Why not this?

Only the 1st sounds fine to me.

Both «Both the girls...» and «Both girls...» are correct, because the definite article is sometimes omitted in such phrases.

«The both» is incorrect, because here the article is placed before a pronoun.

«Both of girls» is probably incorrect, becasue here you missed the article:
«Both of the girls».

With «both of» the definite article is never omitted, as I know.

These are all correct:

1. Both the girls are pregnant.

2, Both girls are pregnant.

3. Both of the girls are pregnant.

4. The girls are both pregnant.

5. Both of you are pregnant.

Sometimes you hear "the both", either in non-standard English, or for emphasis, but it's probably better avoided:

6. This town ain't big enough for the both o

I agreed with you.



In these sentences, you are talking about 2 girls in general. There are no specific details.

Both girls have been getting along fine ----Ok

Both the girls have been getting along fine. ---- Does not sound right standing alone..

The both girls have been getting along fine. ---- “the” is not needed here.

Both of girls have

«I agreed with you.»
It's clear from your post, that you disagree with MrP about two variants...

«Both the girls have been getting along fine. ---- Does not sound right standing alone..»

How can that stand alone¿ The girls must have been mentioned somewhere before... Otherwise one wouldn't be able to say "Both girls...".

Yes; here are a couple of possible contexts:

Ex. 1
Conversation between two neighbours:

"How are your girls getting along at school?"
"Oh, well, both the girls have been getting along fine. But I'm a little worried about the boys..."

Ex. 2
School report on the Pedantic family:

"Both girls have been getting along fine, since the start of

I am sorry if my reply was a bit late and gave the wrong impression. My agreeing was meant to echo Marius Hancu’s post. I started the reply but had to attend to my office business. When I returned, I was two postings behind.



I always believe the context is the key in determining what is correct and otherwise. But based on the sentences given, I would say only # 1 is completely c

BelieverWhy the first two are good and the fourth is wrong? Is the third sentence wrong?

Both girls have been getting along fine o.k.

Both the girls have been getting along fine. o.k.

The both girls have been getting along fine. not sure of the rule, but 'the' does

both cannot be preceded by the when both is adjectival.
*the both girls
*the both cars

both must come first.
both (of) the girls
both (of) the cars

both can be (optionally) preceded by the when both is pronomial (and followed by of + pronoun). In my experience it is more common to omit

CalifJimboth cannot be preceded by the when both is adjectival.
*the both girls
*the both cars

both must come first.

both (of) the girls
both (of) the cars

Yes, Swan, Practical English Usage, confirms the