both of us play

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "both of us play" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to two people participating in an activity, particularly in the context of playing a game or sport together. Example: "In our free time, both of us play soccer at the local park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"Both of us play pretty similar.

The New York Times - Sports

Both of us play predominantly from the baseline.

Independent

"It's good if both of us play at a very good level so the match becomes great because we play long rallies and take our game to the limit and it becomes a very difficult match for both of us.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"Can you imagine both of us playing for the Yankees?" White said to Floyd.

The New York Times - Sports

"Even though both of us played well, it's the law of sport that there has to be a winner and a loser," Aynaoui said.

The New York Times - Sports

This tainting of college sports is unnecessary because intercollegiate sports ordinarily serve an invaluable role on campus--I know they did for me and my sister; both of us played intercollegiate basketball and went on to play for several years overseas after graduating for college.

Huffington Post

"None of us played defense.

The New York Times - Sports

There were four of us playing.

The New Yorker

Some of us played freshman basketball.

The New Yorker

"Both of us can play the infield, the outfield, and switch-hit.

The New York Times - Sports

We've talked about how important it is, to both of us, to play Davis Cup.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "both of us play" when you want to emphasize that two specific individuals are participating in the same activity, especially in sports or games. For example: "Both of us play tennis every weekend".

Common error

Don't use "both of us play" without specifying what you are playing. Saying "Both of us play" is vague. Instead, clarify the activity, such as "Both of us play the guitar" or "Both of us play chess."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "both of us play" functions as a subject-verb construction, indicating a shared action performed by two individuals. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "both of us play" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to indicate that two people participate in an activity together. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not extremely common, it appears in a variety of contexts, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, it's best to specify the activity to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "we both participate" or "the pair of us play" can be used for slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

together we play

Emphasizes the togetherness of the activity.

the pair of us play

Uses "pair" to emphasize the two individuals playing.

we jointly play

Highlights the collaborative aspect of playing together.

we both participate

Emphasizes participation rather than specifically playing a game or sport.

the two of us are involved

Highlights involvement, suitable for activities beyond just playing.

we are both players

Focuses on being players, but not necessarily playing together.

we both engage

Suggests a more general engagement in an activity, not just playing.

we both partake in

A more formal way of saying we both take part in something.

each of us plays

Focuses on the individual action of playing rather than the joint activity.

we share the game

Implies sharing an activity or experience of playing.

FAQs

How can I use "both of us play" in a sentence?

You can use "both of us play" to indicate that two people are participating in an activity together. For example, "Both of us play the piano", or "Both of us play on the same soccer team".

What is a similar phrase to "both of us play"?

A similar phrase to "both of us play" is "we both play". They both indicate that two people engage in the same activity.

Is it correct to say "both of us plays"?

No, it is incorrect. The correct form is "both of us play". The verb "play" should be in the plural form because it refers to two people.

What is the difference between "both of us play" and "all of us play"?

"Both of us play" refers to two specific individuals. "All of us play" refers to a group of three or more individuals.