Welcome to your “Each” / “Every” lesson! In this topic we talk about:
• How do we use “Each” and “Every”?
• Structures of “Each” and “Every”
• Placing “Each”
• “Everyone” and “Every one”
Take the quizzes when you’re ready! If you’re having problems, use the comment box to contact our English Teachers.
How do we use “Each” and “Every”?
“Each” and “every” are similar in meaning. It is often possible to use either of them in the same context:
“Every time I call you, you sound happy.”
“Each time I call you, you sound happy.”“There’s a bookshelf in every bedroom.”
“There’s a bookshelf in each bedroom.”
“Each” and “every” aren’t exactly the same, however:
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We use “each” when we think of things separately, one by one.
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We use “every” when we think of all things as a group. “Every” is similar to “all”.
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“Each” is more usual for a small number:
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“Every is more usual for a large number:
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“Each” (not “every”) can be used for two things:
“In a rugby match, each team has fifteen players.”
We use “every” (not “each”) to say how often something happens:
“How often do you go swimming?
“Every Thursday.”“There’s a train every twenty minutes.”
Structures of “Each” and “Every”
Compare these two structures:
| Each | Every |
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You can use “each” with a noun: “each book”, “each room” |
You can use “every” with a noun: “each book”, “each room” |
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You can use “every” without a noun:
Or you can use “each one”:
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You can’t use “every” without a noun:
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You can say “each of the/these/them”:
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You can say “every one of” (but not “
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Placing “Each”
You can put “each” in the middle or at the end of a sentence:
“The children were each given €5.”
“These books cost €10 each.”
“Everyone” and “Every one”
“Everyone” is only used for people. It means the same as “Everybody”.
“Everyone enjoyed my party.”
“Every one” is for things or people. It is similar to “each one”:
“I’ve been to lots of parties. I’ve enjoyed each one.”
