Each and every are both determiners used with singular nouns to indicate quantity.

Each
indicates two or more objects or people and every indicates three or more. Each can also be
used as a pronoun, but every cannot be. Study the following:
each ~ both
• She had clearly been in a fight. She had bruises on each leg and cuts on each arm (OR: on both
legs / on both arms, BUT NOT: on every leg / on every arm)
• My parents have moved to the capital. Each of them works in a bank. (OR They both work…, /
They each work…, BUT NOT: Every one of them works…
• We each had a suitcase and each one weighed over 30 kilos. ( = two people, two suitcases)
• He was holding a revolver in each hand / in both hands ( = two hands, two revolvers)
• He was holding a revolver with both hands ( = two hands, one revolver)
each ~ individual; every ~ all We tend to use each if we are thinking about members of a
group individually, and every if we are thinking of them in total. Compare the following:
• We gave each child who came to the party a present. We handed them out one by one.
• We gave every child who came to the party a present We gave them all a present.
• I really love Pinter. I've seen every one of his plays at least once. I've seen them all.
• You suggested I should read Pinter's plays. Well, I'm going to study each one carefully.
• Every third-year student will be examined orally in June. They will each be given a fifteen minute
interview.

every NOT each With adverbs - almost, nearly, practically, etc, we have to use every
to emphasise that we are talking about the group as a whole:
• Practically every person in the room had dated Samantha at some time or another.
• Nearly every chocolate had been eaten. There were hardly any left for the boys when they
arrived home.
• This year I have visited almost every country in South-East Asia.
We have to use every to refer to repeated regular events, as in once every, twice every, etc.
Study the following:
• My hearing is getting worse and worse and I have to go to the hospital for a hearing test once
every so often - about once every six months.
• You ask me every single day when Joan will be returning and every single day I tell you that I
do not know.
• How often do you hear from John? ~ Oh, not very often. Every now and again.
• She was suffering from cramp and in order to finish the tennis match needed to stretch her legs
after every other game. (I.e. after the 2nd, 4th, 6th games, etc) BUT: She was suffering from
cramp and in order to finish the tennis match needed to stretch her legs after each game.

each NOT every Remember only each can be used as a pronoun, irrespective of whether
we are describing two or more of something or three or more of something. Study the
following:
• No, no. It's not £30 for both of them. They each cost £30. (OR: They cost £30 each.)
• The inheritance was shared out equally among the six children. Each (of them) received £32,000.
• I gave them each (OR each of them) a $10 tip when I checked out of the hotel.
If we want to use every in a similar way, indicating three or more of something, we must insert
one before of them as every has no pronominal form itself. A lot of word stress is put on one so
that in effect it means every single one of them. We can use each one of them in a similar
way. Study the following and the earlier examples of this structure:
• The inheritance was shared out equally among the six children. Every one of them received
£32,000.
• I gave every one of them a $10 tip when I checked out of the hotel.
Exercises
1. I have read a lot of different books. I feel
____ one of them expanded my mind in a
different manner.
2. There was a party in _____ street.
3. The manager wants to speak to _____
employee in his office.
4. I spoke to _____ of the delegates there.
5. _____ child was given a prize.
6. There was a prize in _____ competition.
7. When we were children we had holidays at
our grandmother’s _____ year.
8. She was wearing a ring on _____ finger.
9. We visit our daughter _____ Christmas.
10. The Olympic games are held _____ four
years.
11. In a game of tennis there are two or four
players. _____ player has a racket.
12. I love cats, but I realize I cannot adopt
_____ stray cat that needs a home.
13. There are two boys. _____is smiling.
14. Sarah plays volleyball _____ Thursday
morning.
15. I tried to phone her two or three times, but
_____ time there was no reply.
16. _____ of the top three students will receive
an automatic “A” as well as a unique prize.
17. There are six apartments in this building.
_____ one has a balcony.
18. I understood most of what they said but not
_____ word.
19. _____ of us sees the world differently.
20. The book is divided in five parts and _____
of these has three sections.
21. I hated _____ second of the film.
22. The students _____ received a free copy of
the magazine.
23. I like going downtown for concerts, but
_____ time I go there is a lot of traffic.
24. _____ player gets 4 cards.
25. _____ new day is different.
26. _____ parent worries about his/her
offspring.
27. Valerie knows _____ pub in town.
28. We have a lot of different opponents, but
we need to plan a unique strategy for ___
of them.
29. Kate has read _____ book in the library.
30. Our football team is playing well. We've
won _____ game this season.
31. _____ shop was decorated with flowers
32. There are 5 worksheets. Please take one
of _____.
33. They enjoyed _____ minute of their
holidays.
34. Our class is going on a field trip to a
museum. _____ of us received a ticket as
well as a coupon for a free lunch.
35. I get up at 6 o'clock _____ morning.
36. The show will be broadcast _____ other
Monday.
37. _____ time I go shopping I choose the
wrong queue.
38. Class, I realized I assigned a lot of reading.
However, it is imperative you read _____
one of these books.
39. There's a tram _____ ten minutes.
40. There were cars parked on _____ side of
the street.
41. I love watching Seinfeld on television. I
laugh _____ time I watch the show.
42. Read _____ of the instructions carefully.
43. When we stayed at my grandmother’s
house we went to the beach _____ day.
44. There are 4 flats in our building. _____has
a balcony.
45. _____ one of you will need to make an
appointment to see me about your
dissertations.
46. _____ side of the square has the same
length.
47. The theatre was packed. _____ seat was
taken.
48. They are all going to take chemistry next
year, but _____ one of them has a
different major
49. _____ location I have researched for the
wedding is booked for the date we need.