Page 124 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford
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both ... and
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We often balance this structure, so that the same kind of words or expressions follow both and and.
Size's both pretty and clever. (adjectives)
I spoke to both the Director and her secretary. (nouns) She both dances and sings. (verbs)
However, unbalanced sentences with both . .. and are common. Some people prefer to avoid them.
She both dances and she sings. (both + verb; and + clause)
I both play the piano and the violin.
Both cannot begin a complete clause in this structure.
You can both borrow the flat and (you can) use our car. (BUT NOT Both )'6tt can bOFf'(Jtt:J (;he fltt:t tllfd YOtt can ttSe the car.)
See also either ... or (175), neilher ... IIor (373) and IIot only ... but also (383).
bring and take speaker's/hearer's position
We use bring for movements to the place where the speaker or hearer is, but we use take for movements to other places. Compare:
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speaker's/hearer's past or future position
We can also use bring for a movement to a place where the speaker or hearer already was or will be. Compare:
- Where's that report? - I brought it to you when you were in Mr Allen's office.
Don't you remember?
I took the papers to John's office.
- I'll arrive at the hotel at six o'clock. Can you bring the car at six-thirty? Can you take the car to the garage tomorrow? I won't have time. (NOT €dn
you br'ing the car' ttJ (;he garage ttJmOf'ffltt:J? ...) joining a movement
Bring (with) can be used to talk about joining a movement of the speaker'sl hearer's, even if take is used for the movement itself.
I'm taking the kids to the cinema tonight. Would you like to come with us and bring Susie?
somebody else's position
Sometimes when we are talking about somebody else (not the speaker or hearer), that person can become the centre of our attention. In that case, we
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This is a nice restaurant. Thanks for bringing me here. (NOT ••• tha,t/cs for taking me here.)
Let's have another drink, and then I'll take you home. (NOT ••• and (;hen tEL bringytJU home.)
(on the phone) Can we come over on Sunday? We'll bring a picnic. Let's go and see Aunt May on Sunday. We can take a picnic.
both...and HI
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