Table of Contents

Each, every

Introduction

Image    This train stops at every station on the route.
 

Definition

Each and every are quantifiers which have similar meanings but are not always used in the same way.
 

Construction

 

Each

Every

 

+ singular noun

 

Each book is different.

 

 

Every book is different.

 

+ plural noun

 

Image

 

 

Image

 

without a noun

 

Each is different.

 

 

Image

 

with 'one'

 

Each one is different.

 

 

Every one is different.

 

with 'of'

 

 

Each of them is different.

 

Image

 

 

with 'one' and 'of'

 

Image

 

Every one of them is different.

 


Each and every take a singular verb, even if there is more than one noun:

     Every man and woman has an opportunity to progress in our company.

 

With 'each of', we can use a singular or a plural verb but the singular is better in formal written English:

 

Each of the books is/are different. 

 

Uses

 

Use

Examples

 

Each

 

To talk about a group of things or people when we consider them separately - one at a time

 

To refer to two things or people

 

 

To talk about prices

 

To talk about how things are divided between members of a group

 

 

'each other' 

 

We greeted each visitor as they arrived.

 

In last night's rugby match, each team played well.

 

These apples are 40p each.

 

There are six chocolates and three people so they can have two each.

 

He's looking at her and she's looking at him. = They're looking at each other.

[see Reflexive and reciprocal pronouns]

 

 

Every

 

To talk about a group of things or people when we consider them as a whole. The meaning is similar to all

 

To talk about frequency

 

Every visitor to our company receives a warm welcome.

 

 

The buses leave every fifteen minutes.

 

She visits her parents every Christmas. 

 


Note that for smaller numbers, each is more common. Every is more common for bigger numbers and has a similar meaning to all: 

Each member of my team works hard.

Every employee in this company works hard.