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Activities: “Both, either, and neither: How to use them in English?”

By: revel arroway
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These activities are part of our English Grammar series. The skills we are practicing here are covered in our article:

Activity 1: ‘both of them’ / ‘neither of them’

John and Mark have a lot in common. Look at the things they say about themselves. Then write a sentence, using both of them or neither of them.

For example:

John:

I love watching old movies.

Mark:

My favorite movies are the really old ones.

Both of them like old movies.

  • John:

    I don’t like vegetables very much.

    Mark:

    I hate vegetables. I never eat them!

    Both of them hate vegetables.
    Neither of them like vegetables.

  • John:

    I’m pretty easy-going.

    Mark:

    I really like making new friends.

    Both of them are friendly / outgoing.
    Neither of them are shy.

  • John:

    I’m good at math.

    Mark:

    Math was my favorite subject at school.

    Both of them like math.
    Neither of them are bad at math.

  • John:

    My parents live in Colorado.

    Mark:

    My parents live in Denver.

    Both of them have parents that live in Colorado. (It would be more natural to say: “Both of their families live in Colorado.”)
    Neither of them have parents in Texas / Switzerland / …

  • John:

    I think video games are a waste of time.

    Mark:

    I’m too busy to play video games.

    Both of them dislike video games.
    Neither of them play video games.

  • John:

    I run every morning before breakfast.

    Mark:

    I train every day at the gym.

    Both of them exercise regularly.
    Neither of them is lazy.

  • John:

    I was born just down the road.

    Mark:

    I was born at the local hospital.

    Both of them were born nearby.
    Neither of them live far away from where they were born.

  • John:

    I don’t have any brothers or sisters.

    Mark:

    I have one sister.

    Both of them are only children. (An “only child” is an idiom for someone with no siblings.)
    Neither of them has any siblings.

  • John:

    I love living in Houston.

    Mark:

    I think Houston is a good place to live and work.

    Both of them like living in Houston.
    Neither of them dislikes Houston.

Activity 2: ‘either….or’ / ‘neither….nor’

Now, look at these statements and complete the sentences with one of the two phrases:

  • Either John or Mark might

  • Neither John nor Mark would

For example:

  • John:

    I love living in Houston.

    Mark:

    I think Houston is a good place to live and work.

    Either John or Mark might go see a classic film.

  • John:

    I don’t like vegetables very much.

    Mark:

    I hate vegetables. I never eat them!

    eat a plate of spinach.

  • John:

    I’m pretty easy-going.

    Mark:

    I really like making new friends.

    chat with a stranger at a party.

  • John:

    I’m good at math.

    Mark:

    Math was my favorite subject at school.

    decide to teach math.

  • John:

    My parents live in Colorado.

    Mark:

    My parents live in Denver.

    drive to California to visit their parents.

  • John:

    I think video games are a waste of time.

    Mark:

    I’m too busy to play video games.

    spend a weekend playing video games.

  • John:

    I run every morning before breakfast.

    Mark:

    I train every day at the gym.

    do well at sports.

  • John:

    I don’t have any brothers or sisters.

    Mark:

    I have one sister.

    buy a gift for their brother.

  • John:

    I love living in Houston.

    Mark:

    I think Houston is a good place to live and work.

    be excited to move to a new city.

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