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Both has several roles, as a pronoun (I like both), adjective (I like both boys), or conjunction (They are both pleasant and cheerful). Its mobility in a sentence is so great that its meaning can become ambiguous. In the last example, it is not immediately clear whether both belongs with "they" or with the complement of the sentence, "pleasant and cheerful"; in speech, intonation will normally clarify the intention. However, when writing, you need to ensure that you are not leaving the reader in doubt. The principal restriction applying to both is that it should refer to two people or things and no more; if three or more are meant, it is necessary to use each, which behaves grammatically in ways quite similar to both. (However, each is regarded as singular while both is plural, and both alone allows the construction I saw them both.) When pairing both with and, it is important to retain a balance between the two parts of the construction with regard to the position of both and the types of words linked: She is both charming and intellectual [not She is both charming and an intellectual] or He both sings well and likes to paint [not He is both a fine singer and likes to paint]. In terms of possession, of + both is clearer, as in the parents of both, the responsibility of both, as opposed to both their parents and both their responsibility or both their responsibilities.
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