BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Usage of "Both"

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2011 8:22 pm

Usage of "Both"

by venjam » Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:42 am
Hi all,

When should we use Both?

For Ex:

1.Both John and Jack are comming for Dinner
2.John and Jack are comming for Dinner

I don't see change in meaning when i delete the word "both"

Kindly clarify When to and when not to use "Both" in GMAT

-Thanks
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 646
Joined: Mon May 21, 2012 7:08 am
Thanked: 322 times
Followed by:143 members

by Kasia@EconomistGMAT » Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:49 am
Both indicates that the action or state denoted by the verb applies individually to each of two entities. "Both books weigh more than five pounds," for example, means that each book weighs more than five pounds by itself, not that the two books weighed together come to more than five pounds. Both is inappropriate where the verb does not apply to each of the entities by itself.
Kasia
Senior Instructor
Master GMAT - the #1 rated GMAT course

"¢ If you found my post helpful, please click the "thank" button and/or follow me.

"¢ Take a 7 day free trial and find out why Economist GMAT is the highest rated GMAT course - https://gmat.economist.com/

"¢ Read GMAT Economist reviews - https://reviews.beatthegmat.com/economis ... mat-course
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 462
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:08 pm
Thanked: 10 times
Followed by:4 members

by confuse mind » Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:48 am
venjam wrote:Hi all,

When should we use Both?

For Ex:

1.Both John and Jack are comming for Dinner
2.John and Jack are comming for Dinner

I don't see change in meaning when i delete the word "both"

Kindly clarify When to and when not to use "Both" in GMAT

-Thanks
Similar to what Kasia said above, as well as also applies individually to both items in context. Since both 'both' and 'as well as' mean the same....the combined use in a sentence is wrong

X as Y - correct
X as well as Y - correct
Both X and Y - correct
Both X as well as Y - wrong
Top
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1