Common mistakes
Each or every: individuals and the whole group
You've got two gloves. Is there a hole in each glove or every glove?
Both words can cover all members of a group. The focus and word pattern guide your choice.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
each or every EETCH-or-EV-ree
The short answer
Use each to focus on separate members; use every to include the whole set. For a known pair, choose each.
I've put a sticker on each glove.
Why it works: There are two gloves. Each points to one and then the other.
4 more examples
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Checking a jacket's two sleeves
There's a tear in each sleeve.
You're checking the two sleeves of one jacket.
Not this:There's a tear in
every sleeve. What changes: Every is not the normal choice for this known pair. -
Replacing bulbs in five lamps
Each of our lamps has a new bulb.
Use our before the plural noun lamps, then has.
Not this:
Every of our lampshas a new bulb. What changes: Every does not join directly to of. -
Watching a live score display
The screen updates every six seconds.
Every plus a number gives the gap between updates.
Not this:The screen updates
each six seconds. What changes: Each does not fit this numbered time gap. -
Reading a pencil price label
Those pencils are two dollars each.
The price is for one pencil.
Not this:Those pencils are
two dollars every. What changes: Every cannot finish this price phrase.
Quick check
She has one mug in her left hand and one in her right. Choose the word.
One mug in each of two hands
She held a warm mug in ___ hand.
Answer: each
Show the answer
Answer: each
For this pair, use each with the singular noun hand.
Read the full guide
A pair or a larger group
The problem: I've got two gloves, but the word every feels wrong.
You're talking about one glove and then the other. Each fits a known pair. For larger groups, either word can work. Both take a singular noun: each card or every card.
You think about the five cards separately.
I've read each card.
You confirm that you've read all five cards.
I've read every card.
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Nearly every light is on.
Why it works: Nearly every means most, with a few left out. Use almost or nearly with every, not each.
Your turn
There are exactly two shoes in the pair. Choose the word.
Looking at a pair of shoes
There was mud on ___ shoe after the walk.
Answer: each
Show the answer
Answer: each
Each fits this pair of shoes. Every is not the normal choice for a known pair.
Build each of correctly
The problem: I know the group, but I can't fit of into the sentence.
You've named a group of folders. After each of, keep the group words. Use the, our, or these before a plural noun. With people, you can also use each of us, you, or them.
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Not this:
Each of folders is blue.Say: Each of these folders is blue.
You need a word such as these before folders.
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Not this:
Every of these folders is blue.Say: Every one of these folders is blue.
Every needs one before of. Each of works without one.
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Each of them has a blue cover.
Why it works: Them replaces the folders. Keep has after each of them.
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Every one of our bags has a tag.
Why it works: Our stays before bags. Every one of includes all the bags.
Your turn
Build the sentence with each of the workers as its subject.
Distributing keys in an office
Answer: Each of the workers has a key to the room.
Show the answer
Answer: Each of the workers has a key to the room.
Each of the workers is the subject. Use has, even though workers is plural.
Time gaps and repeated days
The problem: I want to say how often something happens.
You're setting a timer for the next break. Use every with a numbered gap. The time word is plural after numbers above one. You can use the same pattern for distance.
Choose every before the number of minutes.
The bell rings every twelve minutes.
Both each day and every day can describe a routine.
I write in my journal each day.
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We check the route every four miles.
Why it works: The gap between checks is four miles.
-
I write in my journal every day.
Why it works: You mean all the days in your routine. Each day gives more focus to separate days.
Your turn
In this fictional daily plan, choose the word for a regular time gap.
A grammar exercise about a daily plan
You should drink a glass of water ___ two hours.
Answer: every
Show the answer
Answer: every
Every two hours names the gap between repeats. Each does not fit this numbered pattern.
A price or a missing noun
The problem: The price is for one thing. Can I end with every?
You're buying a bowl at a market. Each can mean for one item. You can put it after the amount. Every needs a noun or one; it cannot finish that price phrase.
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These bowls are seven dollars each.
Why it works: One bowl costs seven dollars.
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I've kept the postcards. Each has a date.
Why it works: Each can stand alone because you've already named the postcards.
Two words refer to known people or things.
I've kept every one.
One word means all the people.
Everyone's ready for the picnic.
Your turn
Choose each or every to complete the price.
Buying fruit at an outdoor market
Answer: The fresh melons are three pounds each.
Show the answer
Answer: each
Each gives the price for one melon. Every cannot stand alone after this amount.
Has or have?
The problem: I see a plural word nearby. Should I use has or have?
You're describing the people in your class. Each student and every student take has. You can still use their to refer to one person without naming their gender.
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Each student has their own pen.
Why it works: Their refers to one student at a time. The verb stays has.
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Every student has their own pen.
Why it works: Every includes all the students. The singular noun student still takes has.
Each of us is the subject, so use has.
Each of us has a separate drawer.
We is the subject, so use have.
We each have a separate drawer.
Before you go
Question 1 of 2
Choose the correct word to follow the word almost.
A meeting room
Almost ___ seat in the room was taken.
Answer: every
Show the answer
Answer: every
Almost every means most seats, with a few left out. Almost each does not fit.
Question 2 of 2 · One new sentence
You greet each speaker separately. Speaking to one guest, describe the two badges made for that person.
One guest's pair of badges with their name
When you welcome the two guest speakers at the door, you say: '___'
Answer: Each badge has your name on it.
Show the answer
Answer: Each badge has your name on it.
Each fits that guest's pair of badges. Both badges carry the name of the person you're speaking to.
Remember this
Before you answer, look for clues: two items, of, a price, or a numbered gap. Keep has with each person; use have with we each.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Each or every: individuals and the whole group"
Can each and every both describe the same group?
Yes, when the group has three or more members. Each draws attention to the separate members. Every says that none are left out. Neither word means the action must happen at the same time. For a known pair, each is the normal choice. In these examples, the shop has five windows.
I've cleaned each window in the shop.
I've cleaned every window in the shop.
Should I say each of or every of?
Use each of or every one of. Every needs one before of. With a plural noun, keep a word such as the, my, or these: each of my neighbors. You can also use us, you, or them instead of the noun group. Both patterns normally take a singular verb when they are the subject.
Each of these baskets is empty.
Every one of them is empty.
Why can I say each person has their own seat?
Each person takes the singular verb has. Their can still refer to that one person without saying he or she. Every person works the same way. In we each have, we is the subject, so the verb is have. Choose the verb for the subject, not just for the nearest word.
Each passenger has their own seat.
We each have a place by the window.
Why is every two weeks correct if every takes a singular noun?
A numbered time gap uses a different pattern: every plus a number and a time word. After numbers above one, that word is plural. For a routine, both every day and each day are possible. Write every day as two words when it means on all the days. Everyday is one word when it means ordinary, as in everyday clothes.
We meet every two weeks.
I water the seedlings every day.
Can each or every stand alone without a noun?
Each can stand alone when you already know the group. It can also follow a price to mean for one item. Every needs a noun or one. Use every one, two words, to refer to known people or things. Everyone, one word, means all the people. It cannot refer to a set of objects.
The badges are three dollars each.
I've checked the tools, and every one works.
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