[English] Both, either, and neither

두 개의 물건 혹은 두 사람에 대해서 말할 때 우리는 both / either / neither를 쓴다. We use both/either/neither to talk about two things or people.

both는 둘 다, either는 둘 중 하나, neither (not + either)로 둘 다 아닌 것을 나타낸다.

  • Rosemary has two children. Both are married. (both = the two children)
  • Would you like tea or coffee? You can have either. (either = tea or coffee)
  • A: Do you want to go to the movies or the theater?
    B: Neither. I want to stay home. (neither = not the movies or the theater)

either와 neither를 비교해보자.

“Would you like tea or coffee?”

  • Either. It doesn’t matter.” (= tea or coffee)
  • I don’t want either.” (not I don’t want neither)
  • Neither.” (= not tea or coffee)

Both/either/neither + noun

both는 뒤에 복수형이 온다. both + plural: both windows / books / children, etc.
either나 neither는 뒤에 단수형이 온다. either / neither + singular: either / neither + window / book / child, etc.

  • Last year I went to Miami and Seattle. I liked both cities very much.
  • First I worked in an office, and then in a store. Neither job was very interesting.
  • There are two ways to get to the airport. You can go either way.

both of … / either of … / neither of …

both / either / neither + of + the / these/those / my/your/Amy’s, etc.

  • Neither of my parents is Canadian.
  • I haven’t read either of these books.

both (of) the … / both (of) those … / both (of) my … 등 처럼 of 없이 말할 수 있다. You can say both (of) the … / both (of) those … / both (of) my …, etc. (with or without of).

  • I like both of those pictures. or I like both those pictures.
  • Both of Amy’s sisters are married. or Both Amy’s sisters are married.

both of them / neither of us, etc.

both / either / neither + of + them / us / you

  • Tiffany has two sisters. Both of them are married.
  • Tom and I didn’t eat anything. Neither of us was hungry.
  • Who are those two people? I don’t know either of them.