Each and every are close, and the grammar around them is almost the same. Both come before a singular noun: each student, every student. Both take a singular verb: each student has, every student has.
The difference is the view. Each separates the members and looks at them individually: "Each child chose a different book." Every collects the group into one statement: "Every child chose the same book." Each also works naturally with two items, while every usually needs three or more.
This page covers the shared grammar, the individual and group views, the compounds everyone and everything, and the position rules. The 20-question drill checks the singular verb and the of-pattern with a rule under every answer.
The rule
The shared grammar
- Both are followed by a singular noun: each student, every student.
- Both take a singular verb: "Each student has a book."
- Do not use a plural noun directly: "every students" is wrong.
- An informal plural pronoun can refer back: "Everyone has their ticket."
Each: one by one
- Each separates the members: "Each child chose a different book."
- Each can refer to two things: "Each hand has five fingers."
- Each of takes a plural noun and a singular verb: "Each of the rooms has a window."
- Each can come after the subject: "The students each received a certificate."
Every: all together
- Every collects the whole group into one statement: "Every seat was taken."
- Every usually needs three or more items; each works with two.
- Every is common with time expressions: every day, every week, every year.
- Every can mean all possible: "She knows every answer."
Adverbs and compounds
- Each can stand alone as a pronoun: "I bought four cakes and each was delicious."
- Every cannot stand alone; use every one or everyone: "Every one was delicious."
- Everybody and everyone mean all the people: "Everyone was ready."
- Everywhere, always and everything follow the same all-inclusive idea.
Position and common phrases
- Each goes before a noun, after a plural subject or before of: each room, they each paid, each of us.
- Every goes before a noun only: every room.
- Every can take a possessive: every student's name.
- Every other means alternating: "We meet every other Friday."
Examples
- Each student received a certificate.Each sees the students one by one.
- Every student passed the test.Every makes one statement about the whole group.
- Each of the rooms has a window.Each of takes a plural noun and a singular verb.
- Every seat was taken.Every collects all the seats together.
- The children each chose a different game.Each can follow a plural subject.
- She calls her mother every day.Every day is a fixed time phrase.
- Each hand has five fingers.Each works with two items.
- Every answer was correct.Every plus singular noun plus singular verb.
- I bought four cakes and each was delicious.Each can stand alone as a pronoun.
- We meet every other Friday.Every other means alternating.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Every students passed the test. Right: Every student passed the test.
- Every takes a singular noun.
- Wrong: Each of the room has a window. Right: Each of the rooms has a window.
- Each of takes a plural noun but keeps the singular verb.
- Wrong: Each students received a certificate. Right: Each student received a certificate.
- Each, like every, takes a singular noun.
- Wrong: Every was delicious. Right: Every one was delicious.
- Every cannot stand alone; every one is the pronoun form.
- Wrong: Every of the children was ready. Right: Every one of the children was ready.
- Every needs one before of.
Practice drill
Answer all 20 questions. Each answer is marked at once, and the rule is explained under the question.
___ student has a locker.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Each Each takes a singular noun and a singular verb.
___ seat was taken.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Every Every takes a singular noun and a singular verb.
Each of the rooms ___ a window.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. has Each of takes a plural noun but keeps the singular verb has.
___ of the children was ready.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Each Each of takes a plural noun and a singular verb; every needs one before of.
She calls her mother ___ day.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. every Every day is the fixed time phrase with a singular noun.
The children ___ chose a different game.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. each Each can follow a plural subject to show the members one by one.
I bought four cakes and ___ was delicious.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. each Each can stand alone as a pronoun; every cannot.
___ hand has five fingers.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Each Each works with a pair, and it takes a singular noun and verb.
___ in the exam was easy.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Every question Every takes a singular noun, so every question is correct.
We meet ___ other Friday.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. every Every other is the fixed phrase for alternating times.
The tickets cost ten euros ___.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. each Each stands alone to give the price per item.
She knows ___ answer.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. every Every takes a singular noun and means all possible answers.
The teacher gave ___ child a book.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. each Each takes a singular noun and looks at the children one by one.
I see her ___ week.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. every Every week is the fixed time phrase.
Each of the students ___ a dictionary.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. has Each of keeps the singular verb has.
___ one of the cakes was delicious.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Every Every one works as the pronoun form of every before of.
The rooms were clean, and ___ was empty.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. each Each stands alone as a pronoun for the members of the group.
Every ___ name was on the list.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. student's Every takes a singular noun, and the possessive adds the apostrophe before s.
We go to the market ___ Saturday.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. every Every Saturday is the fixed time phrase with a singular noun.
___ of the two roads leads to the beach.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. Each Each of the two works with a pair; every of is not grammatical.
Drill complete
You answered every question.
Next topic: Both, either and neither: pairs and choicesTake the level test
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between each and every?
Each looks at the members one by one: "Each player has a racket." Every looks at the group as a whole: "Every player was ready." If the sentence describes different behaviour, each fits. If it describes the complete group in one statement, every fits.
Can each refer to two things?
Yes. Each works with two or more items: "Each hand has five fingers." Every normally needs three or more, so "every hand" sounds odd when only two hands are in view. Use each when the pair is the whole group.
Is it "every day" or "everyday"?
Every day, written as two words, means on all days: "I walk every day." Everyday, written as one word, is an adjective meaning ordinary: "This is an everyday mistake." The space changes the grammar, so keep the two-word form for time.
More grammar topics
Both, either and neither: pairs and choices
Both means the two together, either means one or the other, and neither means not the one and not the other. Both and either take a plural view; neither is usually singular.
Irregular verbs: the past participle
The third form of an irregular verb, the jobs it does after have, has, had and be, and the mistakes it causes.
Irregular verbs that stay the same
One group of irregular verbs never adds -ed: cut, put, hit, let, set, shut, cost, hurt and read.
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