All & Both — Quantifiers
Quick overview
- both = exactly two people/things: Both (the) students passed.
- all = the whole group (3+ or uncountable): All (the) students hate homework. • All music moves me.
- all works with plural countables and uncountables; both works only with plural countables that refer to two.
Meaning difference: both (two) vs all (every member of a group). Not used with singular nouns.
With nouns
- both (the/my/etc.) + plural noun: Both the matches were exciting.
- all + plural noun / uncountable noun (general): All students need feedback. • All water was tested.
- all + the/my/etc. + noun (specific): All the students in my class need feedback.
You can add of before a determiner: both (of the) students, all (of the) water. It’s often omitted in speech.
With of & pronouns
- With pronouns, of is required: all of us, both of them, all of you.
- As subjects: All of us were at the party. • Both of them are wrong.
- As objects (after the verb): The judge sent them all to jail. • She loves them both.
Case with pronouns: use us/them (not we/they) after of: both of we → both of us.
Word order (mid position)
- Before a main verb: We both like tennis. • They all left early.
- After be when it’s the only verb: The boys were all happy. • The players are both tired.
- After an auxiliary (or the first auxiliary): The robbers have both been arrested. • They are all going to leave.
- Questions: place after the subject: Have they both finished?
Common mistakes
- All/Both of students → All/Both of the students.
- The both students → Both (the) students.
- All/Both of we/they → All/Both of us/them.
- Both water (uncountable) → use all (the) water.
Correlative pattern (extra): both … and … joins two items: Both Alice and Ben came.
Mini examples
- Both my parents work from home. / All my parents ❌ (only two → use both).
- All the furniture was delivered. (uncountable)
- You both need to sign. • I called you all yesterday.
- All of the emails were answered. • Both of the answers are correct.
Exercises:
All, both: Quantifiers
Choose the correct forms of all/both to complete the sentences.
1
My parents are
happy to see you.
2
I liked
songs you recommended.
3
students in this class submitted the homework.
4
She has two sons and loves
equally.
5
witnesses were interviewed yesterday.
6
The twins have
been invited to the party.
7
She thanked
for helping.
8
By the time I arrived,
cake had been eaten.
9
Maria and Josh were late.
10
Are
rooms available?
All, both: Quantifiers
Choose the right option in the following questions.
1
_____ the manager and the client approved the plan.
A.
B.
C.
2
There are 25 students in my group; _____ of the students have finished.
A.
B.
C.
3
My parents live nearby; _____ visit every weekend.
A.
B.
C.
4
_____ my luggage was lost.
A.
B.
C.
5
Take _____ of the keys on the hook.
A.
B.
C.
6
There were five windows; _____ the windows were open.
A.
B.
C.
7
We visited two museums; _____ were fascinating.
A.
B.
C.
8
_____ the water leaked out during the night.
A.
B.
C.
9
In our team of six, _____ us agree that the deadline is too short.
A.
B.
C.
10
_____ sides of the street are closed today.
A.
B.
C.
All, both: Quantifiers
Re-write the sentences using all/both in mid position (=before the verb, after be, after the first auxiliary).
—
EXAMPLE: All of them arrived early. ⇒ They all arrived early.
1
Both Mia and Carlos know the answer. ⇒ the answer.
2
All of us are tired. ⇒ tired.
3
Both of my brothers have finished the project. ⇒ the project.
4
All of the cookies were eaten. ⇒ The cookies eaten.
5
Both Julia and Ben can speak French. ⇒ They French.
6
All the tickets have been sold. ⇒ The tickets sold.
7
Both of us were late. ⇒ We late.
8
All of the students will get feedback today. ⇒ feedback today.
9
Both keys are missing. ⇒ missing.
10
Have all of them handed in the forms? ⇒ the forms?