Grammar · Free lesson
Both Maya and Leo are here: include two people
Someone asks whether Maya or Leo has arrived. You can see the two of them. Your answer should make it clear that neither person is missing.
Professor Scott MendozaMeaning in this lesson
both ... and
A paired expression that includes two people or things together. Here it joins two people as the subject.
Example
“Both Maya and Leo are here.”
Maya is here and Leo is here; the statement includes the two of them.
The short answer
Say “Both Maya and Leo are here.” The subject includes two people, so use are, not is. Both ... and emphasises that the statement is true of Maya and true of Leo.
Count the whole subject, not just the closest name.
Both goes before the first person and and joins the second: both Maya and Leo. Treat the two-person subject like they. Use are with be and the plural present form with other verbs: “Both Maya and Leo live near here.”
Include each person in one statement.
Maya is here. Leo is here.
Both Maya and Leo are here.
Leo is only the final name, not the whole subject. Do not let that singular name pull the verb into is.
Build the two-person subject
Name the first person
Both Maya
Add the second person
Both Maya and Leo
Choose the plural verb
Both Maya and Leo are here.
Try it now
Do you mean one person or two?
Read all answers and explanations
Maya and Leo have both arrived. Complete: “Both Maya and Leo ___ here.”
areBoth Maya and Leo includes two people, like they. Use are. Is matches a singular subject; am goes with I.
Choose the paired connector that explicitly includes the two people: “Both Maya ___ Leo can help.”
andThe pair is both ... and. It says the statement applies to Maya and to Leo. Both ... or and both ... nor do not form this pair.
Choose the standard present-simple statement about where the two people live.
Both Maya and Leo live near here.The subject is plural, so use live without -s. Lives is singular; living alone leaves the sentence without a complete finite verb.
Put it into practice
Match the verb to both people.
The manager and the assistant are two different people, and both are here. Repair the verb without changing that meaning.
Both the manager and the assistant is here.
See a model answer
Both the manager and the assistant are here.
The correction keeps the two-person meaning and gives that subject a matching verb.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Can I leave out both and just use and?
Yes. “Maya and Leo are here” still includes the two people. Both adds emphasis that the statement applies to each of them.
Maya and Leo are here.
Can I use both of them instead of the names?
Yes, when the listener knows which two people you mean. Both of them also takes a plural verb in this subject position.
Both of them are here.
Take it into your day
When both ... and joins two distinct people as the subject, use a plural verb.
Your next step · Available on Udemy
Make your sentence connections more precise.
Both ... and is one paired connector. The English Grammar and English Speaking course includes Correlative Conjunctions with Learn it, Review it, Use it and Practice it lessons, so you can practise how connected words shape a complete sentence.
Explore the course English Master Course: English Grammar and English Speaking