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The use of BOTH and ALL

Both / Both the: to refer to two particular people or things (plural countable nouns)

- Both / both of the children are in the bed.


- Both/ both the cars are fast.

All / All the:

All + noun: to refer to things in general

- All children like to play. (countable)


- All advice is useless (uncountable)

All of: to refer to particular people or things.

- All the children in our street like to play


- All the advice you gave me was useless.

BOTH and ALL word order with verbs


They have 3 basic positions in affirmative sentences.

A. With the verb TO – BE: After the verb


- The girls are both ready = Both girls/ both the girls are ready.
- The girls are all ready. = All the girls are ready.

B. With Auxiliary verbs. After the auxiliary


- The girls can both speak English = Both/ both the girls can speak English.
- The committee should all have = all the committee should have resigned.

C. Main verbs: Before the verb

- The girls both left early = both / Both the girls left early

- The girls all left early = all the girls left early
None of and Neither of
1. None of is the negative of All the
- All the girls left early = none of the girls left early

2. Neither of is the negative of Both the


- Both the girls left early = neither of the girls left early.

Neither/nor are used in negative sentences meaning, not this one and not the other.
Neather … nor:

She neather smokes nor drinks


Neither coffee nor tea."
"I'm sorry but neither size 6 nor 7 are available."

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