All and Both: Quantifiers for the Whole Group
All refers to every member of a group of three or more. Both refers to two things or people. Both go before the noun but after auxiliary verbs.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'both' for exactly two items and 'all' for three or more to describe the entire group.
- Use 'both' when referring to exactly two people or things: 'Both my parents are teachers.'
- Use 'all' when referring to three or more people or things: 'All my friends are coming.'
- Place 'both' and 'all' before the main verb or after the verb 'to be': 'They are all happy.'
All means every member of a group of 3 or more. Both means the two. Both can appear before or after the verb.
All — 3 or More
✅ All the students passed.
✅ She ate all the cake.
✅ They have all left. (after auxiliary)
✅ All of them agreed.
Both — Exactly 2
✅ Both options are good.
✅ Both my parents are teachers.
✅ We have both finished. (after auxiliary)
✅ Both of us were surprised.
Position Rules
| Position | All | Both |
|---|---|---|
| Before noun | All the books | Both windows |
| After be/auxiliary | They are all here. | We have both seen it. |
| With pronoun | All of them | Both of us |
Meanings
These quantifiers indicate that every member of a specific group is included in the statement.
Dual inclusion
Refers to two items together.
“Both sisters are tall.”
“I like both colors.”
Universal inclusion
Refers to the entire group of three or more.
“All students passed.”
“All of the cake is gone.”
Quantifier Usage Patterns
| Structure | Example | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Both + Noun | Both students | 2 |
| Both of + Determiner + Noun | Both of the students | 2 |
| Both of + Pronoun | Both of them | 2 |
| All + Noun | All students | 3+ |
| All of + Determiner + Noun | All of the students | 3+ |
| All of + Pronoun | All of us | 3+ |
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Shortened/Informal |
|---|---|
| All of us | We all |
| Both of them | They both |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Both + Noun | Both sisters are here. |
| Affirmative | All + Noun | All students are here. |
| Negative | Neither (for 2) | Neither of them is here. |
| Negative | Not all (for 3+) | Not all of them are here. |
| Question | Are both...? | Are both of them coming? |
| Question | Are all...? | Are all of them coming? |
| Short Answer | Both of them. | Who is coming? Both of them. |
| Short Answer | All of them. | Who is coming? All of them. |
Formality Spectrum
Both individuals are in attendance. (Meeting attendance)
Both of them are here. (Meeting attendance)
They're both here. (Meeting attendance)
Both are in. (Meeting attendance)
Quantifier Logic
Dual (2)
- Both Both
Universal (3+)
- All All
Both vs All
Choosing the Right Word
How many items?
Examples by Level
Both cats are black.
All the apples are red.
Both of us are happy.
All my books are here.
I have two sisters; both are doctors.
All the students finished the test.
Both of these shirts are too small.
All of the cake was eaten.
They both decided to leave early.
All of the participants were satisfied.
Both my parents work in London.
All the information is correct.
Both the proposal and the budget were approved.
All of the staff members have been notified.
Both of them are equally qualified for the role.
All the evidence points to a different conclusion.
Both parties have agreed to the terms of the contract.
All of the attendees, without exception, signed the petition.
Both the climate and the economy are shifting rapidly.
All the while, he was planning his next move.
Both the former and the latter arguments hold merit.
All of the aforementioned conditions must be met.
Both are equally valid in their respective contexts.
All that glitters is not gold.
Easily Confused
Both is positive, Neither is negative.
All is group, Every is individual.
Both implies the pair together.
Common Mistakes
Both students are here (when there are 5).
All students are here.
All of me are happy.
We are all happy.
Both of student.
Both of the students.
All my two friends.
Both my friends.
Both of them is coming.
Both of them are coming.
All the two.
Both.
Both of the cars is red.
Both of the cars are red.
All of the two people.
Both people.
Both of us we are.
Both of us are.
All the people is.
All the people are.
Both of the three items.
All three items.
All of the both.
Both.
Both the team are.
Both teams are.
All of them is.
All of them are.
Sentence Patterns
Both of my ___ are ___.
All of the ___ are ___.
They both ___ to ___.
All of us ___ that ___.
Real World Usage
Both of my photos are online!
We're both coming.
I have experience in both fields.
All of the tickets are booked.
Both meals were delicious.
All of the data supports this.
The Two-Rule
Don't Overuse
Pronoun Power
Formal vs Informal
Smart Tips
Always use 'both' to sound more precise.
Remember to add 'of' after the quantifier.
Use 'all' to emphasize the whole group.
Use 'both' to link two ideas.
Pronunciation
Both
The 'th' sound is unvoiced.
All
The 'l' is a dark 'l' sound.
Emphasis
BOTH of them are here.
Emphasizing the number two.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
B-O-T-H has 4 letters, and 2+2=4. All is for the big group.
Visual Association
Imagine a scale. On one side, two apples (Both). On the other side, a giant basket of apples (All).
Rhyme
Two is for both, that is the truth. Three or more, all is the score.
Story
Sarah had two cats. She loved both of them. Then she adopted three more. Now she loves all five of them.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences about your life using 'both' and three using 'all'.
Cultural Notes
In the South, 'all y'all' is a common way to say 'all of you'.
Often used with 'both' to emphasize agreement.
Using 'both' and 'all' clearly is seen as professional and precise.
Both comes from Old Norse 'báðir'. All comes from Old English 'eall'.
Conversation Starters
Do you have any siblings?
What do you like about your job?
How do you manage your time?
What are the pros and cons of remote work?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
___ of my two sisters are doctors.
___ the students in the class passed.
Find and fix the mistake:
Both of the five cars are red.
them / both / are / happy
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
___ of the two options is good.
___ of us are going to the party.
Find and fix the mistake:
All my two hands are clean.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises___ of my two sisters are doctors.
___ the students in the class passed.
Find and fix the mistake:
Both of the five cars are red.
them / both / are / happy
Match the count to the word.
___ of the two options is good.
___ of us are going to the party.
Find and fix the mistake:
All my two hands are clean.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, 'both' is strictly for two. Use 'all' for three or more.
Yes, it is perfectly correct.
'All' refers to the group, 'every' refers to each member.
No, that is redundant. Just say 'both'.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
Place it after 'to be' or before the main verb.
Yes, e.g., 'All the water'.
It is a remnant of the dual number in older languages.
In Other Languages
Ambos
Ambos is more formal in Spanish.
Tous les deux
It is a phrasal construction rather than a single word.
Beide
German has more complex declension for 'beide'.
Ryōhō
Japanese grammar is SOV, so placement differs.
Kila
Arabic dual is a noun inflection, not just a quantifier.
Dōu
Chinese uses 'liǎng gè' for two.
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