Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

Usually this game is decided with a rhyme. Every child says one word of the rhyme.

The sentence above is supposedly wrong. The answer is to replace "every" with "each". But i think we should replace "with" with "by".

Am i right? What is the difference between "every" and "each"?

[rice07]

Hi

Cited Practical English Usage as saying:

1. In passive clauses, by introduces the agent - the person or thing that does the action.

I was interviewed by three directors.

My car was damaged by a falling branch.

We generally prefer with to refer to a tool or intrument used by somebody.
Compare:

He was killed by a heavy stone. (This could mean ' A stone fell and killed him '.)

He was killed with a heavy stone. (This means ' Somebody used a stone to kill him '.)

2a. each with two or more; every with three or more

Each and every are both normally used with singular nouns. Each can be used to talk about two or more people or things: every is normally used talk about three or more.

The business makes less money each/every year.

She had a child holding on to each hand. (Not ... every hand.)

2b. meaning

Each and every can often be used without much difference of meaning.

You look more beautiful each/every time I see you.


But we prefer each when we are thinking of people or things seperately, one at a time. And every is more common when we are thinking of people or things together, in a group. (Every is closer to all.) So we are more likely to say:

Each person in turn went to see the doctor.

but

Every patient came from the same small village.

Hope that helps!