TKG English Learner's Dictionary

each

2 entries: pronoun · determiner

eachpronoun

American /itʃ/ British /iːtʃ/
very commondefining vocabulary

  1. one by oneone member of a group, considered separately from the others

    Each stands alone, without a following noun, usually before of: each of us. Directly before a noun, each is a determiner, a separate entry.

    Collocations

    phrase each of, each of them

    For translators (sense 1)

    Grammar trap Each stays grammatically singular however many people or things it refers to; many languages would use a plural verb here.

Usage

Each is grammatically singular even before of plus a plural noun or pronoun: each of them has, not have.

Common mistakes

Each of them have a key. Each of them has a key.
Each takes a singular verb, even before of plus a plural noun or pronoun.

See also each (each directly before a noun: each student); each other

eachdeterminer

American /itʃ/ British /iːtʃ/
very commondefining vocabulary

  1. one by oneused before a singular noun to talk about every person or thing in a group, thought of separately rather than as a group

    Each goes directly before a singular noun: each student, each box. It works for a group of two or more, and it looks at the members one at a time, unlike every, which usually treats a larger group as a whole. Each followed by of plus a pronoun or plural noun (each of us, each of the students) belongs to a separate entry.

    • Each student gave a short presentation.
    • Each box weighs about two kilos.
    • Give each guest a name tag.
    • The teacher spoke to each parent in turn.

    Collocations

    phrase each time

    Compare every (every treats the group as a whole and is common with larger numbers and with time words; each looks at the members one at a time and works even for just two); both; per

Phrases

each and every

used before a singular noun to say, in a strong way, that this is true of every single one, with none left out

Word family

Usage

Each is grammatically singular: it takes a singular noun and a singular verb, each student has, not have. Each used with of, or alone without a noun (each of us, take one each), is a separate entry.

Common mistakes

Each student have a book. Each student has a book.
Each is grammatically singular, so the verb that follows stays singular.
Each students got a prize. Each student got a prize.
Each is followed directly by a singular noun, not a plural one.

See also every; each (each used with of or alone, without a following noun: each of us)

For translators

Grammar trap Each is grammatically singular: it takes a singular noun and a singular verb, which many languages treat as plural.