这两个词都表示两者之间的关系,只是both表示“两者都...”,是肯定表达,而neither表示“两者都不...”,是否定表达。当both引导的成分作主语时,其谓语要用复数;当neither引导的成分作主语时,其谓语动词要采用单数。
如: Both of them are students.
Neither of them is a student.
注意:1.neither...nor...
当neither和nor同时搭配使用时,表示“既不...,也不...”。其引导的成分作主语时,谓语动词的单复数用法要采用就近原则。
如:Neither he nor we are going to the party.
Neither we nor he is going to the party.
2.both...not...
当both与not同时使用时,表示的是部分否定,即“不都...”。
如:Both of us are not teachers.
该句意思为:我们俩不都是老师。
(二)all和none这两个词都用在三者及以上之间的关系,all表示“全都...”,是肯定表达,而none表示“全都不...”,是否定表达。当all和none都修饰可数名词时,如果all引导的成分作主语时,其谓语要用复数;如果none引导的成分作主语时,其谓语动词大多要采用单数,复数也可以。
如:All of the students are from France.
None of the students is/are from France.
注意:1、all...not...
当all与not连用时,表达的是部分否定,即“不都...”。如:
All of the teachers are not from China.
该句话的意思是:不是所有的老师都来自中国。
2、no one、nobody、nothing、none
no one / nobody常用来指人,作主语时,谓语动词要用单数形式;nothing常用来指物,作主语时,谓语动词也要用单数形式;none可指人也可指物,作主语时,如和of 连用,指不可数名词时,谓语动词要用单数形式;指可数名词时,谓语动词用单、复数均可。
No one likes the cake.
Nobody is qualified for the new job.
Nothing has changed in the past five years.
None of us is/are willing to work at night.
(三)either该词表示两者选其一,即“或者...,或者...;要么...,要么...”。当引导主语成分时,其谓语动词的单复数采用就近原则。如:
Either you or I am going to attend the meeting.
Either I or you are going to attend the meeting.
注意:either也可以用在of结构中,此时如果它引导的成分作主语,其谓语动词要用单数。如:
Either of the players is going to take part in the sports meeting.