Have both of the children gone to bed?

[Atari pitfall]

When using BOTH to make questions, which construction is the better one?

- BOTH OF + PRONOUN/NOUN
- PRONOUN/NOUN + BOTH?

e.G:

1. Have both of the children gone to bed? (sound pretty fine to me)
2. Have the children both gone to bed?

3. Were both of the oranges bad?
4. Were the oranges both bad?

Thank you!

 

[Tarheel]

When using BOTH to make questions, which construction is the better one?

- BOTH OF + PRONOUN/NOUN
- PRONOUN/NOUN + BOTH?

e.G:

1. Have both of the children gone to bed? (sound pretty fine to me)
2. Have the children both gone to bed?

3. Were both of the oranges bad?
4. Were the oranges both bad?

I don't like #2 or #4, but I can't say why.

 

[Atari pitfall]

I don't like them too. Are you happy with the other ones, @Tarheel?

 

[Tarheel]

I don't like them either. Are you happy with the other ones, @Tarheel?

Yes.

 

[Barque]

The other option is "both" before the noun with no "of", which I daresay is the most common.

Have both the children gone to bed?
Were both the oranges bad?

 

[Amigos4]

The other option is "both" before the noun with no "of", which I daresay is the most common.

Have both the children gone to bed?
Were both the oranges bad?

I like the “of” before the noun, but I can’t say why.
Atari pitfall, what source did you use for your construction?

 

[probus]

@Atari pitfall

I have added numerals to your post to clarify this thread. "I don't like it too" is wrong because it's unnatural. "I don't like it either" is the most common correct expression in AmE. Much less common but acceptable is "I too dislike it." "I don't like it either", although so very common, is ambiguous. Does either refer to me or to it?

None of your four choices gives me any problem at all. They are all fine where I live.

 

[SoothingDave]

I agree. 1 and 3 are more natural and common, but 2 and 4 are fine gramatically.

 

[Atari pitfall]

Thank you for your editions, @Probus!

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you for your editions, @Probus!

I'm not sure if you meant "additions" or "edits", but "editions" definitely wasn't the right word. Also, please remember that there is no need to write a new post to say "Thank you" to anyone. Simply add the "Thank" icon to any post you find helpful.

 

[Skrej]

Like Dave and Probus, all four work for me. I might slightly prefer 1 and 3 over 2 and 4, but not by enough to otherwise comment. I'm almost certain I've used the patterns in 2 and 4 at some point.