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UK [bəʊθ] / US [boʊθ] determiner, predeterminer, pronoun

Summary:

Both can be used in the following ways: - as a determiner (followed by a noun, but not by a pronoun): Both children are at school. - as a predeterminer (followed by a word such as "the", "this", "his" etc): I like both these pictures. ♦ Both her children are boys. - as a pronoun: Both arrived at the same time. (followed by "of"): Both of them are learning English. (after a noun or pronoun subject): The twins both have black hair. (following a pronoun object): I like them both. (after a modal or auxiliary verb, or after the verb "to be"): We can both speak Spanish. ♦ They are both good singers. - in the expression both ... and ...: a method that is both simple and effective

used for showing that you are referring to two people or things, and that you are saying the same thing about the two of them

Both my parents are doctors.

You can write on both sides of the paper.

There were two separate projects, and both came up with the same results.

She invited us both down for a drink.

both of:

Both of the leaders expressed hope that the talks would continue.

two companies, both of which are owned by News International

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Usage note:
Do not use both in negative sentences. Use neither: Neither of my parents wanted me to leave school (=my mother did not and my father did not).

both ... and ... — used for emphasizing that each of two things is true

a plant that grows in both Chile and Argentina

The results of the research are both impressive and alarming.

Both she and her sister now live in New Orleans.

Usage note:
Do not use both ... and ... in negative sentences. Use neither ... nor ...: Mary neither drinks nor smokes.

- you and me both