Study materials
These two sentences describe the same room with two windows.
Both windows are open.
The pair is seen together.
Each window has a different view.
The windows are seen one by one.
Each, every, all, both, either and neither stand before a noun like articles, and each needs its own form of noun and verb. This article explains each, every and all, and both, either and neither for two things.
Each, every and all
All three words are about the whole group, but in different ways, and the form of the noun and the verb shows it.
| Word | Meaning | Form beside it |
|---|---|---|
| each | every one separately, one by one | singular: each student was |
| every | all without exception | singular: every student was |
| all | the whole group together | plural: all students were |
Each answer was checked twice.
Every answer was checked separately.
All the answers were checked.
All the answers were checked.
Every is not used for two things. For a pair there are both and each. In all the answers, all comes first and then the. You can also say all of the answers, but not all of answers. Each of is followed by the and a plural, but the verb stays singular: Each of the students has a laptop.
Every day and all day mean different things. Every day means on each day, and all day means for the whole day.
Both, either and neither
These three words are used only when there are two things. Both means the two together, either means any one of the two, and neither means not one of the two.
Both options are good.
Either option is fine.
Neither option works.
Both is followed by a plural, and either and neither by a singular. Neither already contains a negative, so a second not is not added. They can be followed by of and the or a pronoun: both of them, neither of the answers. These words also form pairs: both … and, either … or, neither … nor.
Both Ira and Max came.
Neither of them is ready.
In conversation are is also common.
Common mistakes
The first mistake is putting a plural after each or every.
Every students were present. → Every student was present.
Every needs the singular.
The second mistake is adding another negative to neither.
Neither option doesn't work. → Neither option works.
The negative is already in neither.
The third mistake is a missing the after all of.
All of students passed. → All of the students passed. Or All students passed.
All of is followed by the.
The first mistake shows in the noun and verb after each or every. Both must be singular. The second shows if not or n't stands next to neither. The third shows right after all of. The or another determiner is needed there, and without of you can simply say all students.