Both the old and the new bike[s?]

Question

Say I have one old and one new bike.

Should I write:

Both the old and the new bike should be there.

or

Both the old and the new bikes should be there.

I'd say the noun phrase in both [adj1] and [adj2] [np] can be either singular OR plural. Hence Strive to achieve a balance in both yours and their lives, and Every word you say plants a seed in the 'garden' of both yours and their life. The only difference I see in your exact examples is that the singular implies there are only two bikes (one of each kind), but there might be several with the plural version. — FumbleFingers, Commented Oct 22, 2019 at 15:33

JRodge01 · Accepted Answer · 2019-10-22 14:29:12Z

1

The first is more specific: you have one of each.

The second is less specific: you have a mixture of old and new bikes.

answered Oct 22, 2019 at 14:29

JRodge01

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Jvlnarasimharao · Accepted Answer · 2019-10-22 14:42:06Z

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Both the old bike and the new bike should be there.

The old bike is singular

The new book is singular

So the old bike and the new bike are plural and mean one old book and one new book.

So the above sentence is correct.

If you say :

Both the old and the new bikes, it means some old bikes and some new bikes.

It is not what you intended to say

answered Oct 22, 2019 at 14:37

Jvlnarasimharao

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