[Grammar] Both / None of the children look like their mother.

[Jigster]

Dear teachers,
I came upon an exam question:

... the children look like their mother.
a) neither | b) both | c) none of | d) either

b) is supposed to be the correct answer, yet I feel like c) makes sense too. Am I wrong?

Thank you

Jirka

 

[bhaisahab]

Dear teachers,
I came upon an exam question:

... the children look like their mother.
a) neither | b) both | c) none of | d) either

b) is supposed to be the correct answer, yet I feel like c) makes sense too. Am I wrong?

Thank you

Jirka

Both b) and c) are possible.

 

[Jaskin]

Hi,

Wouldn't it be more natural, in everyday conversations,to use 'both' as determiner rather than predeterminer ?

Cheers.

 

[bhaisahab]

No.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Some would argue that C is incorrect because "none" is always singular and would require the verb "looks". However, that notion of "none" has been pretty much put to rest for most people.