {e.g. every six days).

e.g. He gave every patient the same medicine.

She has lost nearly every friend she had.

Every one of the children was crying.

Note some set expressions with every: every single day, every other day. every now and then.

4. All refers to a group of three or more. It is used before a noun or pronoun to mean "everybody" or "everything".

e.g. All children love toys.

All (of) the people were tired.

Compare: Everybody was tired.

All of us send you our love.

I 've got no money. I 've spent all of it.

All is used without a noun or pronoun if it is followed by a clause.

e.g. All that matters is to be happy.

5. Note the difference in using the words all and whole to mean "вся, всё, все".

a) We use the whole of with proper names:

e.g. the whole of London

All is used when the people, not the territory is meant:

e.g. All London went out to enjoy the sight.

Otherwise, the whole + noun is used:

e.g. The whole town came under water during the flood.

b) All is used most often with uncountable and plural nouns:

e.g. all the food, all the museums.

Whole is used with singular countable nouns:

e.g. a whole concert, the whole orchestra.

EXERCISES

Exercise 1

A. Supply 'both (the) or 'all (the). There may be more than one possibility.

a. ___ tyres on my bicycle are flat.

b. ___ people are mortal. ,

с salt in this bag is damp,

d. ___ drinking water must be pure.

e. ___ windows in the house are open.

f. addresses in this list are out of date.

g. twins want to go to the party.

h. cars need regular servicing.

i. front legs of this chair are shaky.

j. earth and moon go round the sun.

B. Rewrite the sentences so that "both" and "all" are before or after the verbs.

a. All the customers are complaining.

b. Both the patients had appointments at 10. с Both the directors have retired.

d. Both our secretaries can speak French.

e. All the customers should have complained.

f. Both the boys had haircuts.

g. All the pupils may leave now.

h. All the students wrote good essays

i. All our employees work too hard.

j. All the children must go home early

k. All the children here learn German.

С Rewrite the sentences using "both of" and "all of.

a. We all took taxis.

b. They both turned left.

c. I know you both.

d. She is interested in them both.

e. It all went bad.

f. She's concerned about us all.

g. You all filled in the forms, didn't you?