Quantifiers Expansion: all, both, either, neither, none

Quantifiers help us talk about the amount or number of people or things.
In this lesson, you will learn how to use:

• all
• both
• either
• neither
• none

These words help us talk about groups, choices, and negative ideas.

1. Using “all”

We use all to mean every person or thing in a group.

Structure

• all + plural noun
• all + determiner + noun
• all + of + determiner + noun

Examples:

• All students must take the test.
• All of the lights are on.
• All my friends live nearby.
• All the students passed. / All of the students passed.

Use of before a determiner if you choose the all of form, but do not use it before a noun with no determiner: all students, not all of students. Before a pronoun, of is required: all of us, not all us.

With uncountable nouns, use a singular verb: All the information is useful. Common fixed expressions are all day, all year, and all the time.

With Pronouns

Structure:

• all of + object pronoun

Examples:

• All of us enjoyed the trip.
• All of them were tired.

We can also place all after the subject pronoun:

• We all enjoyed the trip.
• They were all tired.

All, Every, and Whole

Use all with plural or uncountable nouns: “All students passed.” Use every with a singular countable noun when you think about each member: “Every student passed.” Use the whole with one complete thing or period: “I studied the whole day.”

2. Using “both”

We use both for two people or things together.

Structure

• both + plural noun
• both + the/my/these/those + plural noun
• both of + the/my/these/those + plural noun
• both of + us/you/them

Examples:

• Both students passed the exam.
• Both my parents work here.
• Both of my parents work here.
• Both of them are friendly.

Both...and

Use both...and to join two people, things, or ideas. Keep the two parts parallel:

• “Both Maya and Ben are coming.”
• “She is both kind and patient.”
• “The course teaches both speaking and writing.”

3. Position of “All” and “Both” with Verbs

When all or both comes in the middle of a sentence, its position depends on the verb.

Verb type	Position	“All” example	“Both” example
main verb (not be)	before the main verb	“We all enjoyed the trip.”	“They both work here.”
be as the main verb	after be	“They are all tired.”	“We are both ready.”
auxiliary or modal + main verb	after the first auxiliary/modal	“They have all arrived.”	“We can both come.”

4. Using “either”

We use either for two options: (1) one or the other (you choose one), or (2) it doesn’t matter which one (both are acceptable).

Structure

• either + singular noun
• either of + the/these/those/my + plural noun
• either of + us/you/them

Examples:

• You can take either bus.
• Either answer is correct.
• Either of them can help you.
• Either day is fine.

Verb Agreement with Either and Neither

After either, we usually use a singular verb.

Examples:

• Either option is fine.
• Either of the restaurants is good.

Formal writing usually prefers a singular verb after either/neither of + plural noun: Neither of them is coming. In everyday speech, plural agreement is also common: Neither of them are coming.

The same guidance applies to neither of + plural noun in section 5.

“Either...or”

Use either...or to join two alternatives. Keep the grammatical form after either and or parallel.

• “We can meet either on Monday or on Tuesday.”
• “You can either call me or send me a message.”
• “Either Maya or Ben is bringing the keys.”

When either...or joins two subjects, the verb usually agrees with the subject nearest to it: Either Ben or his parents are bringing the keys. Compare: Either his parents or Ben is bringing the keys.

Negative Agreement: Either and Neither

As an adverb, either means “also” in a negative sentence: “I don’t like tea.” / “I don’t like coffee either.”

To agree with a negative statement, use either at the end or neither with inversion: “I don’t like it either.” / “Neither do I.” Informally, you can also say “Me neither.” Compare positive agreement: “So do I.” / “So does he.”

5. Using “neither”

We use neither to mean not one and not the other.

Structure

• neither + singular noun
• neither of + the/these/those/my + plural noun
• neither of + us/you/them

Examples:

• Neither answer is correct.
• Neither student understood the question.
• Neither of them came to class.
• I don’t want either option. / Neither option is suitable.

Verb Agreement

Use a singular verb after neither + singular noun: Neither option works. For neither of + plural noun, see the verb-agreement guidance in section 4.

“Neither...nor”

Use neither...nor to join two negative alternatives. Do not add another negative word such as not.

• “Neither Maya nor Ben has the keys.”
• “The hotel is neither cheap nor comfortable.”
• “She neither called nor wrote.”

When neither...nor joins two subjects, the verb usually agrees with the subject nearest to it: Neither Ben nor his parents are bringing the keys. Compare: Neither his parents nor Ben is bringing the keys.

6. Using “none”

We use none to mean zero people or things.

Structure

• none (used alone when the noun is clear)
• none of + determiner/pronoun

Examples:

• None of the students failed.
• None of my friends live here.
• None of them answered.
• “How much money is left?” — “None.”

Use none of + determiner/pronoun before a named group: none of the students, not none of students or none students.

Verb Agreement

With uncountable nouns, use a singular verb:

• None of the money is missing.

With plural nouns, plural is common:

• Everyday speech: “None of the students are ready.”
• More formal writing: “None of the students is ready.”

Both forms are accepted. The singular treats none as “not one”; the plural agrees with the plural noun and is especially common in speech.

7. Compare the Difference

Word	Group size	Meaning	Example
both	two	the two together	Both restaurants are good.
either	two	one of two	Either restaurant is fine.
neither	two	not one of two	Neither student passed.
none	three or more	not one of three or more	None of the students passed.
not all	any group	some, but not every one	Not all students passed.

8. Easy Way to Remember

• all → every person/thing
• both → two together
• either → one of two
• neither → not one of two
• none → zero
• all / every / the whole → all members, each member, or one complete thing or period
• not all → some, but not every one

Use all for every member of a group, both/either/neither for two choices, and none for zero people or things. Use either...or for two alternatives and neither...nor when both alternatives are negative. Remember that not all does not mean none.