Grammar
Each and every: understand the difference
Each chair has a number. Every chair in the room is ready. Both sentences include all the chairs, but they guide your attention in different ways.
Choose each when you focus on members one by one and every when you mean the whole group, then use the right singular noun pattern.
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 guest has a name tag. /iːtʃ ɡest hæz ə neɪm tæɡ/
The short answer
Use each to focus on members separately: Each drawer has a label. Use every to mean all members as a group: Every drawer is full. Both words are followed by a singular noun, but each can also appear in each of us or each of the drawers. Do not use every of us; say every one of us.
Each runner wears a numbered bib.
Why it works: Each directs attention to one runner at a time, even though the sentence is about the whole team.
5 more examples
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Each suitcase has a green tag.
The speaker is checking the suitcases one at a time.
Not this:
Every suitcaseis on the same cart. What changes: The speaker describes the whole set of suitcases together. -
Each of the keys opens a different cabinet.
Use each of before the, these, those, or a pronoun when you name the group after of.
Not this:
Every one ofthe keys has a blue mark. What changes: Every needs one before of in this pattern. Every of the keys is not the standard form. -
Every visitor needs a pass at the gate.
Visitor and needs are singular after every.
Not this:
Every visitors needa pass at the gate. What changes: This form is wrong because every is followed by a singular noun. -
The clinic calls each patient before the appointment.
Each suits a process that happens separately for one patient and then another.
Not this:The clinic is open
every weekday. What changes: Every is natural for a regular time pattern. It does not name members one by one. -
Each of us brings one dish for dinner.
Each can be followed by of us, of you, or of them.
Not this:
Every one of usbrings one dish for dinner. What changes: Use every one of us when you need this form with every.
Read the full guide
Start by asking how you see the group. If you are checking people or things one by one, each is often the useful choice. If you mean the group in a general way, every often fits. The grammar is simple: each ticket and every ticket use a singular noun, and the verb is usually singular too.
Choose each for members one by one
Use each when you want the listener to think about members separately. The group is still included, but your attention moves from one member to the next.
Each painter chooses a different color.
The sentence tells us about every painter, with one choice for each person.
Each page has a small number at the bottom.
The pages are considered one at a time.
Which word fits when you check the names on a list one by one?
Use each. It helps you focus on separate members of the group.
Choose every for the whole group
Use every when you mean all members of a complete group. The sentence does not focus on one member after another. It gives a general statement about them all.
Every table in the cafe has a menu.
The speaker describes the full set of tables.
Every apartment faces the courtyard.
Every gives one general fact about all the apartments.
Which word fits a general statement about all the rooms in a hotel?
Use every when you mean the complete group in a general way.
Keep the noun and verb singular
Put a singular countable noun after each or every. The usual verb is singular too. This is true even when the group has many people or things.
Each employee receives a locker.
Employee is singular, so receives is singular too.
Every bottle needs a lid.
Say every bottle, not every bottles.
Choose the correct sentence: 'Every guest arrives early' or 'Every guests arrive early'?
Use Every guest arrives early. Every is followed by the singular noun guest.
Use each of and every one of
Use each of before a pronoun or a group named with the, these, or those. Each of the folders is useful. Each of them is useful. For the matching pattern with every, use every one of, not every of.
Each of these maps shows the same route.
These maps names the group after of, while shows stays singular.
Every one of the lamps is switched off.
Every one of is the standard form before the lamps.
Complete the sentence: '____ of them has a locker.'
Use Each, or use Every one. Do not use Every of them.
Use every for regular times
Every is common when something happens again at a regular time. Use every day, every month, every two weeks, or every ten minutes. This use is about a repeated pattern, not a list of separate things.
The library closes early every Saturday.
Every Saturday tells us when the closing time repeats.
A ferry leaves every thirty minutes.
Every thirty minutes gives the gap between departures.
Which word completes a schedule: 'The class meets ____ Wednesday'?
Use every. Wednesday is part of a regular weekly pattern.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose each when the separate members matter. Choose every when you mean the complete group or a regular time pattern. After either word, use a singular countable noun and a singular verb. Remember the special forms: each of us and every one of us.
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 and every: understand the difference"
What is the main difference between each and every?
Both words can refer to all members of a group. Use each when you want to think about members separately. Use every when you mean the complete group in a general way. With a group of three or more, either word can sometimes fit, but the emphasis changes.
Each suitcase has a green tag.
Do each and every take singular nouns?
Yes. Use a singular countable noun after each and every: each suitcase, every visitor, and every weekday. The usual verb is singular too: Each suitcase has a tag and Every visitor needs a pass. Do not use a plural noun directly after either word.
Every suitcase is on the same cart.
Can I use each with two things?
Yes. Use each for two or more things when you mean them one at a time. You can say a glove on each hand. Every is usually used for groups of three or more, so it does not fit that two-member meaning.
Each of the keys opens a different cabinet.
What is the difference between each of and every one of?
Use each of before a pronoun or a named group: each of us, each of them, or each of the keys. For the matching pattern with every, use every one of us or every one of the keys. Every of us is not the standard form.
Every one of the keys has a blue mark.
Why do we use every in time expressions?
Use every for a regular repeated time pattern, such as every Saturday, every month, or every thirty minutes. The expression tells the listener how often something happens. Each is not normally used for this kind of schedule.
Every visitor needs a pass at the gate.