DISTRIBUTIVE DETERMINERS- RULES, COMPARISONS & EXAM TRAPS

DISTRIBUTIVE DETERMINERS– MEANING

Distributive determiners are words used before nouns to refer to the members of a group individually rather than collectively.

They help us indicate how people or things are considered separately within a group.

For example:

• Each student received a certificate.
• Every employee must follow the rules.
• Either option is acceptable.
• Neither answer is correct.

In these sentences, the determiners focus on individual members or choices within a group of two or more.

Main distributive determiners:

1. Each
2. Every
3. Either
4. Neither

Important: Distributive determiners are generally followed by singular countable nouns and take singular verbs. However, their rules and usage are different.

EACH VS EVERY– RULES AND EXAMPLES

Both each and every refer to individual members of a group. However, they differ in emphasis and usage.

Basis	EACH	EVERY
Meaning	One by one; individually	All members without exception
Focus	Individual members	Entire group
Number	Can refer to two or more	Generally refers to three or more
Noun	Singular countable noun	Singular countable noun
Verb	Singular	Singular
Pronoun	Can be followed by of	Cannot directly be followed by of
Position	Before a noun or after a noun with a determiner	Before a singular noun
Example	Each student has a book.	Every student has a book.

Rule	EACH	EVERY
Individual reference	Each player received a medal.	Every player received a medal.
With a singular noun	Each child is special.	Every child is special.
With a singular verb	Each employee works hard.	Every employee works hard.
With of	Each of the boys is intelligent.	Every one of the boys is intelligent.
With two members	Each of the two sisters is talented.	Every one of the two sisters is talented.
With a plural noun	Each student is present.	Every student is present.

SPECIAL STRUCTURES

Structure	Example
Each + singular noun	Each participant received a gift.
Each of + determiner + plural noun	Each of the participants received a gift.
Each + of + pronoun	Each of them is responsible.
Every + singular noun	Every employee is important.
Every one of + determiner + plural noun	Every one of the employees is important.
Every + number + plural noun	The magazine is published every two months.

Remember:

• Each of them is correct.
• Every one of them is correct.
• Every of them is incorrect.

EITHER VS NEITHER– RULES AND EXAMPLES

Both either and neither are used when referring to two people or things. However, their meanings are opposite.

Basis	EITHER	NEITHER
Meaning	One or the other	Not one and not the other
Number	Two alternatives	Two alternatives
Noun	Singular countable noun	Singular countable noun
Verb	Singular	Singular
Positive/negative meaning	Positive choice	Negative meaning
With of	Either of the two options	Neither of the two options
Example	Either answer is acceptable.	Neither answer is acceptable.

Rule	EITHER	NEITHER
Before a singular noun	Either road leads to the station.	Neither road leads to the station.
With of	Either of the boys is responsible.	Neither of the boys is responsible.
With pronouns	Either of them can win.	Neither of them can win.
Referring to two options	You can choose either dress.	You can choose neither dress.
With a singular verb	Either candidate is suitable.	Neither candidate is suitable.

EITHER…OR VS NEITHER….NOR– RULES AND EXAMPLES

These are important paired conjunctions.

Basis	EITHER…OR	NEITHER…NOR
Meaning	One of the two alternatives	Not one and not the other
Function	Presents alternatives	Rejects both alternatives
Example	Either Rahul or Aman will attend.	Neither Rahul nor Aman will attend.
Verb agreement	Agrees with the nearer subject	Agrees with the nearer subject

Examples:

• Either the teacher or the students are responsible.
• Either the students or the teacher is responsible.
• Neither the manager nor the employees are available.
• Neither the employees nor the manager is available.

Important rule: When subjects connected by either…or or neither…nor differ in number, the verb generally agrees with the subject nearest to it.

EACH VS EITHER

These two determiners are sometimes confused because both can refer to individual members of a group.

Basis	EACH	EITHER
Reference	Two or more members	Only two alternatives
Meaning	Every individual considered separately	One or the other
Focus	Individual distribution	Choice between alternatives
Example	Each student received a book.	Either student can answer.
With of	Each of the students	Either of the two students
Verb	Singular	Singular

Understand the difference:

• Each of the two brothers has a bicycle. (Both brothers are considered individually.)
• Either of the two brothers can drive. (One or the other can drive.)

EVERY VS NEITHER

Basis	EVERY	NEITHER
Meaning	All members without exception	Not one of the two
Reference	Generally three or more	Two
Sense	Inclusive	Negative
Example	Every student passed.	Neither student passed.
Noun	Singular countable	Singular countable
Verb	Singular	Singular

Examples:

• Every candidate was selected. (All candidates were selected.)
• Neither candidate was selected. (Both candidates were rejected.)

EITHER VS EACH

Situation	Correct determiner	Example
Talking about both members individually	Each	Each of the two girls is talented.
Offering one of two choices	Either	Either of the two girls can represent us.
Talking about individual distribution	Each	Each student received a separate form.
Talking about alternatives	Either	You may choose either option.

DISTRIBUTIVE DETERMINERS- EXAM TRAPS

These are frequently tested in competitive examinations, placement tests and English grammar assessments.

No.	Incorrect sentence	Correct sentence	Explanation
1	Each students is intelligent.	Each student is intelligent.	Each takes a singular noun.
2	Every student have a book.	Every student has a book.	Every takes a singular verb.
3	Every of the boys is present.	Every one of the boys is present.	Every cannot directly take of.
4	Each of the boys are ready.	Each of the boys is ready.	Each of + plural noun takes a singular verb in formal exam grammar.
5	Either of the answers are correct.	Either of the answers is correct.	Either of takes a singular verb in formal grammar.
6	Neither of them are guilty.	Neither of them is guilty.	Neither generally takes a singular verb in formal exam grammar.
7	Neither answer are correct.	Neither answer is correct.	Neither is followed by a singular noun.
8	Either students can participate.	Either student can participate.	Either takes a singular noun when used as a determiner.
9	Each and every students must attend.	Each and every student must attend.	Both determiners require a singular noun.
10	Every of them received a prize.	Every one of them received a prize.	Use every one of + plural pronoun.
11	Neither Rahul or Aman came.	Neither Rahul nor Aman came.	Neither is paired with nor.
12	Either Rahul nor Aman will come.	Either Rahul or Aman will come.	Either is paired with or.
13	Each of the two boy is ready.	Each of the two boys is ready.	Of is followed by a plural noun.
14	Neither of the two options are suitable.	Neither of the two options is suitable.	Neither of + plural noun generally takes a singular verb.
15	Every five students received a certificate.	Every fifth student received a certificate.	Every fifth indicates an ordinal distribution.

Concept	Rule	Example
Each + adjective	Each is followed by a singular noun.	Each hardworking student deserves appreciation.
Each of + plural noun	The noun after of is plural.	Each of the teachers is experienced.
Every one vs Everyone	Every one can refer to things or people; everyone refers only to people.	Every one of the books is useful.
Either vs Both	Either means one of two; both means the two together.	Either answer is acceptable. / Both answers are correct.
Neither vs None	Neither generally refers to two; none can refer to more than two.	Neither of the two boys came. / None of the five boys came.
Every + time expression	Used for repeated intervals.	The bus arrives every ten minutes.
Each + plural subject	Each can appear after a plural subject.	The students each received a certificate.

SPECIAL ATTENTION: EVERYONE VS EVERY ONE

EVERYONE	EVERY ONE
Indefinite pronoun	Can function as a pronoun phrase
Refers only to people	Refers to individual people or things
Written as one word	Written as two words
Everyone is invited.	Every one of these books is useful.
Everyone has submitted the assignment.	Every one of the students has submitted the assignment.

Exam tip: Never select an answer merely by looking at the noun closest to the blank. First identify whether the sentence refers to individual members, the entire group, one of two alternatives, or neither alternative. Then check the noun and verb agreement.