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Learn natural word order for talking about shared opinions, plans, and activities with both of us, we both, and both of them.
Vanessa teaches two ways to place both when talking about two people who share an action, opinion, or plan: both of us went swimming and we both went swimming. Both of us works as a subject phrase; in we both, both follows the subject we. She first describes going on vacation with her wife and lists activities they shared, including hiking, trying new food, and swimming. The two patterns let speakers avoid repeating we and make it clear that the statement applies to each of the two people.
Vanessa then uses a movie as an example. She says, “We both thought it was amazing,” and “Both of us thought it was funny.” She also introduces the informal reactions “It was lame” and “It sucked.” These slang expressions mean the movie was very bad, but they can sound too casual or blunt in professional situations. She recommends caution at work or in business contexts. The lesson shows both grammar and register: learners need to know not just what a phrase means, but where it sounds appropriate.
Further examples cover shared plans for their children’s education, a question about whether two people enjoyed a game, and a prediction about a couple going on another date. The patterns can appear with different verbs: both of us want, we both think, did both of you have a good time, and if both of them are happy. Both can also follow a plural subject: they both are happy. To practise, learners can describe something they did with another person, compare a shared opinion, or ask two people whether they enjoyed an event. The lesson ends with an invitation to write a sentence using both of us, we both, or both of them. The key is to place both after the subject in “we both” and at the beginning of the subject phrase in “both of us.”
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Introducing both patterns after a shared vacation
Hi, I'm Vanessa from Speak English with Vanessa dot com. Who did you ? Let's talk about it. My students might say, “I went on vacation with my wife. We went hiking, tried new food, went swimming, and had a great time.” They use we repeatedly, so today I'll share two expressions to .
Try it: Name one person you have gone on vacation with, or would like to travel with.
Phrase cheat sheet
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Showing 12 of 12 phrases
Introducing both patterns after a shared vacation · expression
Take a trip during vacation together with another person.
Tone and use: Everyday and conversational. Use go on vacation with + person to name a travel companion.
Example“I went on vacation with my cousins last summer.”
Introducing both patterns after a shared vacation · expression
Learn and use a wider range of words or expressions.
Tone and use: Neutral and instructional. Use it when talking about learning additional language.
Example“Reading short stories can help you expand your vocabulary.”
Comparing both of us with we both · expression
The two people including the speaker; it can be the subject of a sentence.
Tone and use: Neutral and common. Use both of us + verb when the statement applies to the speaker and one other person.
Example“Both of us enjoyed the museum.”
Comparing both of us with we both · expression
We, with both emphasizing that the statement applies to each of the two people.
Tone and use: Neutral and common. Place both after the subject we: we both went, we both liked.
Example“We both prefer the window seat.”
Sharing a movie opinion and noting informal slang · expression
Both people shared the same opinion or judgment.
Tone and use: Conversational and neutral. Use we both thought that + clause to report a shared past opinion.
Example“We both thought that the restaurant was excellent.”
Sharing a movie opinion and noting informal slang · expression
It was very bad or disappointing.
Tone and use: Very informal slang and potentially blunt. Use it only in casual settings with people who are comfortable with slang.
May not fit: Avoid it in professional, formal, or polite feedback situations.
Example“The service was slow, and the food was cold; the experience sucked.”
Using both forms to describe a shared plan · expression
The speaker and one other person share the same desire or intention.
Tone and use: Neutral and direct. Use both of us want + noun or infinitive to describe a shared intention.
Example“Both of us want to learn another language.”
Using both forms to describe a shared plan · collocation
Different ways or choices for learning outside the usual approach.
Tone and use: Neutral and explanatory. Use it when comparing different learning formats or educational choices.
Example“Online classes are one of several alternative education options.”
Asking two people about a game and a date · expression
The two people being spoken to.
Tone and use: Neutral and conversational. Use both of you as the subject or object when addressing two people.
Example“Did both of you receive the invitation?”
Asking two people about a game and a date · expression
Each of those two people is happy.
Tone and use: Neutral and descriptive. Use both of them + verb or adjective to make a statement about two other people.
Example“Both of them are happy with the decision.”
Inviting practice with the two patterns · expression
Create a complete sentence that includes a specified word or phrase.
Tone and use: Instructional and encouraging. Use it to give a language-practice task.
Example“Make a sentence using “we both” and a past-tense verb.”
Inviting practice with the two patterns · expression
Feel pleased or eager about something expected in the future.
Tone and use: Warm and polite. Use look forward to + noun or verb-ing when anticipating something.
Example“I look forward to seeing your photos.”
Knowledge check
Use it in a sentence · “both of us”