11.3 All, both

We can use all and both before and after pronouns or with and without a noun.

1. We can use all and both before and after pronouns.

When they are before a pronoun, we must use of, e.g.: all of them, both of us, all of it.

All of them/They all belong to Carlson.(Tots pertanyen a Carlson.)

There were holes in them both/both of them.(Hi havia forats en totes dues.)

They finished it all/all of it.(Ho van acabar tot.)

2. We can use all and both with nouns

a. We can use all with:

Plural countable nouns, e.g.:

all (the) windows.

Uncountable nouns, e.g.:

all (the) food.

b. We can only use both (tots dos) with plural countable nouns, e.g.:

both (the) tables.

Notice that all and both go before the, that, these, etc., e.g.:

All those pictures belong to Carlson.
(Tots aquells quadres pertanyen a Carlson.)

There were holes in both the shoes.
(Hi havia forats en les dues sabates.)

The finished all (of) the wine.
(Van acabar tot el vi.)

c. Both is only used of two people or things.

Bolivia and Peru are both Spanish-speaking countries.
(Bolívia i Perú són tots dos països castellanoparlants.)

They have two children. Both of them are clever.
(Tenen dos fills. Ambdos són intel·ligents.)

d. All is only used with three or more.

They have four children. All of their children are clever.
(Tenen quatre fills. Tots els fills són intel·ligents.)
Compare:
Bolivia and Peru are both Spanish-speaking countries.
(Bolívia i Perú són tots dos països castellanoparlants.) Bolivia, Peru and Chile are all Spanish-speaking countries.
(Bolívia, Perú i Xile són tots tres països castellanoparlants.)

3. When all and both qualify the subject of the sentence, they go either before the noun or in mid-position, e.g.:

Both (of) the teachers were present.
(Els dos professors eren presents.)

Both of them were present.
(Tots dos eren presents.)

The teachers were both present.
(Els dos professors eren presents.)

They were both present.
(Tots dos eren presents.)

All (of) the students passed the exam.
(Tots els alumnes van aprovar l'examen.)

All of them passed the exam.
(Tots van aprovar l'examen.)

The students all passed the exam.
(Tots els alumnes van aprovar l'examen.)

They all passed the exam.
(Tots van aprovar l'examen.)