Pronoun + both / both

[Atari pitfall]

Hello, everyone.

When we use "both" after a pronoun, is it just there to emphasize?
E.G:

She threw rocks at them. VS She threw rocks at them both.

 

[Barque]

When we use "both" after a pronoun, is it just there to emphasize?

What's the context? You could use "both" at the end for emphasis, especially if the listener already knows there were two of them.

In your case, from the fact that it appears at the end, it seems to be used for emphasis. You'd usually hear "She threw rocks at them" or "She threw rocks at both of them".

But context would help. In real life, people say things for a reason and in a specific context, so it's easier for us to help if you tell us the situation you have in mind.

 

[Atari pitfall]

Hey, @Barque.. Sorry. I was a bit busy.

Eg.:

There's a group of 5 friends. Two say goodbye because they had anatomy homework.

As they leave, A turns to B and C and says:

- "What you think about'em?"
B says:
- "I like them both".

 

[tedmc]

What do you mean by "anatomy homework" and "them ('em)"?

 

[Atari pitfall]

Anatomy homework means anatomy homework.

'em means them. If we are hypothetically in an informal context, we use informal language.

 

[tedmc]

I take "anatomy" to mean the study of the human body, but it could mean anything.
I know it's "them", but who or what does the pronoun refer to?

 

[Barque]

I know it's "them", but who or what does the pronoun refer to?

I believe A's referring to the two friends who're leaving. A, B and C are the three who stay behind.

Eg.:

There's a group of 5 friends. Two say goodbye because they had anatomy homework.

As they leave, A turns to B and C and says:

- "What you think about'em?"
B says:
- "I like them both".

The conversation seems a little unlikely if all five are friends with each other. But if it were to take place, I'd expect:
A: What do you think of them?
B: I like them.

'em means them. If we are hypothetically in an informal context, we use informal language.

You don't have to use 'em because you're describing an informal situation. 'Em just refers to the way some speakers naturally pronounce "them" in casual speech. It won't sound natural if you deliberately pronounce it that way.

And it still means "them", so I'd suggest you use "them" in writing unless you want to quote someone who actually said 'em.