Practice
General determiners: rules and examples
Compare all the rooms with each room. The first phrase treats the rooms as a group. The second considers them one at a time. A determiner helps make that difference clear before the noun.
Choose a general determiner that matches whether you mean a whole group, two alternatives, individual members, or an amount.
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
either or neither /ˈiːðər ɔːr ˈniːðər/
The short answer
Choose all for a whole group, both for two people or things together, either or neither for a choice between two, and each or every when you consider members separately. Then check whether the noun should be singular, plural, or uncountable.
Both documents need a signature.
Why it works: Both refers to two documents as a pair, so it is followed by the plural noun documents.
5 more examples
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All the lights were off when we arrived.
All includes the complete known group of lights. Lights is plural because the sentence refers to more than one light.
Not this:
Every lightwas off when we arrived. What changes: Every considers the lights one by one, so it takes the singular noun light and a singular verb. -
Both routes pass the station.
Both includes exactly two routes together. The noun after both is plural.
Not this:
Either routepasses the station. What changes: Either presents one of two routes as an acceptable choice. It is followed by the singular noun route. -
Neither key opens the side door.
Neither means not one and not the other when there are two keys. It is followed by a singular countable noun.
Not this:
Neither of the keysopens the side door. What changes: After neither of, use a determiner such as the and a plural noun. The verb is often singular in careful formal writing. -
Each participant received a printed schedule.
Each directs attention to one participant at a time. Participant is singular even though the group has several people.
Not this:
All participantsreceived printed schedules. What changes: All treats the participants as a group and takes the plural noun participants. -
Several customers asked for a receipt.
Several means more than a small number without giving an exact figure. It is followed by a plural countable noun.
Not this:
Enough customersarrived for the workshop to begin. What changes: Enough says that the number met a need. It does not state the exact number.
Read the full guide
Start with the meaning you need. Are you talking about the whole group, exactly two choices, or the members one by one? That decision comes before the spelling or word order. The noun after the determiner gives you another useful clue because some forms need a plural noun and others need a singular noun.
Choose the view of the group
Use a determiner to show whether you mean a group together or its members separately. All usually includes the whole group. Each and every shift attention to individual members. The difference changes the noun pattern that follows.
All visitors must show identification.
All treats the visitors as one complete group, so visitors is plural.
Which word fits when you want to discuss the members of a group one by one?
Use each or every before a singular countable noun, depending on the meaning you want.
Use all and both with plural groups
All can come before a plural countable noun or an uncountable noun. Both is for exactly two people or things, so it comes before a plural noun. When a noun already has the, my, these, or another determiner, place all or both before it.
Both the elevators are being repaired.
Both comes before the and the plural noun elevators. The phrase refers to two elevators together.
Complete the phrase for all of one known set of reports: all ___ reports.
Use all the reports when the listener can identify the reports.
Use either and neither for two choices
Either means one of two is possible or acceptable. Neither means that not one of the two is true, suitable, or chosen. When either or neither comes directly before a noun, use a singular countable noun.
Either date is convenient for me.
Either presents one of two dates as acceptable. Date is singular because the choice is one date at a time.
Which word means that neither of two answers is correct?
Use neither before a singular noun, as in neither answer.
Use each and every before a singular noun
Each and every are followed by a singular countable noun. Each often makes the separate members more visible. Every often gives a general rule that applies to every member. In many sentences either word is possible, but the writer's focus can differ.
Each file has a different reference number.
Each directs attention to one file at a time, so file and has are singular.
Which phrase is standard: every employees or every employee?
Use every employee because every needs a singular countable noun.
Add an amount without an exact number
Several, many, few, and enough can describe amount without giving an exact number. Put several, many, or few before a plural countable noun. Put enough before a plural countable noun or an uncountable noun. Choose the word for the meaning you need, then check that its noun pattern is correct.
We have enough time to review the contract.
Enough says that the amount of time meets a need. Time is uncountable in this use.
Which word fits a plural noun when you mean an inexact number greater than a few?
Several is a useful choice: several questions, several messages, or several meetings.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose the determiner from the meaning first. Use all for a complete group, both for two together, either or neither for two alternatives, and each or every for individual members. Then check the noun pattern: both routes, either route, each participant, and several customers.
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
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "General determiners: rules and examples"
What is a general determiner in English grammar?
A general determiner is a label used in some grammar descriptions for words that help show a group, an amount, a choice, or distribution before a noun. Useful examples include all, both, either, neither, each, every, several, and enough. Grammar books may sort these words into slightly different groups, so learn the noun pattern and meaning of each word.
All the lights were off when we arrived.
What is the difference between all and every?
All usually refers to a group as a whole and can be followed by a plural or uncountable noun, as in all the lights or all the water. Every considers the members of a group separately and takes a singular countable noun, as in every light. Both can describe the same situation, but they organize the idea differently.
Every light was off when we arrived.
Should I use both or either before a noun?
Use both when you mean two people or things together, followed by a plural noun: both routes. Use either when one of two choices is possible or acceptable, followed by a singular noun: either route. The meaning changes from two things together to one choice from a pair.
Both routes pass the station.
Why do each and every take a singular noun?
Each and every focus on members individually, so English normally uses a singular countable noun after them: each participant or every participant. The larger group may contain many people, but the grammar pattern treats one member at a time. Use a singular verb in the usual pattern: each participant receives a schedule.
Either route passes the station.
Can enough be a determiner?
Yes. Enough can come before a plural countable noun or an uncountable noun when the amount meets a need. You can say enough customers for a meeting or enough time for a review. It does not give an exact number. It tells the reader that the quantity is sufficient for the stated purpose.
Neither key opens the side door.