Introduction
Determiners are modifiers of nouns. They can provide a wide range of information.
The most commonly determiners are: each and every.
We use the determiners each and every to indicate quantity.
Form
Determiner words are put before a noun to show what the noun refers to. Each and every have different forms and structures.
Each
The structures of each are:
- each + singular nouns;
- each of + plural pronouns/determiner + plural noun.
Each appears when it is a pronoun or when there are two objects.
Every
The structure of every is:
- every + singular nouns
Every appears with adverbs and with repetitive events.
NOTE: Both each and every can combine with one to form two indefinite pronouns: each one and everyone.
Example
- Each worker has to be professional.
Each one of you will work in a different team. - Each of us thinks that borrowing a loan is not a good idea.
- Every manager’s first task is to coordinate a team.
Every worker has to carry out a job.
Use
We use each and every to indicate quantity:
- we use each to refer to two or more people or things; we use it to talk about things considered one by one;
- we use every to refer to three or more people or things; we use it to talk about things considered as a group.
Summary
We use the determiners each and every to indicate quantity.
We use each to refer to two or more people or things. We use it to talk about things considered one by one. Each can only be used before singular nouns and each of before plural pronouns or plural nouns with determiners.
We use every to refer to three or more people or things. We use it to talk about things considered as a group. Every can only be used before singular nouns.
For example:
— “Every worker has to carry out a job and each worker has to be professional.” = We use every and each with singular nouns (worker).
— “Each of us thinks that borrowing a loan is not a good idea.” = We use each of with plural pronouns (us).
Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.