Each vs Every vs All: Singular or Plural? (B1–B2 Guide)

Introduction

If you have ever written “Every students was late” or “Each of them are ready,” you are not alone. These three little words — each, every, and all — cause more subject–verb agreement errors than almost any other words in English. The good news is that once you understand how they think about groups, the grammar becomes logical and easy to remember.

What Is Each vs Every vs All?

Each, every, and all are quantifiers: words that tell us how much or how many. They all refer to groups of people or things, but they look at those groups differently.

Each and every are distributive — they take a group and look at the members one by one, separately. All is collective — it looks at the whole group together as one unit. This difference in meaning is exactly what creates the difference in grammar.

Here is the key fact: each and every are always followed by singular nouns and singular verbs, while all is followed by plural nouns (or uncountable nouns) and plural verbs.

Rules

1. Each + singular noun + singular verb. Each student has a book. “Each” means “one by one, individually.”
2. Every + singular noun + singular verb. Every student has a book. “Every” means “all members of the group, considered one at a time.”
3. All + plural noun + plural verb. All students have books. “All” treats the group as a whole.
4. Each of / Every one of + plural noun + singular verb. Each of the students has a book. The verb agrees with “each,” not with “students.”
5. All of + plural noun + plural verb. All of the students have books. The verb agrees with the plural idea.
6. Each and every can only be used with countable nouns. We say each child, not each water. For uncountable nouns, use all: All the water is gone.
7. Each can refer to two or more items; every needs three or more. She held a bag in each hand (two hands), but every hand in the room went up (a larger group).
8. Pronouns after each/every are singular. Every employee must bring his or her ID. In modern informal English, “their” is widely accepted: Every employee must bring their ID.

How to Use It

Follow these steps whenever you are not sure which word to choose:

1. Ask: am I thinking “one by one” or “together”? If one by one, choose each or every. If together as a whole, choose all.
2. Check the noun. Is it singular and countable? Use each or every + singular noun. Is it plural or uncountable? Use all.
3. Match the verb to the quantifier, not to the noun after “of.” Each of the boys is here (not “are”). All of the boys are here.
4. Decide between each and every. Use each when you want to emphasise individuality or when the group is small (often two). Use every for a larger group and a more general, sweeping statement: Every city has traffic problems.
5. Check the pronoun. After each and every, use a singular pronoun (he, she, it) or the singular “they.” After all, use a plural pronoun: All the guests brought their gifts.

Examples in Sentences

• Each player has a locker. (singular noun + singular verb)
• Every window was closed before the storm. (singular agreement)
• All the players have lockers. (plural noun + plural verb)
• Each of the recipes takes only ten minutes. (verb agrees with “each”)
• Every one of my friends lives nearby. (singular verb after “every one of”)
• All of the tickets were sold in an hour. (plural verb after “all of”)
• She wore a ring on each finger. (two fingers, individuality)
• Every student in the school knows the anthem. (large group, general statement)
• All the water has evaporated. (uncountable noun with “all”)
• Each child receives a certificate. (one by one)
• Every dog needs daily exercise. (general truth)
• All the information is on the website. (uncountable noun, singular verb)

Common Mistakes

• Mistake 1: Plural verb after each or every.
  ❌ Every student are ready.
  ✅ Every student is ready.
• Mistake 2: Forgetting that “each of” stays singular.
  ❌ Each of the boys are playing.
  ✅ Each of the boys is playing.
• Mistake 3: Using each or every with plural nouns.
  ❌ Each students received a book.
  ✅ Each student received a book. / All students received a book.
• Mistake 4: Using each or every with uncountable nouns.
  ❌ Every advice she gave was useful.
  ✅ All the advice she gave was useful. / Every piece of advice she gave was useful.
• Mistake 5: Using “each” for a large group where “every” sounds natural.
  ❌ Each person on Earth needs clean water. (possible, but unnatural)
  ✅ Every person on Earth needs clean water.

Quick Summary

• Each = one by one, individual focus → singular noun, singular verb.
• Every = all members one at a time, general focus → singular noun, singular verb.
• All = the whole group together → plural noun (or uncountable), plural verb.
• Each of / Every one of + plural noun → singular verb.
• All of + plural noun → plural verb.
• Use each for small groups (often two), every for larger groups.
• Never use each or every with uncountable nouns — use all.

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blank with each, every, or all, and make sure the verb agrees.

1. ______ of the employees ______ (have) a security badge.
2. ______ child in the class ______ (need) a pencil.
3. ______ the furniture ______ (be) delivered yesterday.
4. ______ of my sisters ______ (live) in Canada.
5. ______ the students ______ (be) excited about the trip.

Answers:

1. Each of the employees has a security badge. (or “Every one of”)
2. Every child in the class needs a pencil. (or “Each”)
3. All the furniture was delivered yesterday. (uncountable noun)
4. Each of my sisters lives in Canada. (or “Every one of”)
5. All the students are excited about the trip.

Conclusion

The difference between each, every, and all comes down to one simple idea: each and every see a group member by member and take singular verbs, while all sees the group as a whole and takes plural verbs. Keep this picture in your mind, and you will stop making agreement mistakes for good.

FAQ

1. Is “each” always singular?

Yes. When each is the subject, or when it appears in “each of + plural noun,” the verb is singular: Each student is here. / Each of the students is here. The only exception is when “each” follows a plural subject, as in They each have a book — here the verb agrees with “they.”

2. What is the difference between “each” and “every”?

Both are distributive and take singular verbs, but each emphasises individuality and works with groups of two or more: She has a tattoo on each arm. Every emphasises all members of a larger group in a general way and needs three or more: Every house on the street has a garden. You cannot say “every arm” for two arms.

3. Can I use “all” with singular nouns?

Only with uncountable nouns, where the verb is singular: All the milk is fresh. With countable nouns, all takes a plural noun and plural verb: All the chairs are broken. If you want a singular countable noun, use every or each instead.

4. Why do ESL learners confuse “each of” with “all of”?

Because both are followed by “of + plural noun,” learners assume the verb should be plural in both cases. But the verb agrees with the quantifier, not the noun after “of.” Each of the boys is (singular) versus All of the boys are (plural). Remember: each stays singular no matter how many items follow it.