I don't like either/both of them

It's not "wrong", Ms Tan. In this type of situation, we would normally reserve 'both' for positive statements.

2a. I saw two pictures on the wall. I liked both of them.

Many thanks, JTT.

Am I right to say that 'I saw two pictures on the wall. I did not like both of them' is not wrong if I choose to write it that way?

If you did not like both of them, then perhaps you liked one of them? That's why we say 'either'.

Good point, Freeduck. Respect.

(I can see you have a devious mind!)

I did not like both of them means I like one of them.
To non-natives, it would appear absurd because ' I don't both of them' implies that I don't like either of them.

FreeDuck does have a point, Ms Tan, but it needs a context to help make sense of it.

Thanks, JTT.

I understand that FreeDuck is correct in what he said, but most non-natives whose command of English is poor will think that he is saying something which is not correct.

In print, probably but such a collocation can even fool native speakers. With context, I think you might find that it wouldn't be that tough to understand.

Thanks, JTT.

I am even native speakers can be fooled by the sentence.

I think that people would understand you if you said "I don't like both of them". The word "both" takes two things and makes them one. Both girls went to the movies. If both girls did not go to the movies, that still leaves open the possibility that one of them did. If you say you don't like both of the paintings, that tells me that you don't like them taken together. But it still leaves open the possibility that you like one, but not the two taken together. That's why when we negate what happens to "both" we take care to negate each. Does that make sense? It's really a very minor thing and you would probably be understand regardless.

I like both paintings.
I dislike both paintings.
I don't like either painting.

Hi Contrex


It's interesting. It requires a negative verb 'dislike' if 'both' is used.

Well, not really, Ms Tan though certainly normally. Obviously, the normal neutral is 'both' with positives and 'either' with negatives. There are times when you could hear,

I don't like both

I can such a scenario where the speaker emphasizes each word, sort of a denial to what someone else has just said.

The second sentence is wrong (or at least not natural) , because we don't use "both" in negative sentences/structures. We say "I didn't like either of them." or "I liked neither of them."