ENGLISH
REFERENCE

none of the two

fixed phrase.
B1 Intermediate
Definition

fixed phrase. not one and not the other of two people or things. You use this when you want to say that a choice between two options results in zero.

fixed phrase. A quantificational phrase indicating the negative of both members in a set of two. While 'neither' is the standard pronominal form, 'none of the two' is a common learner construction that functions as a synonym for 'neither of them'.


SIMPLE

I liked both shirts, but none of the two fit me.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager interviewed two candidates this morning, but unfortunately, none of the two had the right experience for the role.

COMPLEX

The researchers tested two distinct hypotheses, yet none of the two yielded results that could be considered statistically significant.

Usage

often considered less natural than 'neither of the two' in formal writing.

Teaching tip

use this to bridge the gap toward 'neither'; explain that while 'none' usually refers to three or more, it is frequently used by learners in place of the dual-specific 'neither'.

Pitfall

None of the two girls are here.Neither of the two girls is here.English speakers almost always prefer 'neither' when referring to exactly two items, and it typically takes a singular verb in formal contexts.

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