Exercises

87.1 Put in of where necessary. Leave an empty space H if the sentence is already complete.

1. All - cars have wheels.

2. None _of_ this money is mine.

3. Some --- people get angry very easily.

4. Some --- the people I met at the party were very interesting.

5. I have lived in London most --- my life.

6. Many --- people watch too much TV.

7. Are any --- those letters for me?

8. Most --- days I get up before 7 o'clock.

9. Jim thinks that all --- museums are boring.

87.2 Choose from the list and complete the sentences. Use of (some of/most of etc.) where necessary.

accidents ears her friends the people I invited birds my dinner the houses the population these books European countries her opinions my spare time

1. I haven't read many _of these books._

2. All cars have wheels.

3. I spend most --- gardening.

4. It's a historic town. Many --- are over 400 years old.

5. Many --- are caused by bad driving.

6. When she got married, she kept it a secret. She didn't tell any ---.

7. Not many people live in the north of the country. Most --- live in the south,

8. Not all --- can fly. For example, the penguin can't fly.

9. None --- to the party could come, so I cancelled it.

10. Julia and I have very different ideas. I don't agree with many ---.

11. Sarah travels a lot. She has been to most ---.

12. I had no appetite. I could only eat half ---.

87.3 Complete the sentences using the words in brackets. Sometimes no other words are necessary. Sometimes you need the or of the.

1. I wasn't well yesterday. I spent _most of the day_ in bed. (most/day)

2. _Some cars_ can go faster than others. (some/cars)

3. --- drive too fast. (many/people)

4. --- you took on holiday were very good. (some/photographs)

5. --- learn more quickly than others. (some/people)

6. We've eaten --- we bought. There's very little left. (most/food)

7. Have you spent --- you borrowed? (all)money)

8. Peter can't stop talking. He talks ---. (all/time)

9. We had a lazy holiday. We spent --- on the beach. (most/time)

10. George is easy to get on with --- like him. (most/people)

11. The exam was difficult. I could only answer ---. (half/questions)

87.4 Complete the sentences. Use all/some/none + it/them/us (all of it/some of them etc.).

1. These books are all Jane's. None of them belong to me.

2. 'How many of these books have you read? --- Every one.'

3. We all got wet in the rain because --- had an umbrella.

4. Some of this money is yours and --- is mine.

5. I asked some people for directions but --- were able to help me.

6. She made up the whole story from beginning to end --- was true.

7. Not all the tourists in the group were Spanish --- were French.

8. I watched most of the film but not ---.

UNIT 88. Both/both of neither/neither of either/either of

A. We use both/neither/either for two things. You can use these words with a noun (both books, neither book etc.)

For example, you are talking about going out to eat this evening. There are two restaurants where you can go. You say:

* Both restaurants are very good. (not 'the both restaurants')

* Neither restaurant is expensive.

* We can go to either restaurant. I don't mind. (either = one or the other, it doesn't matter which one)

B. Both of.../neither of.../either of...

When you use both/neither/either + of, you always need the.../these/those.../my/your/his/ Tom's... (etc.). You cannot say 'both of restaurants'. You have to say 'both of the restaurants', 'both of those restaurants' etc.:

* Both of these restaurants are very good.

* Neither of the restaurants we went to was (or were) expensive.

* I haven't been to either of those restaurants. (= I haven't been to one or the other)

You don't need of after both. So you can say:

* Both my parents are from London. or Both of my parents...

You can use both of/neither of/either of + us/you/them:

* (talking to two people) Can either of you speak Spanish?

* I asked two people the way to the station but neither of them knew.

You must say 'both of' before us/you/them (of is necessary):

* Both of us were very tired. (not 'Both us were...')

After neither of... a singular or a plural verb is possible:

* Neither of the children wants (or want) to go to bed.

C. You can also use both/neither/either alone:

* I couldn't decide which of the two shirts to buy. I liked both. (or I liked both of them.)

* 'Is your friend British or American? ' 'Neither. She's Australian.'

* 'Do you want tea or coffee? ' 'Either. I don't mind.'

D. You can say:

both... and...: * Both Ann and Tom were late.

* I was both tired and hungry when I arrived home.

neither... nor...: * Neither Liz nor Robin came to the party.

* She said she would contact me but she neither wrote nor phoned.

either... or...: * I'm not sure where he's from. He's either Spanish or Italian.

* Either you apologize or I'll never speak to you again.

E. Compare either/neither/both (two things) and any/none/all (more than two):

* There are two good hotels in the town.

You can stay at either of them.

* We tried two hotels. Neither of them had any rooms./Both of them were full.

* There are many good hotels in the town. You can stay at any of them.

* We tried a lot of hotels. None of them had any rooms./All of them were full.