Every and all

EVERY and ALL

In this grammar lesson, we will focus on the usage of "every" and "all." These two words are commonly used to refer to the entirety or total number of something. However, they have distinct grammatical patterns and meanings.

1. EVERY

"Every" is an adjective that refers to all the individual members or units of a group or category. It emphasizes the individual elements or members separately. Here are some important points to remember about "every":

- "Every" is always followed by a singular noun. 

For example: "every day," "every student," "every car."

- It is used to refer to each member of a group individually. 

For example: "Every student needs to complete the assignment."

- "Every" can be used in positive and negative contexts. 

For example: "Every student passed the exam," or "Every student did not pass the exam."

- When used with a countable noun, "every" implies the complete set of all possible options. 

For example: "Every student in the class attended the workshop."

- When used with an uncountable noun, "every" implies the entire quantity or all possible instances. 

For example: "He drank every drop of water."

2. ALL

"All" can function as a determiner, pronoun, or adverb. It refers to the total number or the entire quantity of something. Here are some important points to remember about "all":

- "All" can be used with both singular and plural nouns. 

For example: "all students," "all the books," "all the information."

- It is used to refer to the whole group as a single entity. 

For example: "All the students need to submit their assignments."

- "All" can be used in positive and negative contexts. 

For example: "All students passed the exam," or "Not all students passed the exam."

- When used as a pronoun, "all" can replace a noun and refer to the entire group. 

For example: "I ate some cookies. Can you pass me all?"

- "All" can also be used as an adverb to mean "completely" or "entirely." 

For example: "He ate it all," or "She was all alone."

In summary, "every" emphasizes each individual member of a group separately, while "all" refers to the entirety or total number of something. Understanding their distinct usage and grammatical patterns will help you use these words correctly in your writing and conversation.