Practice
Distributive pronouns: rules and examples
Compare these sentences: "Each was checked before the meeting." and "Neither was checked before the meeting." The small word tells us whether every item or no item passed the check.
Choose each, either, or neither for the intended meaning and use the usual singular verb form.
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 proposal seems practical this week. /ˈniːðər prəˈpoʊzəl siːmz ˈpræktɪkəl ðɪs wiːk/
The short answer
Use each for members considered separately, either for one of two, and neither for none of two. Each, either, and neither usually take a singular verb: Each is ready, either works, and neither fits.
Neither answer is complete.
Why it works: Neither refers to two answers, and is is singular.
5 more examples
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Each applicant received a number at the entrance.
Each considers the applicants separately. Received is a past-tense form that does not show singular or plural agreement.
Not this:
All the applicants receivednumbers at the entrance. What changes: All treats the applicants as a group and uses a plural noun phrase. -
Either key opens the storage room.
Either means one of two keys is possible. Opens agrees with the singular noun key.
Not this:
Both keys openthe storage room. What changes: Both includes the two keys together, so keys and open are plural. -
Neither proposal seems practical this week.
Neither means that zero of the two proposals seems practical. The verb seems is singular.
Not this:
Neither of the proposals seemspractical this week. What changes: After neither of, the noun is plural, but neither remains the singular subject. -
Each of the painters is bringing a ladder.
The phrase of the painters is plural, but the head word each controls the singular verb is.
Not this:
The painters arebringing ladders. What changes: Here, painters is the plural subject, so the verb is are. -
You may choose either of these two seats.
Either of is followed by a plural noun phrase because it names the two available seats.
Not this:You may choose
any of these seats. What changes: Any does not limit the choice to two seats.
Read the full guide
First, count the choices. Use either and neither when there are two. Use each when you want to consider every member separately. Then look at the verb. When each, either, or neither is the subject, standard English usually uses a singular verb.
Choose each when every member matters separately
Use each when you want to consider members one by one. The group may have two members or many more. Each does not mean that the action happens only once. It means the statement applies separately to every member.
Each customer receives a receipt.
Each customer focuses on one customer at a time. All customers refers to the group as a whole.
Complete the sentence: ___ student has a different locker number.
Use each: Each student has a different locker number.
Use either and neither for two choices
Either and neither usually point to two people, things, or options. Either means one of the two is possible. Neither means that neither option is true, suitable, or chosen. For a group larger than two, use another word such as any, none, or no.
Either train arrives before noon.
Either says that one of two trains will do. Neither train arrives before noon says that both fail the condition.
Choose the word: There are two copies, but ___ copy contains the chart.
Use neither: There are two copies, but neither copy contains the chart.
Keep the usual singular verb
When each, either, or neither is the subject, use a singular verb in standard English. This stays true when the word refers to two people or when a plural noun follows of. Find the main distributive word before you choose the verb.
Neither of the routes is open today.
Routes is plural, but neither is the subject of the sentence. That is why the verb is is singular.
Choose the verb: Each of the reports ___ a cover page.
Use has: Each of the reports has a cover page.
Know when the word is a pronoun or a determiner
A distributive word is a determiner when it comes directly before a noun. It is a pronoun when it replaces the noun. The meaning can stay close, but the sentence shape changes.
Each badge has a barcode, and each has a name.
In each badge, each introduces the noun badge. In each has a name, each replaces the noun and acts as a pronoun.
Which word can replace the noun phrase in this answer: Which option works? ___ does.
Use either: Either does. The pronoun stands for one of the two options.
Handle either or and neither nor carefully
Either ... or presents two alternatives. Neither ... nor rejects both. When the subjects have different numbers, writers often make the verb agree with the nearer subject. A simple rewrite can make the agreement easier to read.
Either the director or the volunteers are opening the event.
Volunteers is nearest to the verb, so are is natural here. Put the plural subject last when you can.
Choose the better sentence: Neither the assistants nor the supervisor is available, or Neither the supervisor nor the assistants are available.
Both can be grammatical with agreement to the nearer subject. The second version puts the plural assistants next to are.
Before you go
Remember this
Use each to look at members separately. Use either for one of two choices and neither for none of two. These words usually take singular verbs, even when an of phrase contains a plural noun.
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 pronouns: rules and examples"
What are distributive pronouns?
Distributive pronouns refer to members of a group separately rather than as one whole group. Each can refer to every member one by one. Either refers to one of two choices, and neither means that neither of two choices applies. The same words can also work before nouns as determiners.
Each applicant received a number at the entrance.
What is the difference between each and every?
Each emphasizes members separately and can refer to two or more people or things. Every also includes all members, but it normally refers to a group of three or more and is used before a singular noun. Use each when the individual focus matters: Each applicant received a number.
All the applicants received numbers at the entrance.
When should I use either and neither?
Use either when one of two options is possible, and use neither when no option out of two is possible. For example, either key can be used when both keys work. Neither proposal seems practical means that both proposals are unsuitable. For more than two options, choose a different word.
Either key opens the storage room.
Do each, either, and neither take singular verbs?
In standard English, each, either, and neither usually take a singular verb when they are the subject. Write Each of the painters is bringing a ladder and Neither answer is complete. This remains the usual careful-writing pattern even when an of phrase contains a plural noun.
Both keys open the storage room.
Can each, either, and neither be determiners?
Yes. They are determiners when they come before a noun, as in each applicant, either key, and neither proposal. They are pronouns when they replace the noun, as in Each has a number or Either will work. The choice depends on whether the noun is written in the sentence.
Neither proposal seems practical this week.