A noun phrase can contain several words that identify or count the people or things named.

The idea

Common patterns place all, both or half before an article, demonstrative or possessive: all my friends. Position words such as first, next and last usually precede cardinal numbers: the first two days. Articles and possessives normally do not occur together.

Examples

  • All my friends enjoyed the concert.
  • The first two days were rainy.
  • Both her sisters live nearby.
  • Half the cake is on the table.
  • Our next three guests arrive tomorrow.
  • I found all the old maps in a drawer.
  • The last four buses were full.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not put all after a possessive in a noun phrase: say all my friends, not my all friends. Some patterns allow of, as in all of my friends.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. ___ brought a dish to the picnic. (all our neighbours / our all neighbours)

    Show answer or example answer

    all our neighbours

    all our neighbours puts the quantity word before the possessive.

  2. Choose the correct option. We spent ___ in a small village. (the first three nights / the three first nights)

    Show answer or example answer

    the first three nights

    the first three nights identifies the initial group of three nights.

  3. Choose the correct option. ___ are on the shelf. (both these books / these both books)

    Show answer or example answer

    both these books

    both these books places the quantity word before the demonstrative.

Use it today

Describe a group of people and the first two days of a trip using these patterns.