Both of my parents vs. Lots of my parents

[hani from vietnam]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #50 "Elementary Grammar Questions", question 5

......... of my parents live in the United States of America.

(a) Lots
(b) The two
(c) All
(d) Both

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #50 "Elementary Grammar Questions", answer 5

Both of my parents live in the United States of America.

Correct answer: (d) Both

Your answer was: incorrect
Lots of my parents live in the United States of America.
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Can you explain why I'm wrong?

hani

[Yankee]

Hi Hani

The word both refers to exactly two people or things. Lots refers to many people or things, but people don't have more than two parents.

Amy

[Zellzacks]

Hi there,

Why cannot use 'all'?

Thank you

[Alan]

Hi Zellzacks,

'Parents' refers to two people - mother and father. 'All' would refer to more than two, at least.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story The Name of the Game