Distributives
Distributives
Each and every / Either
and neither/ All, half and both
Each and every
Each and every (like all and whole) are quantifiers, and as
such they are a form of determiner. Each and every have very similar meanings,
but there are important differences of meaning and usage.
Meanings and use of each and every
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. If there are just two items or people, every may be replaced by both. Every cannot be used as a pronoun.
Sometimes it is important to
distinguish between each and every ; in other cases, this
distinction is not important, and the user can choose either word.
Here are some pairs of sentences that clearly
illustrate the difference between each and every. In the first sentence of each pair, the speaker is
implying dissimilar or individual actions: in the second of each pair, the
speaker is expressing similarity of action.
- Each child was reading a different book (dissimilar action)
- Every child was reading a book. (similar action)
- You have to fill in details on each page individually. (dissimilar action)
- You have to fill in details on every page. (similar action)
Usage
Both each and every are singular quantifiers. When they determine the subject of a sentence, they normally therefore require a verb in the singular.
- Each member of the committee was allowed to speak once.
- Every cloud has a silver lining.
Each as a quantifier can in fact be used with three different structures.
In addition to the common usage illustrated above, each (but not every) can be used in two other ways
- Each child was reading a book
Each can be followed by of the and a plural noun . When this structure is used in the subject of a sentence, the verb is in the singular
- Each of the children was reading a book.
Each can follow the
noun that it determines: but when it does so, the noun that it determines is in
the plural
- The children were each reading a book or The children each were reading a book
Each as Pronoun
Each can also be used as a singular pronoun
- I've seen three films about Churchill; each was very interesting.
Each qualifying pronoun
Each (but not every) can also be used with plural pronouns. When it qualifies a pronoun, it cannot precede the pronoun, so cannot be used with :
Each them was reading a bookIMPOSSIBLE
When followed by of+pronoun, the pronoun is always in the object case (us / you / them)
- Each of them was reading a book.
- Each of us wanted to buy something different.
- Each of them lives in a different city.
- They negotiated a different work contract with each of us
- We were each given a task to do / We each were given a task to do.
- They each live in a different city.
- The President gave us each a medal
- They were each reading a book or They each were reading a book
Each one of / Every one
of
Both each and every can be followed
by one of in the structures
{each/every + one of + determiner + noun} or
{each/every + one of + pronoun}
They can also be followed by one on its own.
Each one of the windows was broken.
= Each window was broken
Vandals had smashed every one of the windows.
= Vandals had smashed every window.
Peter's taken every one of my CDs.
= Peter's taken all my CDs / Peter's taken each
of my CDs.
Each one of those computers needs to be upgraded.
= All those computers need to be upgraded /
Each of those computers .....
Each one had been broken.
The vandals had broken every one.
Each one of Monet's paintings is signed at the
bottom.
Either and neither
We use ‘either‘ to
refer to one or the other of
two people, animals, or things.
‘Either‘ is
used in affirmative and interrogative sentences.
- Either color will do; I don’t care.
- Would you like either one of these last two desserts?
‘Neither‘ is
the opposite of ‘either’. We use ‘neither‘ to
mean not one nor the other of
two people, animals, or things.
— We use ‘neither’ in negative sentences.
— Sometimes, we use ‘neither’ followed by of, with or without an article. We must always use of when neither comes before a pronoun.
— When we use ‘neither’ with of and another determiner, (my, his, these, the, etc.), we use it before a plural noun.
- Neither of the boys admitted his guilt.
- Neither parent knew where the child had gone.
- Neither of us wants to be here.
— We use ‘neither‘ with
a singular verb
unless it is followed by of, in which case we can use singular or
plural, with the plural verb being less formal.
All, half and both
Both
‘all‘ and ‘half‘ tell us
the quantity of a group. We use ‘all‘ to
refer to the whole
group or everyone or
thing in the group. ‘All‘ means
that nothing and/or no one has been left out. We use ‘all‘ with both
countable and uncountable
nouns in negative, affirmative, and interrogative statements.
- All life is important.
- All students deserve the help they need.
—
We can also use ‘all‘ with the
definite article the to describe a specific group, as well as
with of the. We can use ‘all‘ with
other determiners.
- Where are all the children?
- I want to see all of the students in my office now.
- Where are all my toys?
—
Both a singular or plural verb can be used with ‘all‘, depending
on the noun it is modifying. If it modifies a noun that takes
a plural verb, we use the plural and vice versa.
—
We use ‘half‘ to refer
to a part of a
group that is divided into two sections. We also use ‘half‘ to refer
to measurements, followed by an indefinite article. We can also use ‘half‘ and the
definite article the, as well as other determiners.
- The recipe calls for half a lime.
- Only half of the group wants to go hiking.
Both
We
use ‘both‘ to refer
to a pair of people or things.
—
We can only use ‘both‘ with plural, countable nouns
because it refers to two things. We use ‘both’ with a plural verb.
- I had both children in Hawaii.
- Both flights have been delayed.
—
‘Both‘ can be
used with of, with or without an article. However, when ‘both‘ is followed
by a plural pronoun,
we must use of after both.
- Both of us want
kids.
- Both of the
children were born there.