Practice
Distributive adjectives: rules and examples
At the registration desk, each visitor receives a badge. Every badge has a number. If there are two doors, either door may be open, but neither door may lead to the staff room. These small words change how we look at a group or a pair.
Choose each, every, either, or neither by deciding whether you mean all members separately, all members in a group, one of two choices, or none of two choices.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
neither /ˈniːðər/
The short answer
Use each for separate members, every for all members in a group, either for one of two choices, and neither for no choice from two. These words normally come before a singular countable noun and take a singular verb.
Each applicant has a different interview time.
Why it works: Each directs attention to applicants separately, so applicant and has are singular.
5 more examples
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Each musician received a copy of the new schedule.
The sentence looks at the musicians one by one.
Not this:
Every musicianneeds a copy of the new schedule. What changes: Every states a requirement that applies to the whole group. -
Every seat in the theater has a number.
The rule applies to all seats as members of the theater's seating system.
Not this:
Each seatwas checked for damage before the show. What changes: Each is natural when staff examine the seats separately. -
Either password will unlock the shared account.
There are two possible passwords, and one of them is enough.
Not this:
Neither passwordworks after the security update. What changes: Neither says that both of the two passwords fail. -
Each of the proposals needs a cost estimate.
Proposals is plural after of, but each is the subject and needs is singular.
Not this:
Every proposalneeds a cost estimate. What changes: Every takes a singular noun directly, without of. -
Neither option is suitable for a beginner.
Neither excludes both of the two options, so option and is are singular.
Not this:
Either optionis suitable for an experienced editor. What changes: Either means one of the two options can be chosen.
Read the full guide
First, count the choices. Use each or every when the sentence concerns a group. Use either or neither when it concerns exactly two people, places, things, or options.
Start by counting the choices
The number of choices decides which word you need. Each and every work with a group. Either and neither point to a pair. Before you choose a word, ask whether the sentence gives a group or exactly two options.
Every candidate must show identification.
The rule covers the whole group of candidates.
Either candidate may speak first.
This sentence only works when there are two candidates.
Which word fits when both choices are unavailable?
Use neither: Neither date is available.
Use each when separate members matter
Each directs attention to members one at a time. It is useful when people receive, do, check, or have something separately. The group is still present, but the sentence asks the reader to notice the individuals.
Each reviewer wrote a separate comment.
The comments are separate, so each makes that detail clear.
Each of the windows needs cleaning.
Windows is plural after of, but the verb needs agrees with each.
Which word fits a sentence about giving one ticket to every individual guest?
Use each: Each guest receives one ticket.
Use every for a rule that covers a group
Every also includes all members, but it often sounds more general. Use it for schedules, rules, regular events, or facts that apply across a group. It comes directly before a singular countable noun.
Every apartment in the building has a smoke alarm.
The sentence gives a fact about the building as a whole.
The library closes early every Friday.
Every can also introduce a repeated time period.
Can you say every of the apartments?
No. Use every apartment or every one of the apartments.
Use either and neither for two
Either means one of two, and neither means not one and not the other of two. Both usually come before a singular noun. Do not choose either when the sentence has three or more possible routes, answers, or people.
Either elevator goes to the conference floor.
One of the two elevators is enough.
Neither elevator is working this morning.
Neither tells us that both elevators fail.
Which word excludes both of two answers?
Use neither: Neither answer is correct.
Keep singular agreement in view
After each, every, either, or neither, use a singular countable noun in the usual pattern. The verb is also singular: Each plan has a deadline. This remains true when a plural noun appears after of because each or neither is still the subject.
Neither of the explanations is complete.
Explanations is plural after of, but is agrees with neither.
Every message has a subject line.
Message is singular after every, so has is the expected verb.
Which verb fits: Each of the files ___ a label?
Use has: Each of the files has a label.
Before you go
Remember this
Use each for separate members and every for all members in a group. Use either for one of two choices and neither for no choice from two. Keep the following noun singular, then check that the verb agrees with the distributive word.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Distributive adjectives: rules and examples"
What are distributive adjectives?
Distributive adjectives are words such as each, every, either, and neither that refer to members of a group or pair separately. Many current grammar descriptions call them determiners because they come before nouns. In practice, choose the word by the meaning you need: separate members, a whole group, one of two, or none of two.
Each musician received a copy of the new schedule.
What is the difference between each and every?
Both each and every include all the members of a group. Use each when separate people or things need attention, as in Each musician received a copy of the new schedule. Use every for a general requirement or pattern, as in Every seat in the theater has a number.
Every musician needs a copy of the new schedule.
When do I use either and neither?
Use either when one of two choices is possible. Use neither when both choices are excluded. Either password will unlock the shared account means one password can work. Neither password works after the security update means that both passwords fail.
Every seat in the theater has a number.
Do distributive adjectives take singular verbs?
Usually, yes. Use a singular noun and singular verb after each, every, either, and neither in the normal pattern. For example, Neither option is suitable for a beginner. In Each of the proposals needs a cost estimate, proposals is plural after of, but needs agrees with each.
Each seat was checked for damage before the show.
Can I use every with of?
Do not normally use every directly with of before a plural noun. Say every proposal, not every of the proposals. If you need an of phrase, use every one of the proposals. This keeps every before a singular noun or singular expression.
Either password will unlock the shared account.