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

Introduction

Do you ever pause before writing a sentence like “Each of the students is ready” or “Every student are ready”? You are not alone. Choosing between each, every, and all is one of the most common challenges for English learners, because these little words control whether the verb that follows should be singular or plural. Get them right, and your English sounds natural and precise. Get them wrong, and even simple sentences can feel awkward to a native speaker.

What Is the Difference Between Each, Every, and All?

Each, every, and all are quantifiers — words that tell us how much or how many. They all refer to a group, but they see that group in different ways.

Each means “every one, considered separately.” It focuses on individual members of a group, one by one. Every means “all the members of a group, without exception.” It also focuses on individuals, but it sees them as part of a complete set. All means “the whole group together.” It focuses on the total, not on the individuals inside it.

This difference in meaning — called distributive meaning for each and every — is exactly why the grammar rules for verbs and pronouns are different for these three words.

Rules

1. Each + singular noun, singular verb. When each comes before a noun, use a singular noun and a singular verb: Each student is here.
2. Each of + plural noun/pronoun, singular verb. After each of, the noun is plural, but the verb stays singular: Each of the students is here.
3. Every + singular noun, singular verb. Every is always followed by a singular noun and takes a singular verb: Every child loves stories. Never say every children.
4. All + plural noun, plural verb. With countable nouns, all takes a plural noun and a plural verb: All the students are here.
5. All + uncountable noun, singular verb. With uncountable nouns, all takes a singular verb: All the water is gone.
6. Pronouns follow the same logic. Use singular pronouns (its, his, her) with each and every, and plural pronouns (their) with all: Every dog wagged its tail. All the dogs wagged their tails.
7. Each and every are not used with “of” before a singular noun. Say each student or each of the students, but never each of student.
8. “Each and every” is a fixed phrase meaning “absolutely all, one by one.” It keeps a singular verb: Each and every employee has a badge.

How to Use It

Follow these steps whenever you are unsure which word to choose.

1. Decide what you want to emphasise. Do you want to highlight members one by one (each), the whole set with no exceptions (every), or the group as a single total (all)?
2. Check the noun. Is it countable and singular, countable and plural, or uncountable?
3. Match the verb. Each and every → singular verb. All + plural countable → plural verb. All + uncountable → singular verb.
4. Match the pronoun. Singular for each and every, plural for all.
5. Read the sentence aloud. If it sounds wrong, check step 3 again.

Here is the pattern in action. Imagine a class of ten students. You can say Each student has a book (one by one), Every student has a book (the complete set, no exceptions), or All the students have books (the group as a whole). Notice how the meaning shifts slightly, and how the verb changes with all.

Examples in Sentences

• Each of the players wears a different number.
• Each child received a small gift at the party.
• Every seat in the theatre was taken.
• Every morning, my neighbour walks his dog before work.
• All the windows were open during the storm.
• All of my friends are coming to the wedding.
• All the information is in the first chapter.
• Each of us has a different opinion about the film.
• Every student in the class passed the exam.
• All the coffee was drunk by noon.
• Each and every member of the team deserves credit.
• All the guests enjoyed themselves at the reception.

Common Mistakes

These five errors appear again and again in ESL writing and speaking. Check whether you make any of them.

• Plural verb after “each of”:
  ❌ Each of the boys are ready.
  ✅ Each of the boys is ready.
• Plural noun after “every”:
  ❌ Every students need a notebook.
  ✅ Every student needs a notebook.
• Singular verb after “all” with a plural noun:
  ❌ All the books is on the shelf.
  ✅ All the books are on the shelf.
• Wrong pronoun agreement:
  ❌ Each dog wagged their tail.
  ✅ Each dog wagged its tail.
• Dropping “of the” after “each of”:
  ❌ Each of student has a locker.
  ✅ Each of the students has a locker.

One extra note: in informal modern English, many native speakers use their after every when the gender is unknown (Every student should bring their book). This is widely accepted in everyday speech, but in formal writing and exams, singular his or her is still safer.

Quick Summary

• Each = one by one → singular noun, singular verb, singular pronoun.
• Every = all members, no exceptions → singular noun, singular verb, singular pronoun.
• All = the whole group → plural noun + plural verb (countable), or singular verb (uncountable).
• Each of / all of are followed by plural nouns or pronouns, but the verb depends on the quantifier, not the noun: each of the students is vs all of the students are.
• Pronouns must match: each/every → its, his, her; all → their.

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb in brackets. Then check your answers below.

1. Each of the paintings ______ (be) signed by the artist.
2. Every employee ______ (receive) a bonus this year.
3. All the tickets ______ (sell) out before noon.
4. Each student ______ (have) a different schedule.
5. All the milk ______ (be) in the fridge.

Answers:

1. Each of the paintings is signed by the artist. (singular verb after each of)
2. Every employee receives a bonus this year. (singular verb after every)
3. All the tickets were sold out before noon. (plural verb after all + plural noun)
4. Each student has a different schedule. (singular verb after each)
5. All the milk is in the fridge. (singular verb because milk is uncountable)

Conclusion

Understanding each, every, and all comes down to one idea: how do you see the group? If you see members one by one or as a complete set, use each or every with singular verbs and pronouns. If you see the group as a whole, use all with plural verbs (or singular for uncountable nouns). Practise these patterns often, and they will soon feel completely natural.

FAQ

Is “each” always singular?

Yes. When each is the subject, it always takes a singular verb, even when it is followed by a plural noun: Each of the students is present. The word each focuses on one member at a time, so the grammar treats it as singular. The same applies to the pronoun: Each girl brought her own lunch.

Can I say “every of the students”?

No. Every cannot be followed directly by of. You can say every student or each of the students, but not every of the students. If you want to use of, choose each or all instead: each of the students or all of the students.

Does “all” take a singular or plural verb?

It depends on the noun. With plural countable nouns, all takes a plural verb: All the chairs are new. With uncountable nouns, it takes a singular verb: All the furniture is new. So the verb agrees with the noun after all, not with the word all itself.

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