RULE 01 Difference between Each and Every

RULE 01: Difference between “Each” and “Every”


1. They are always followed by a singular verb.

Examples: (I) Each student is very talented. [Singular verb is used]

(II) Each of my students is very talented. [Singular verb is used]

In sentence (I) , “each” performs the function of Adjective (words used to describe or modify nouns or pronouns) .


The word it describes is the noun “student”.

In sentence (II) , “each” performs the function of Pronoun (word that is used instead of a noun or noun phrase) .

In both the cases, we use the singular verb “is”.


“NOTE: Each refers to a plural number of people or items, but it considers each person or item as an individual or dissimilar unit, it does not consider the group collectively [Individualistic Approach]

Every also refers to a multiple number of people or items; but it considers these people or items as part of a similar collective group. [General Approach]

*NOTE: “Each” can play the role of both “Pronoun” and “Adjective”. However, “Every” is used as an “Adjective” only.

Examples: (I) Every student is very talented. [Correct]

(II) Every of my students is very talented. [Incorrect (X) ]

In sentence (I) , “Every” is used as an Adjective. The word it describes is the noun “student”.

In sentence (II) , “Every” is used as a Pronoun which is incorrect.


*“NOTE : “Each” is used for two or more than two items or people but “Every” is used only for more than two items or people. We cannot use “every” for exactly two things (In such case, “every” can be replaced by “both”) .

Examples: Each person on this earth has to die one day. [more than two persons]

Every person I know has watched the movie. [more than two persons]

He has a book in each hand. [Correct]

He has a book in every hand [Incorrect] (Every cannot be used with two things]

*NOTE: “Every”, but not “each”, can be used with abstract nouns.

Examples: They have every reason to be happy with their new home. [Correct]

They have each reason to be happy with their new home. [Incorrect] 

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