English grammar: 100 main rules

There are four apartments in our building.Eachof the apartments has its private entrance.

Eachitem was checked.

– However, if the pronoun each follows the plural subject, it agrees with the plural verb.

Theyeachdo their share of work.

I have two people in the office and weeachhave our own email.

every

– only with countable nouns

– refers either to indefinite number of things/persons or to a group of things/persons considered as a whole.

We could seeeverystar in the night sky.

Everyplayer in the team should cooperate.

– with modifiers such as nearly, almost, practically

Olivia knowsalmost everyneighbour.

Practically everyproblem has practical solutions.

– with time words such as minute, hour, day

There's a buseveryten minutes.

Everymorning Andrew goes jogging in the park.

– makes compound pronouns with – body, – one, – thing

Everybodylikes presents.

They invitedeveryonebut James and Karen.

Everything's done by computer nowadays.

Note

the pronoun everyone differs from the word combination every one.

Everyone is a synonym to everybody and refers only to persons.

Everyoneenjoyed the movie.

Every one is a synonym to each one and refers both to persons and things.

He watched a lot of movies and enjoyedevery one.

– agrees with singular verb

Everycitizen is obliged to observe the constitution.

Each andevery oneof us has their own opinion.

either

– with countable nouns

– refers to two or more things or persons

There are shops ateitherend of the street.

Eitherof these books is useful.

Nick can wear watches oneitherhand.

Note

the pronoun either differs from the adverb either, which is used in negative sentences.

If you don't order the dessert, I won'teither.

Olivia doesn't know his address, Andrew doesn't knoweither.

– agrees with a singular verb

Doeseitherof you speak Chinese?

Haseitherof you two seen Harry?

RULE 25. All, Both

all

– with uncountable nouns and plural countables

– has a generalized meaning

Allchildren need love.

Olivia said good buy to themall.

– the pronoun all agrees with plural verb if it's used with plural countables; if it refers to uncountable nouns, then pronoun all agrees with singular verb.

All the students wereready.