Advanced Determiners: each, every, either, neither

Level: B2. Each, every, either, neither, both, all and none are determiners that say how much of a group you mean. The challenge is agreement: which take a singular noun and verb, which take plural, and how the of structure changes things.

The rule

A determiner goes before a noun to fix its reference (the, my, some, each). The determiners here answer how many of the set? — one by one, two, all, or none. Agreement means matching the verb to the subject: a singular subject takes a singular verb (is, has, works).

Each and every take a singular noun and a singular verb: “Each student has a book”, “Every room is clean.” The meaning differs slightly. Every views the group as a whole and needs three or more members. Each looks at members individually and works for two or more. Only each can stand alone (“Each of us”), follow the subject (“They each paid”), or come at the end (“…ten pounds each”).

Either and neither refer to two things. Either = one or the other; neither = not one and not the other. Both are grammatically singular: “Neither answer is right”, “Either day suits me.” With of + plural, the verb is traditionally singular (“Neither of them is coming”), although a plural verb is common and accepted in speech.

Both, all and none complete the set. Both means the two together and takes a plural verb (“Both doors are open”); never use it with a singular noun or in a negative. All works with plural and uncountable nouns. None means not any; after none of + a plural noun, a singular verb is formal and correct, but a plural verb is widely used. Use of when a specifying word follows: every student but each of the students, all children but all of my children.

Forms

Note that every never takes of — say every one of the (two words) if you need the of structure: “every one of the players”, not “every of the players”.

Example sentences

Common mistakes

• ❌ Every students must bring a pen. → ✅ Every student must bring a pen. Every takes a singular noun, even though it means the whole group.
• ❌ Each of the room is clean. → ✅ Each of the rooms is clean. After each of the, use a plural noun but keep the singular verb.
• ❌ Neither of the answers are correct. (formal writing) → ✅ Neither of the answers is correct. Neither is singular; use is in careful or formal English.
• ❌ Both of the plan failed. → ✅ Both of the plans failed. Both needs a plural noun; it can never go with a singular one.
• ❌ Every of the players got a medal. → ✅ Every one of the players got a medal. Every cannot take of; use every one of.
• ❌ I don’t like both of them. → ✅ I like neither of them. Use neither for a two-way negative, not not … both.

A short conversation

A: Which of the two flats did you choose? B: Neither, actually. Each one had a problem. A: Really? Both looked great in the photos. B: They did, but every room was smaller in real life. None of them was worth the price.

Usage notes

• Each vs every in use. Every is slightly more common for large or regular sets (“every day”). Each stresses the individual (“each day brought a new problem”). Only each can follow the subject or close a sentence (“…a prize each”).
• Singular agreement is the safe choice. In exams and formal writing, treat each, every, either, neither as singular (is, has, works). In speech, a plural verb after neither of / none of is normal and will not sound wrong.
• Positive vs negative. Both is positive (two together); neither is its negative partner (not either). All is positive; none is its negative. Pick the word that already carries the meaning rather than adding not.
• Either … or / neither … nor. When these pairs join two subjects, the verb usually agrees with the nearer subject: “Neither the boys nor the teacher was late”, “Neither the teacher nor the boys were late.”

Compared with…

• Much, many, a lot of measure amount for uncountable and countable nouns, not the “one by one / two / all” idea here. Use many books, much water; use each/every when you mean every single member. See Much, Many, A Lot Of.
• A few, a little, few, little describe a small quantity, positive or negative. They do not carry the all-or-none agreement rules of both/neither/none. See A Few, A Little, Few, Little.

Quick recap before you practise.

Practice

Quiz

Recap cheat-sheet

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