Each

Definition

The word 'each' is a distributive pronoun used to refer to individual members of a group, emphasizing their singularity rather than the group as a whole. This term highlights the idea of treating every single member distinctly, making it particularly relevant when discussing collective nouns and indefinite pronouns. Understanding how 'each' interacts with these concepts helps clarify subject-verb agreement and proper pronoun usage in sentences.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. 'Each' is always considered singular, even when referring to a group of individuals, which affects verb agreement.
2. When using 'each', the verb that follows must also be singular, as in 'Each of the players is ready.'
3. 'Each' can create confusion in sentences with collective nouns, where it's essential to determine whether the group acts as one unit or as individuals.
4. 'Each' can be paired with other words like 'of', leading to constructions such as 'each of the students has their own book.'
5. 'Each' emphasizes individuality and is often used in contexts where distinction among members is critical.

Review Questions

• How does the use of 'each' influence subject-verb agreement in sentences?
  • 'Each' requires a singular verb because it treats members of a group individually. For instance, in the sentence 'Each student is responsible for their work,' 'is' is singular, matching 'each'. This rule ensures clarity and grammatical correctness by reinforcing that each member, though part of a collective, is being considered separately.
• Discuss how 'each' interacts with collective nouns and provide an example illustrating this relationship.
  • 'Each' can create ambiguity when used with collective nouns because it focuses on individual members rather than the group as a whole. For example, in the phrase 'Each of the team is proud of their performance,' it may imply that individual team members feel pride separately. Therefore, when using 'each' with collective nouns, it's crucial to maintain singular verb forms to avoid confusion about whether you're addressing individual actions or the group's collective identity.
• Evaluate the role of 'each' in clarifying meaning within sentences involving indefinite pronouns and provide an example.
  • 'Each' plays a significant role in clarifying meaning when paired with indefinite pronouns by emphasizing individuality in otherwise vague references. For example, in a sentence like 'Each of them has their own preferences,' 'each' specifies that every person within the indefinite group is considered separately, thus avoiding any ambiguity about their preferences. This distinction helps readers understand that while they belong to a larger category ('them'), each has unique traits or choices.

Related terms

collective noun: A noun that represents a group of individuals or things, treated as a single entity, like 'team' or 'flock'.

indefinite pronoun: A pronoun that refers to non-specific persons or things, such as 'some', 'any', 'few', or 'many'.

subject-verb agreement: The grammatical rule that the verb must match the subject in number and person, ensuring clarity in sentences.