All of vs Each of: A Comprehensive Guide to Usage and Differences

“All of” and “Each of” are similar expressions in English that both refer to plurality but with different emphases. “All of” refers to an entire group as a whole, while “Each of” emphasizes individual elements separately. Grammatically, both are determiners used before nouns or pronouns in the plural.

🔹 Comparison Examples:

“All of the books are interesting.” – emphasizes the entire group “Each of the books is interesting.” – emphasizes each item individually

Let’s explore their meanings, grammar, and usage in detail.

What does “all of” mean?

✅ “All of” is used to refer to an entire group as a single unit.

🔹 Grammar: “All of” is used before pronouns (us, you, them) or definite nouns (the students, my friends).

🎯 Main rules for using “All of”:

Using with nouns:

• “All of the students passed the exam”
• “All of the books are on the shelf”

Using with pronouns:

• “All of them agreed”
• “All of us were there”

Agreement particularities:

• After “all of,” the verb is typically used in plural
• “All of the water is gone” – exception for uncountable nouns

🔹 Examples:

• “All of my friends are coming to the party.”
• “All of us enjoyed the trip.”

🔹 Additional nuances:

• “All of” can be shortened to “all” before plural nouns (“All the students” instead of “All of the students”)
• Before pronouns, “all of” is mandatory: “All of them” (not “All them”)
• The verb after “all of” is plural (“All of the books are interesting”)

What does “each of” mean?

✅ “Each of” is used to emphasize individual elements within a group, where each element is considered separately.

🔹 Grammar: “Each of” is used before pronouns (us, you, them) or definite plural nouns (the students, my friends).

🎯 Main rules for using “Each of”:

Grammatical structure:

• “Each of the students has their own book”
• “Each of these paintings is unique”

Important nuances:

• After “each of,” the verb is always singular
• Requires a definite article or possessive pronoun

🔹 Examples:

• “Each of the students received a certificate.”
• “Each of my friends has a different hobby.”
• “Each of us has a role to play.”

🔹 Key points to remember:

• The verb after “each of” is singular, as it agrees with each individual element
• “Each of” cannot be shortened like “all of” (e.g., “Each the students” ❌ is incorrect)

📊 Main differences between “all of” and “each of” (table)

Property	All of	Each of
Meaning	Describes entire group as one	Describes each element separately
Agreement	Plural verb (are, have, like)	Singular verb (is, has, likes)
Shortening	Can be shortened to “all”	Cannot be shortened
Use with pronouns	All of us, all of them	Each of us, each of them

🔍 Key Differences

Group vs Individual Focus

• “All of” views the group as a single unit
• “Each of” emphasizes the individuality of each member

Grammatical Features

• “All of” can be used with both singular and plural
• “Each of” always requires a singular verb

Context of Use

• “All of” for general statements about groups
• “Each of” for emphasizing individual characteristics

How to choose between “all of” and “each of”?

✅ Use “all of” when talking about the entire group as one:

• “All of the players were excited about the match.”

✅ Use “each of” when talking about individual group members:

• “Each of the players was given a new uniform.”

Summary

📝 Use “all of” when referring to the entire group together. 📝 Use “each of” when referring to individuals separately.