Introduction
Do you ever stop mid-sentence and wonder, “Should I say each student is or each student are?” You are not alone. The words each, every, and all look simple, but they follow very different grammar rules — especially when it comes to singular and plural agreement. Getting these words right will make your English sound more natural and accurate, whether you are writing an email, taking an exam, or chatting with friends.
What Is Each vs Every vs All?
Each, every, and all are quantifiers — words that tell us how many or how much. They describe groups of people or things, but they focus on the group in different ways.
Each means “every one, seen separately.” It focuses on individual members of a group, one at a time. Every means “all the members of a group, seen together as a whole,” but it still treats them one by one grammatically. All means “the complete group” — it looks at the whole collection at once, without separating the members.
Here is the key idea: each and every are always singular, while all is plural (with countable nouns). This single difference explains almost every rule that follows.
Rules
- Each + singular noun + singular verb. Each child needs a coat. Even though “each” refers to many children, the grammar is singular.
- Every + singular noun + singular verb. Every student has a book. Like “each,” “every” always takes a singular verb.
- All + plural noun + plural verb. All the students have books. With countable nouns, “all” is plural.
- All + uncountable noun + singular verb. All the water is gone. Uncountable nouns (water, money, information) stay singular.
- Each of / Every one of + plural noun + singular verb. Each of the boys is ready. Every one of the girls was late.
- All of + plural noun + plural verb. All of the boys are ready.
- Each and every + singular noun + singular verb. Each and every employee is important. This fixed phrase is always singular.
- Possessive adjectives must match. Use its with each/every, and their with all. Every dog loves its owner. All dogs love their owners.
How to Use It
Follow these simple steps whenever you use these words:
- Ask: am I focusing on members one by one, or the whole group? If one by one, choose each or every. If the whole group together, choose all.
- Choose between each and every. Use each when you want to emphasise individuality (often with two items): Each hand has five fingers. Use every when you mean “all of them, without exception”: Every player on the team scored.
- Check your noun. After each/every, the noun must be singular: each book, every car. After all, use a plural countable noun or an uncountable noun: all books, all the money.
- Match the verb to the noun. Singular noun → singular verb; plural noun → plural verb. Each book is new. All books are new.
- Watch pronouns later in the sentence. Keep them consistent with the quantifier you chose.
Examples in Sentences
Notice how the verb changes depending on the quantifier:
- Each employee receives a bonus at Christmas. (singular)
- Each of the apartments has a balcony. (singular)
- Every morning, my sister drinks green tea. (singular)
- Every one of the answers was correct. (singular)
- All the employees receive a bonus at Christmas. (plural)
- All of the apartments have balconies. (plural)
- All the information is on the website. (uncountable, singular)
- Each and every member is welcome to attend. (fixed phrase, singular)
- Every dog in the shelter needs a loving home. (singular)
- All dogs in the shelter need loving homes. (plural)
- Each student was given a certificate. (singular)
- All the students were given certificates. (plural)
Common Mistakes
These are the errors I see most often in ESL writing. Check whether you make any of them.
- Mistake 1: Using a plural verb after each/every.
❌ Each student are responsible for their homework.
✅ Each student is responsible for their homework. - Mistake 2: Using a singular noun after all.
❌ All student must wear a uniform.
✅ All students must wear a uniform. - Mistake 3: Forgetting that “each of” takes a plural noun but a singular verb.
❌ Each of the boy is here.
✅ Each of the boys is here. - Mistake 4: Mixing up “every” with “all” in meaning.
❌ Every children in the class passed the test.
✅ Every child in the class passed the test. (or: All the children passed the test.) - Mistake 5: Using “all” with an uncountable noun and a plural verb.
❌ All the furniture are new.
✅ All the furniture is new.
Quick Summary
- Each = one by one, always singular: Each boy is here.
- Every = all members as a group, always singular: Every boy is here.
- All = the whole group, plural with countable nouns: All boys are here.
- All + uncountable noun = singular verb: All the milk is fresh.
- Each of / Every one of + plural noun + singular verb.
- All of + plural noun + plural verb.
- Each and every is always singular.
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb in brackets. Then check your answers below.
- Each of the players ______ (be) ready for the match.
- Every house on this street ______ (have) a garden.
- All the water in the bottle ______ (be) cold.
- All of my friends ______ (live) in the city.
- Each and every employee ______ (need) to sign the form.
Answers:
- is — “Each of” + plural noun takes a singular verb.
- has — “Every” is always singular.
- is — “All” + uncountable noun takes a singular verb.
- live — “All of” + plural noun takes a plural verb.
- needs — “Each and every” is always singular.
Conclusion
Mastering each, every, and all comes down to one simple habit: check whether the noun is singular or plural, then match your verb. Remember that each and every are always singular, while all is plural with countable nouns and singular with uncountable ones. Practise the examples above, and these tricky quantifiers will soon feel completely natural.
FAQ
1. Is “each” always singular?
Yes. Each is always singular, even when it refers to many people or things. We say Each student is here, not Each student are here. The same is true for each of the students — the verb stays singular because the subject is still “each.”
2. Can I use “every” with plural nouns?
No. Every must be followed by a singular noun: every book, every child. If you want to talk about a whole group with a plural noun, use all instead: all books, all children. A common error is saying every books, which is never correct.
3. What is the difference between “each” and “every”?
Both are singular, but the focus is different. Each emphasises members as individuals, one at a time, and is often used with small groups or two items: Each of my two brothers has a bike. Every emphasises all members as a complete group with no exceptions: Every student in the school passed. In many sentences, both are possible, but the meaning shifts slightly.
4. Why do we say “All the money is” but “All the coins are”?
It depends on whether the noun is countable or uncountable. Money is uncountable, so it takes a singular verb: All the money is safe. Coins is countable and plural, so it takes a plural verb: All the coins are in the jar. This rule applies to other uncountable nouns too, such as information, furniture, and water.