How to Use Both and All: A Complete Guide with 100+ Examples

Mastering “both” and “all” is essential for clear English. While both refer to two items collectively, all refers to three or more. Understanding their placement with nouns, pronouns, and verbs can refine your speech and writing. This guide explains how to use both and all correctly, complete with examples and tips for exam success.

Introduction: How to Use Both and All

Achieving precision in English often hinges on mastering small but powerful words. Among these, the distributive pronouns “both” and “all” are fundamental for expressing collective reference. However, their correct application can be a common point of confusion. This article provides a comprehensive breakdown of how to use both and all accurately in various sentence structures, ensuring your communication is both clear and grammatically sound.

How to Use Both and All: Key Rules

• Both is used to refer to two items or people, taken together. It implies the pair is considered jointly.
• All is used for three or more items, people, or a whole group collectively. It can also refer to an entire quantity of something uncountable.

Important Tips for Students & Competitive Exams

1. Position Matters: “Both” and “all” can occupy three key positions: before a noun (e.g., both books), after a personal pronoun (e.g., us all), or in the mid-position of a verb phrase (e.g., can all agree).
2. With “the,” “these,” “my,” etc.: Both/All + Determiner + Noun (e.g., all the students, both my hands).
3. With “of”: “Both of” and “All of” are used before pronouns (e.g., both of them) or determiners (e.g., all of the information). In exams, the version without “of” is often preferred for conciseness.
4. Avoid Double Subjects: A frequent error is: “Both they are ready.” The correct form is: “They are both ready” or “Both of them are ready.”
5. Negation Logic: “Both” in negative sentences (“I don’t like both”) can be ambiguous (meaning you like only one). For complete negation, use “neither.” “All” in negative sentences (“All students didn’t pass”) can also be vague. For clarity, use “None of the students passed.”

100 Examples of How to Use Both and All

1. Both children laughed.
2. All children need care.
3. They both arrived early.
4. We all enjoyed the party.
5. I have read both books.
6. She ate all the cookies.
7. Both of my parents are doctors.
8. All of the water spilled.
9. I like both.
10. He finished it all.
11. Both the red and blue dresses are pretty.
12. All dogs and cats need love.
13. We can both swim.
14. You must all listen.
15. She invited both friends.
16. He lost all hope.
17. Both of us agree.
18. All of them disagreed.
19. I bought both.
20. Is that all?
21. Both sisters are talented.
22. All passengers must board.
23. You are both correct.
24. They were all tired.
25. Close both windows.
26. The fire destroyed all buildings.
27. I trust both of you.
28. All of the evidence points to him.
29. I want both.
30. That is all for today.
31. Both his attempts failed.
32. All my efforts paid off.
33. We have both seen it.
34. The tickets are all sold.
35. Check both answers.
36. She knows all the secrets.
37. Both of the cars are fast.
38. All of her poems are beautiful.
39. Do you need both?
40. Thank you all.
41. Both teams played well.
42. All citizens have rights.
43. You should both apologize.
44. We are all responsible.
45. He held both handles.
46. She wasted all her money.
47. This applies to both of the projects.
48. All of the food was delicious.
49. I’ll take both.
50. I deny all charges.
51. Both electronic and manual options exist.
52. All men and women are equal.
53. They have both been selected.
54. You may all leave now.
55. I signed both copies.
56. She donated all her old clothes.
57. I spoke to both of the managers.
58. All of the data is secure.
59. Keep both.
60. He risked all for love.
61. Both actors performed brilliantly.
62. All plants require sunlight.
63. We will both attend.
64. The answers are all wrong.
65. Verify both signatures.
66. The storm affected all regions.
67. It benefits both of the communities.
68. All of our plans succeeded.
69. I believe both.
70. It’s all over.
71. Both the laptop and tablet are new.
72. All employees and managers attended.
73. They are both coming.
74. These are all mine.
75. She opened both eyes.
76. He told all.
77. I value both of your opinions.
78. All of a sudden, it rained.
79. I’ll support both.
80. First of all, listen.
81. Both keys are missing.
82. All hope is not lost.
83. We could both hear it.
84. They must all comply.
85. He addressed both issues.
86. She met all the criteria.
87. Give it to both of them.
88. All of the work is complete.
89. I ordered both.
90. I dedicate this to you all.
91. Both proposals have merit.
92. All roads lead to Rome.
93. You might both be right.
94. We feel all excited.
95. Compare both products.
96. With all due respect, I disagree.
97. I’m proud of both of you.
98. All in all, it was a success.
99. I like them both.
100. That’s all, folks!

FAQs on How to Use Both and All

Q1: Can we use “both” for more than two items?
A1: No. “Both” is strictly used for two and only two items. For three or more, you must use “all.”

Q2: Is “both of them” or “they both” correct?
A2: Both are correct. “They both finished” and “Both of them finished” are interchangeable. The choice is stylistic.

Q3: Where do I place “all” in a sentence with an auxiliary verb?
A3: “All” typically goes after the first auxiliary verb (e.g., The students have all passed). With the verb “to be,” it goes after (e.g., They are all here).

Conclusion: How to Use Both and All
Mastering the distributive pronouns “both” and “all” significantly enhances the clarity and correctness of your English expression. By remembering the core rule—both for two, all for three or more—and applying the positional tips outlined, you can avoid common pitfalls. Whether for daily communication or competitive exams, a firm grasp of how to use both and all is an invaluable asset in your language toolkit.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, grammar rules can have exceptions and contextual variations. For authoritative sourcing, please refer to standard grammar textbooks or style guides.

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