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. (Todos pertenecen a Carlson.)

There were holes in them both/both of them. (Había agujeros en ambas.)

They finished it all/all of it. (Lo acabaron todo.)

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 (ambos, los 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.
(Todos aquellos cuadros pertenecen a Carlson.)

There were holes in both the shoes.
(Había agujeros en ambos zapatos.)

The finished all (of) the wine.
(Se acabaron todo el vino.)

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

Bolivia and Peru are both Spanish-speaking countries.
(Bolivia y Perú, ambos son países castellanohablantes.)

They have two children. Both of them are clever.
(Tienen dos hijos. Ambos son inteligentes.)

d. All is only used with three or more.

They have four children. All of their children are clever.
(Tienen cuatro hijos. Todos los hijos son inteligentes.)
Compare:
Bolivia and Peru are both Spanish-speaking countries.
(Bolivia y Perú, ambos son países castellanohablantes.)
Bolivia, Peru and Chile are all Spanish-speaking countries.
(Bolivia, Perú y Chile, todos son países castellanohablantes.)

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.
(Ambos profesores estaban presentes.)

Both of them were present.
(Ambos estaban presentes.)

The teachers were both present.
(Ambos profesores estaban presentes.)

They were both present.
(Ambos estaban presentes.)

All (of) the students passed the exam.
(Todos los alumnos aprobaron el examen.)

All of them passed the exam.
(Todos aprobaron el examen.)

The students all passed the exam.
(Todos los alumnos aprobaron el examen.)

They all passed the exam.
(Todos aprobaron el examen.)