An old farmer with three sons, and a bundle of sticks.
Aesop’s Fables · Part 3 · Quantifiers: all, both, each, every, none, either, neither
The Bundle of Sticks
All, both, each, every, none, either and neither: the grammar of how many, and of which ones, with three brothers who argue about everything.
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SOPHIA
MARCOS
Three brothers who argue all the time? I can’t imagine that.
The fable
After Aesop
An old Farmer had three sons. All of them were strong, but they argued every day. Before he died, he gave them a bundle of sticks tied with a rope. “Break it,” he said.
Each son tried, but none of them could break it. Then the Farmer untied the rope and gave each son a single stick. Snap! Every stick broke easily.
“My sons,” he said, “each of you alone is like one stick. But all three of you together are like the bundle.”
Union gives strength.
All, every, each
DEMETRIA
All the brothers argued. They argued every day. Each son got a stick.
SOPHIA
all (of the) + plural = the whole group. every + singular = all, as a group. each + singular = every one, separately (often a small number). Each of them is… takes a singular verb.
Both, either, neither (two)
PHILO
Both older brothers tried. Neither of them succeeded.
SOPHIA
For two: both (the two together, plural verb), either (one or the other), neither (not one and not the other). Either side is fine. Neither brother won.
None (three or more)
MARCOS
None of the three brothers could break it.
SOPHIA
For three or more, use none (of), not neither. And no + noun: No brother could break it.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the fable |
|---|---|---|
| all (of the) + plural | the whole group | All the brothers argued. |
| every / each + singular | every one (each = separately) | Each son got a stick. |
| both / either / neither | two things | Neither of them could break it. |
| none (of) | zero, of three or more | None of the three could. |
| each of / every one of + plural → singular verb | agreement | Every one of the sticks is weak. |
Practice
Answer all the questions, then press “Check my answers”. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Choose the best answer
Choose the right word.
1. ___ students passed the exam. (100%)
2. I go to the gym ___ day.
3. ___ my parents are teachers.
4. ___ of the five answers was right. (0)
5. You can sit on ___ side; it doesn’t matter.
6. Each of the brothers ___ a stick.
B · Complete the sentence
Write the missing word or words.
7. of my two brothers can swim. (0)
8. The teacher gave student a book. (separately)
9. of them were at the party. (2, yes)
10. I like of these two shirts. (one or the other)
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
11. “Neither of the three boys came.”
12. “Both brothers are tall.”
13. “Every students got a prize.”
Now be the youngest son yourself. Can you break the bundle?Play the gamebook →