Introduction
If you have ever written “Every students passed the exam” or “Each of my friends are coming,” you are not alone. These three little words—each, every, and all—cause more agreement errors than almost any other quantifiers in English. Getting them right makes your speaking and writing sound natural and precise, so let’s break them down step by step.
What Is the Difference Between “Each,” “Every,” and “All”?
Each, every, and all are quantifiers that tell us how much or how many of something we are talking about. Each and every focus on individual members of a group one at a time—this is called distributive meaning. All treats the group as one complete whole. The tricky part is agreement: each and every are always singular, while all depends on the noun that follows it.
Rules for Using “Each,” “Every,” and “All”
- Each + singular noun + singular verb. “Each student has a locker.” Each refers to members of a group one by one, but grammatically it is singular.
- Every + singular noun + singular verb. “Every house on the street looks the same.” Every means “all members of a group, considered individually.”
- Each of / Every one of + plural noun + singular verb. “Each of the players is ready.” The noun after “of” is plural, but the verb stays singular.
- All + plural noun + plural verb. “All the students are here.”
- All + uncountable noun + singular verb. “All the water is gone.”
- Each can stand alone as a pronoun; every cannot. “I bought four apples, and each was sweet.” Never say “every was sweet.”
- Every is used for three or more; each works for two or more. “Each of my two hands” is fine, but “every of my two hands” is not.
- Pronouns after each/every are usually singular. “Every child raised his or her hand.” In informal modern English, “their” is widely accepted, but formal exams often expect singular pronouns.
How to Use “Each,” “Every,” and “All”
Follow these steps whenever you are unsure which word to choose:
- Decide if you mean “one by one” or “as a whole.” One by one → each or every. As a whole → all.
- Check how many items there are. Exactly two → use each, not every. Three or more → each or every both work.
- Look at the noun that follows. Singular noun → each/every. Plural or uncountable noun → all.
- Match the verb to the quantifier, not the noun after “of.” “Each of the books is new,” not “are new.”
- Check your pronoun. Use singular pronouns with each and every in formal writing.
For example: “Each employee received a bonus.” (one by one, singular verb) → “Every employee received a bonus.” (same idea, slightly more general) → “All the employees received bonuses.” (the whole group together, plural verb).
Examples in Sentences
- Each of the cakes was decorated beautifully.
- Every student in the class has a dictionary.
- All my friends are coming to the party.
- All the milk has gone sour.
- Each player wants to win the trophy.
- Every morning, my neighbour walks his dog.
- Each of the twins has a different personality.
- Every one of the answers was correct.
- All of the information is useful.
- Each child receives a small gift.
- Every seat in the theatre was taken.
- All the windows need cleaning.
Common Mistakes with “Each,” “Every,” and “All”
- Mistake 1: Plural verb after each/every.
❌ Each of the boys are playing football.
✅ Each of the boys is playing football. - Mistake 2: Using “every” with two items.
❌ She wore rings on every of her two fingers.
✅ She wore rings on each of her two fingers. - Mistake 3: Using “every” as a pronoun.
❌ I have three pens, and every writes well.
✅ I have three pens, and each writes well. - Mistake 4: Singular verb after “all” + plural noun.
❌ All the students is ready.
✅ All the students are ready. - Mistake 5: Mixing up “all” with uncountable nouns.
❌ All the furnitures are new.
✅ All the furniture is new.
Quick Summary
- Each = one by one; singular verb; works for two or more.
- Every = all members seen individually; singular verb; needs three or more; never a pronoun.
- All = the whole group; plural verb with countable nouns, singular verb with uncountable nouns.
- After each of / every one of, the verb stays singular.
- Use singular pronouns with each and every in formal English.
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets, or choose each/every/all.
- Each of the paintings ______ (be) sold last week.
- Every child in the room ______ (have) a name tag.
- All the sandwiches ______ (taste) delicious.
- All the rice ______ (be) finished.
- I have two sisters, and ______ of them lives in London. (each / every)
Answers:
- was
- has
- taste
- is
- each
Conclusion
Mastering each, every, and all comes down to one key idea: each and every are singular, while all follows the noun it describes. Practise these patterns until they feel automatic, and your English will sound noticeably more natural and accurate.
FAQ
Is “each” always singular?
Yes. Even when “each” is followed by “of” and a plural noun, the verb stays singular: “Each of the students is present.” The same applies to pronouns in formal writing: “Each of the girls brought her own lunch.”
Can I use “every” with only two things?
No. “Every” needs a group of three or more. With exactly two items, use “each”: “He held a glass in each hand,” not “every hand.”
What is the difference between “each” and “every”?
Both are singular and distributive, but “each” emphasises individuals separately, while “every” emphasises all members of a group without exception. Compare: “Each student got a different question” (individually different) versus “Every student passed the test” (no exceptions).
Does “all” take a singular or plural verb?
It depends on the noun. With plural countable nouns, use a plural verb: “All the books are new.” With uncountable nouns, use a singular verb: “All the information is correct.”