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Using "Each" and "Every"

In English, "each" and "every" are determiners, a type of adjective used to indicate the quantity or scope of the noun they precede.

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In many instances, the words "each" and "every" are, in fact, interchangeable. 

 

Michael spends two months in the Sea of Cortez every winter.

Caption 3, Nature Preservation: Saving Valentina

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The mule deer bucks are re-growing their antlers, which they shed each winter.

Captions 31-32, America's National Parks: Yosemite

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However, examining these words more closely, we can see that while "every" is used to refer to all items in a group without exception, "each" is often used to refer to individual items within a group, emphasizing them one by one. 

 

Every penny of which will help children all over the world...

Caption 41, British Airways safety video: director's cut

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So now, because every good meal requires vegetables, I have decided to add some tomatoes and some lettuce.

Captions 22-23, Abiventures: Sandwich

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In nineteen ninety-two, they started releasing them, each clearly numbered, into the wild.

Captions 16-17, America's National Parks: Grand Canyon

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So, each king not knowing about the others, set out to follow the star.

Caption 10, Children's Books Read Aloud: The Story of the Three Wise Kings

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Unlike "each," "every" cannot be used when there are only two items or people in a group.. If this ever comes up and you have to decide which word to use, pick the word "each." Note below that an airplane only has two sides, and only two people are being referred to with "each other."

 

There are six exits on this plane, four doors, two on each side.

Caption 43, Delta Airlines: In-Flight Safety Video

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Maria's mother and Clark looked at each other and frowned.

Caption 13, Basic Vocabulary: Common Words in Context

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Further Learning
You'll find many examples of "each" and "every" in use on Yabla English

 

It's or Its?

Since we already discussed the difference between their, there, and they're in a previous lesson, perhaps it is good to also cover another common point of confusion: the words it's and its. Even native speakers get these words mixed up, so master them and you will be ahead of the game. 

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We are used to recognizing possessives by the use of an apostrophe, for example, my mother's car or the teacher's classroom. However, the word it's is not possessive, but rather a contraction of it and is used for convenience. In the sentences below, we see shortened versions of it is amazing, it is really exciting, and it is the most important part

 

And it's amazing, and they have one of the best sunsets in the world.

Caption 25, Visit Isle of Wight - Mark King of Level 42

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It's really exciting to know that I'm setting a good example for young people

Caption 26, peta2 Interviews - Vegan Surfer Tia Blanco

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That's how we know it's the most important part.

Caption 34, Rachel's English - How to Introduce Yourself - American English Pronunciation

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The word its helps us to describe how something belongs to, for example, an animal, place, or object. The sentences below are about the bear's fur, the garden's street performers, and the vest's container

 

Its fur is almost silver with a blue sheen,

the perfect adaptation to its environment.

Captions 19-20, Nature & Wildlife - Search for the Ghost Bear

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Covent Garden is famous for its street performers.

Caption 3, Christmas in London - Places

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To use, pull the tab to remove the vest from its container

and then open the pouch.

Captions 69-70, Delta Airlines - In-Flight Safety Video

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So, as you can see, “it’s” with an apostrophe is the contraction for “it is” and is never a possessive, while “its” with no apostrophe can only be a possessive and is never the contraction for “it is”.

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Further Learning
Take special note of examples of it's and its that you see while watching videos on Yabla English. Almost every video has one or both!