Every and All
A2 ElementaryLearn how to use 'every' and 'all' to talk about groups of people or things. These words have similar meanings but follow different grammatical rules regarding singular and plural nouns.
Overview
Both every and all refer to the total number of items in a group. However, they change the grammar of the sentence. Every focuses on the individual members of a group one by one, while all focuses on the group as a whole.
Grammar Rules
every + singular noun | all + (the/my) + plural noun
Use every with a singular countable noun. Use all with plural nouns or uncountable nouns. When using all with a specific group, you often need a determiner like 'the', 'my', or 'these'.
Every vs. All
Note that every cannot be used with uncountable nouns like 'water' or 'information'.
| Feature | Every | All |
|---|---|---|
| Noun Type | Singular countable | Plural or Uncountable |
| Verb Form | Singular (is/has/works) | Plural (are/have/work) |
| Determiners | No 'the' or 'my' before noun | Often uses 'the', 'my', 'these' |
Examples
Common mistakes
Every students like the teacher.
Every student likes the teacher.
Every must be followed by a singular noun and a singular verb.
I like all music.
I like all kinds of music.
While 'all music' is possible for generalities, 'all' usually requires a plural noun or a specific determiner for groups.
Practice
Complete the sentence: ___ child receives a gift.
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Every
Answer:Every
Why:The noun 'child' is singular, so 'every' is the correct determiner.
Complete the sentence: ___ the children are playing outside.
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All
Answer:All
Why:The noun 'children' is plural and preceded by 'the', which requires 'all'.
Correct the error: Every cars in the lot are red.
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Every car in the lot is red. (OR: All the cars in the lot are red.)
Answer:Every car in the lot is red. (OR: All the cars in the lot are red.)
Why:'Every' must be followed by a singular noun ('car') and a singular verb ('is').