Introduction
Do you ever stop mid-sentence and wonder whether to say each student, every student, or all students? You are not alone — this is one of the trickiest corners of English grammar for learners at the B1–B2 level. Getting these three words right will make your speaking and writing sound more natural, more precise, and far more confident.
What Is the Difference Between Each, Every, and All?
These three words are quantifiers that describe how we refer to a group of people or things. Each means “every single one, considered separately.” Every means “all the members of a group, considered together as a whole.” All means “the complete group, with no exceptions.” In short: each focuses on individuals, every focuses on the group as one unit, and all focuses on the total collection.
Rules
- Each + singular noun + singular verb. “Each book is on the shelf.” Each treats members one by one.
- Every + singular noun + singular verb. “Every child loves ice cream.” Every refers to the whole group, but grammatically stays singular.
- All + plural noun + plural verb. “All the students are here.” All takes a plural noun and a plural verb.
- Each of / Every one of + plural noun + singular verb. “Each of the players has a number.” The verb agrees with each, not with the plural noun.
- All of + plural noun + plural verb. “All of my friends live nearby.”
- Each can be used for two items; every needs three or more. “She held a bag in each hand” (two hands). “He visits every city in the country” (many cities).
- Every is not used with “of” directly. Say “every one of the students,” not “every of the students.”
- Each and every can be followed by “one of.” “Each one of us,” “every one of them.”
- All can be used with uncountable nouns. “All the water is gone.” Each and every cannot be used with uncountable nouns.
- Position matters. Each and all can appear after the subject: “They each received a prize.” “We all agree.”
How to Use It
Follow these steps whenever you are unsure which word to choose:
- Ask: am I thinking of individuals or the whole group? If individuals, choose each. If the whole group as one unit, choose every. If the total collection, choose all.
- Check the noun. Is it singular or plural? Is it countable or uncountable? Each and every need singular countable nouns; all can take plural countable or uncountable nouns.
- Match the verb. Singular verb after each and every; plural verb after all + plural noun.
- Check the number of items. Two items? Use each, not every.
- Watch the preposition. Use “of” after each and all, but after every you need “one of.”
Example: “Each of the teachers has a laptop.” → individual focus, singular verb.
Example: “Every teacher has a laptop.” → group focus, singular verb.
Example: “All the teachers have laptops.” → total group, plural verb.
Examples in Sentences
- Each student received a certificate at the ceremony.
- Every student in the class passed the exam.
- All the students were happy with their results.
- She gave a gift to each of her two sisters.
- Every house on the street has a red door.
- All the houses on the street have red doors.
- Each of the runners finished the race in under an hour.
- Every runner finished the race in under an hour.
- All of the runners finished the race in under an hour.
- My parents each work in a hospital.
- We all enjoyed the concert last night.
- Every morning, he drinks a cup of coffee.
- Each child was given a balloon at the party.
- All the water in the bottle has evaporated.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using a plural verb after each or every.
❌ Each of the boys are playing football.
✅ Each of the boys is playing football.
Mistake 2: Using “every of.”
❌ Every of my friends came to the party.
✅ Every one of my friends came to the party.
Mistake 3: Using each with three or more items when every is more natural.
❌ She has visited each country in Europe.
✅ She has visited every country in Europe.
Mistake 4: Using each or every with uncountable nouns.
❌ Each water in the lake is clean.
✅ All the water in the lake is clean.
Mistake 5: Forgetting the plural noun after all.
❌ All student must attend the meeting.
✅ All students must attend the meeting.
Quick Summary
- Each = individuals, one by one; singular verb; can be used for two items.
- Every = whole group as one unit; singular verb; needs three or more items.
- All = the complete group; plural verb with plural nouns; can be used with uncountable nouns.
- Use each of and all of, but every one of.
- Watch subject-verb agreement — it is the most common error.
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with each, every, or all.
- ______ student in the school must wear a uniform.
- ______ of the two candidates gave a speech.
- ______ the books on the shelf are mine.
- She calls her mother ______ day.
- ______ of the employees received a bonus.
Answers:
- Every (or Each) — group focus with singular noun and verb.
- Each — only two candidates.
- All — plural noun and plural verb.
- Every — repeated daily action with a group idea.
- Each — individual focus with singular verb.
Conclusion
Mastering each, every, and all is really about noticing whether you mean individuals, a whole group, or a total collection. Keep the rules above in mind, practise the examples, and you will soon choose the right word automatically. Small changes like these make a big difference in how natural your English sounds.
FAQ
1. Can I use “each” and “every” interchangeably?
Often yes, but not always. Each emphasises individuals one by one, while every emphasises the group as a whole. Also, each works for two items, but every needs three or more.
2. Is “each” always followed by a singular verb?
Yes. Even when “each of” is followed by a plural noun, the verb stays singular: “Each of the girls is ready.”
3. Why can’t I say “every of the students”?
Because every is a determiner that must come directly before a singular noun. To use it with “of,” you need “every one of”: “Every one of the students passed.”
4. Can “all” be used with uncountable nouns?
Yes. “All the milk is fresh.” Each and every cannot be used this way because they require countable singular nouns.