Either, each, any, and every are small English words that help identify choices, people, or things. They can be confusing because some refer to one item, while others refer to a group or an open choice. This guide explains what each word means, how to use it in a sentence, and how to avoid common grammar errors. You do not need any special materials; a few example sentences are enough to practise.
What You’ll Need
- A basic understanding of singular and plural nouns.
- A notebook or a place to write example sentences, if you want to practise.
Step-by-Step
- Use “either” for one of two choices. “Either” means one or the other of two people or things. For example: “You can take either road.” The speaker offers two roads, and the person may choose one. It is also used in the paired construction “either … or”: “Either Sam or Lee will call.” This presents two alternatives. In this kind of subject, the verb is usually made to agree with the nearer subject: “Either the manager or the assistants are coming,” but “Either the assistants or the manager is coming.” When the sentence sounds awkward, rewrite it to avoid a mismatch.
- Use “each” to focus on members one at a time. “Each” treats the members of a group as separate individuals. Use it before a singular noun: “Each student received a card.” It can also stand alone: “Each received a card.” Although the group may contain many people, the subject “each” takes a singular verb: “Each of the students has a card.” Think of “each” when you want to stress what happens to every individual member separately.
- Use “any” for an open choice or an uncertain amount. In questions and negative statements, “any” commonly means one, some, or even one at all: “Do you have any questions?” and “We don’t have any spare chairs.” In positive statements, it can mean no matter which: “Choose any seat.” Use “any” when the choice is unrestricted, or when you are asking whether something exists. The noun after “any” may be singular or plural depending on meaning: “any answer is acceptable” but “any answers you submit must be signed.”
- Use “every” to mean all members of a group, considered together. “Every” comes before a singular countable noun: “Every room has a window.” It refers to the whole set, but grammar treats the noun phrase as singular, so use a singular verb: “Every participant gets a badge.” “Every” cannot normally stand alone; say “every person,” not just “every.” To refer to people or things without repeating the noun, use “everyone” or “everything,” as appropriate.
- Decide whether you mean individuals, the whole set, or a choice. Compare: “Each child chose a book” emphasizes the children individually; “Every child chose a book” emphasizes that all children did so. “Either child can choose” offers a choice between two children. “Any child can choose” means there is no restriction on which child may choose. These differences help you choose the precise word rather than relying on a rough sense of “all” or “one.”
- Check the noun and verb after choosing the word. “Each” and “every” normally take a singular countable noun and a singular verb: “Each ticket costs five dollars”; “Every ticket costs five dollars.” “Either” is singular when it means one of two: “Either option works.” “Any” varies with the noun and intended meaning, so check whether you mean one item or multiple items. Remember that “each of” and “either of” are followed by plural noun phrases, but the main verb is generally singular in formal standard English: “Each of the options is available.”
- Try replacing the word with its meaning. Read the sentence and substitute a quick explanation. If “one of these two” fits, consider “either.” If “one by one” fits, consider “each.” If “whichever one” or “some at all” fits, consider “any.” If “all members, without exception” fits, consider “every.” Then read the sentence aloud and confirm that the noun and verb agree.
Common Mistakes
- Using a plural noun after “every” or “each.” Write “every day,” not “every days,” and “each applicant,” not “each applicants.” Both words take a singular countable noun in this use.
- Using a plural verb with “each” or “every.” In standard English, write “Every box is labelled” and “Each of the boxes is labelled,” not “are labelled.” The phrase after “of” is plural, but it does not change the subject.
- Using “either” when there are more than two alternatives. “Either” usually presents a choice between two. For an unrestricted choice from a larger set, “any” is often clearer: “Choose any of the five routes.” Some speakers use “either” loosely, but avoid that in careful writing.
- Confusing “any” with “every.” “Any applicant may apply” means no particular applicant is excluded; it does not say that all applicants will apply. “Every applicant must apply” makes a requirement for all applicants.
- Writing “every of.” Say “every one of the files” or “each of the files,” not “every of the files.” “Every” needs a noun directly after it, while “each” can be followed by “of” and a plural group.
- Forgetting the “either … or” pair. When presenting two alternatives, use “either” with “or,” not “either … and”: “You can either email me or call.”
Tips
- Use “each” when the sentence is about individual treatment, distribution, or comparison: “Each guest chose a different dessert.”
- Use “every” when you want to make a broad statement covering the full group: “Every guest must check in.”
- Use “any” in questions and negative sentences when the existence or amount is uncertain: “Is there any milk?” and “There isn’t any milk.”
- Use “either” only when the alternatives are limited to two, unless the context clearly allows a looser meaning.
- For clarity, place “each” close to the noun it describes. “The team gave each player a schedule” is easier to follow than a sentence with several intervening phrases.
- When agreement sounds clumsy in “either … or” sentences, rearrange the sentence: “The manager or the assistants will attend,” or “One of them will attend.”
Troubleshooting
If you cannot decide between “each” and “every,” ask whether the sentence emphasizes separate individuals or the whole group. If neither distinction matters, either may be grammatical, but the emphasis changes slightly. If you are choosing between “any” and “either,” count the alternatives: use “either” for two specific options and “any” for an open choice or a larger set. If you are unsure about verb agreement, identify the grammatical subject rather than the nearest noun. In “Each of the players has a locker,” the subject is “each,” so “has” is singular. Finally, if a sentence with “either … or” has a complicated subject, rewrite it in a simpler form instead of forcing an awkward agreement pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “each” singular or plural?
“Each” is grammatically singular when it is the subject: “Each is ready” and “Each of the players is ready.”
Do “each” and “every” mean the same thing?
They can both refer to all members of a group, but “each” highlights individuals separately, while “every” makes a statement about the complete group.
Can “any” be used with a singular noun?
Yes. Use a singular noun when you mean one unrestricted choice: “Any applicant can submit a form.” Use a plural noun when you mean an unspecified number: “Any forms left on the desk will be recycled.”
Can I say “either of them are”?
In formal standard English, use “either of them is.” In casual speech, plural agreement is common for some speakers, but singular agreement is the safer choice in edited writing.
Can “every” stand alone?
Usually not. Say “Every guest received a ticket,” or use “everyone” if the noun does not need to be repeated: “Everyone received a ticket.”
Should I say “every day” or “everyday”?
Use “every day” to mean each day: “I walk every day.” “Everyday” is an adjective meaning ordinary, as in “everyday clothes.”