ALL
The distributive determiner all is used to talk about a whole group, with a special emphasis on the fact that nothing has been left out. All can be used as a distributive in several different patterns.
All can be used with uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns by itself. In this usage, it refers to the group as a concept rather than as individuals.
1. All + noun (uncountable or countable in plural)
In this usage, it refers to the group as a concept rather than as individuals.
- All cheese contains protein. (uncountable)
- All children need affection. (countable)
2. All + the/possesive pronoun + noun (uncountable or countable in plural)
In this case, the meaning is shifted towards referring to a concrete, physical group rather than the group as a concept.
In these uses, the word of can be added just after all with no change in meaning.
- All the people in the room were silent.
- Have you eaten all the bread?
- All of the birds flew away.
With possesive pronoun:
- I've invited all my friends to the party.
- I've been waiting all my life for this opportunity.
- I've used up all of our eggs.
3. All + this/that + Uncountable noun
In these uses, the word of can be added just after all with no change in meaning.
- Who's left all this paper on my desk?
- Why is all of that sugar on the floor?
4. All + these/those + countable noun in plural
In these uses, the word of can be added just after all with no change in meaning.
- Look at all those balloons!
- Where did all of those books come from?
You can see "All, all of" lesson in "Nouns" section for more information.
BOTH
Both refers to the whole pair and is equivalent to “one and the other”.
Both is used with plural nouns (both cannot be used with singular nouns).
Both before plural noun:
- Both samples were measured. (i.e., The two samples were measured.)
- Both children were born in Italy.
When we use both before a determiner (e.g. a/an, the, her, his) + noun, both and both of can be used:
- She knew both my children. (or … both of my children.)
- Both her brothers are living in Canada. (or Both of her brothers …)
Pronoun + both
We can use both after a subject pronoun or an object pronoun:
- We both prefer classical music.
- Let’s open them both now.
Both + of + pronoun
When both is followed by a pronoun, we need to use of between them:
- Both of us like skiing.
- I told both of them to calm down.
Both as a pronoun
We can use both on its own as a pronoun:
- There are two youth hostels in the city. Both are described as expensive, dirty, with poor lighting and poor security.
- Applicants for this course must speak French or German, preferably both.
Both: typical errors
1. We don’t use both with a negative verb; we use either instead:
- There was not a considerable difference in percentages for either sex in terms of having a Bachelor’s degree.
- Not:
There was not a considerable difference in percentages for both sex. …
For more information, please read "The Distributives ALL, EACH,EVERY, EITHER & NEITHER" lesson in this section.
2. When we use the verb be as a main verb, both comes after the verb:
- These films are both famous with people of all ages …
- Not:
These films both are famous …
HALF
The distributive determiner half is used to talk about a whole group divided in two. Half can be used as a distributive in several different patterns. Other fractions can be used in the same patterns, although they are less frequent.
1. Half + a/an + mesurements
Half can be used with measurements preceeded by an indefinite article (a or an). In this usage, it refers to a measurement.
- I had half a cup of milk left.
- I bought half a kilo of flour.
- He ran half a mile this morning.
- I will be back in half a minute.
- I bought half a kilo of apples yesterday.
2. Half + of + the + noun
Half can be used with nouns preceeded by the, a, a demonstrative, or a possessive pronoun. In this case, the meaning refers to a concrete, physical divison.
The word of can be added just after half with no change in meaning.
- Half the people have already left.
- Half of an apple isn’t very much lunch.
- Did you use half my sugar?
- I will need half of the flour for my cake.
- I earned half of that money last summer.
- She found half these frogs in the river.
- I spent half that time on my project.
- You can take half of those books back.
- I’ve invited half my friends to the party.
- I’ve used up half of our eggs.
- You wasted half your money on that!
3. Half can be used with plural pronouns preceeded by of.
- Half of us are going.
- He scolded half of you but he let the rest off.
- You couldn’t find half of them?
NOTE:
All, both, half + OF: 'OF' must be added when followed by a pronoun:
All of you; both of us; half of them
It is also quite common to add it in most of the above situations except when there is no article (No.1 in all the tables above.)