Learning English

Finn
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute Grammar with me, Finn.

Catherine
And me, Catherine. In this programme we're talking about the words all, every, each, both, either and neither...

Finn
...also known as quantifiers. So let's start by listening to Darren. He's been talking about how to choose a tablet.

Catherine
While you listen, think about this question: Why do customers have difficulty choosing a tablet?

INSERT
Darren
Should you have either this one or that one? All customers choosing a tablet ask themselves that question because each tablet is slightly different. Take the Apik 1 and the Negus 2. Both tablets have similar specs. While neither tablet is heavy, the Negus 2 is lighter. This could make a difference every time you go out. Each of the tablets has 2 gigabytes of RAM, but the Negus 2 is the faster device. And then there’s the cost. While neither of them seems much better than the other, the Negus 2 is considerably cheaper.

Finn
That was Darren. So we asked you: Why do buyers have difficulty choosing tablets?

Catherine
And the answer is: Because each tablet has slightly different features.

Finn
Now each, every and all can mean the full amount or total number of something. So we could also say every tablet or all tablets.

Catherine
Each and every are followed by a singular noun and verb. We say each tablet has and every tablet has - but all is followed by a plural noun and verb, so it’s all tablets have. We could also say all the tablets have, but we don’t use the with each or every.

Finn
OK. There’s also a slight difference in meaning between every and each. We often use each when we're thinking about the individual members of a group.

Catherine
That's right. So to talk about about the features of individual tablets, Darren said each tablet. But here's what he said later on.

INSERT
Darren
This could make a difference every time you go out.

Catherine
There he's thinking about all the times, not individual times.

Finn
Right. Listen for more quantifiers in this clip.

INSERT
Darren     
Should you have either this one or that one? Both tablets have similar specs. While neither tablet is heavy, the Negus 2 is lighter.

Catherine
There we heard the words either, neither, or as some people say, either, neither, and both. We use these quantifiers to talk about two people or things. So in the phrase Both tablets have similar specs, Both tablets means this tablet and the other tablet.

Finn
Neither tablet is heavy. That means not this one and not the other one.

Catherine
Darren asked: Should you have either this one or that one? Either is used mainly in questions and negatives, to indicate a choice between two, or sometimes more than two, options.  

Finn
Right. Let's take a quick look at the verbs we use after both and neither. Listen. Both the tablets have similar specs. Neither tablet is heavy.

Catherine
So after both, the verb is positive and plural – have. But after either and neither, the verb is positive and singular - is. Let's have another clip.

INSERT
Darren
Each of the tablets has 2 gigabytes of RAM, but the Negus 2 is the faster device. While neither of them seems much better than the other, the Negus 2 is considerably cheaper.

Catherine
So we heard each of the tablets and neither of them. You can use all, each, neither, either and both with of and a plural noun phrase – like the tablets – or with a pronoun – like them.

Finn
Yes. So you could say both of the tablets or both of them.

Catherine
Yes and in this case, each of the tablets means the same as both of the tablets.

Finn
Because there are only two.

Catherine
Exactly.

Finn
But we say each of the tablets has - that’s a singular verb - but both of the tablets have - and that's a plural verb.

IDENT          
6 Minute Grammar from BBC Learning English.

Catherine
And it's quiz time!

Finn
OK.

Catherine
Number one: Which is correct: a) Both of us lives in London. Or b) Both of us live in London.

Finn
And the answer is b) Both of us live in London.

Catherine
And let's do number two: Which is correct? a) Neither of us likes the countryside. Or b) Neither of us doesn't like the countryside.

Finn
This one… is a) Neither of us likes the countryside.

Catherine
Number three: Which is correct? a) Answer each questions. Or b) Answer each of the questions.

Finn
The answer is b). Answer each of the questions.

Catherine
Fantastic! And that's the end of the quiz.

Finn
There's more about this at bbclearningenglish.com. Join us again soon for more 6 Minute Grammar.

Both
Bye!