Grammar · Articles & Determiners
All, Every, Each & Whole
One by one, all together, or one complete thing? Learn all, every, each and whole with the film The Hunger Games.
Grammar › Articles & Determiners › All, Every, Each & Whole
The rule in one sentenceEvery and each look at the people or things in a group one by one, while all looks at the group together and whole means one complete thing.
About the film
The Hunger Games is a film from 2012, set in a country called Panem. Every year, each of its twelve districts must send a boy and a girl to fight in a dangerous show on live TV. The whole nation has to watch, and all the rich people in the Capitol love it.
What does it do?
These four words all talk about 100%. The difference is how you look at the group.
Every and each look at the members one at a time, so they go with one thing: every district, each girl. All looks at the members together, so it goes with many things: all the districts. Whole is about one complete thing, with nothing missing: the whole country.
Look at the first three tiles. Every year and each district are single. All the tributes is plural. The verb changes too: every district sends, but all the districts send.
Every tribute trains hard. All the tributes train hard.
The meaning is almost the same. But every + one tribute + trains. All + many tributes + train.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
every / each — one by one
Every district sends two tributes.
Not every tribute is strong.
Not every = some are, some aren’t.Does every tribute train in the Capitol?
all / whole — together or complete
All the tributes ride in a parade.
Peeta doesn’t know all the rules.
All the rules = the complete group of rules.Is the whole country watching?
Use the whole with one thing: country, day, film.When to use each one
every / each — one by one
all / whole — together or complete
Words that help: one by one or all together?
These little phrases are very common. Learn them as one piece.
every / each → one by one
all / whole → together or complete
Common mistakes
❌ Every districts send two tributes.
✅ Every district sends two tributes.
Every goes with one thing, so use district and sends.
❌ All tribute trains in the Capitol.
✅ All the tributes train in the Capitol.
All goes with many things, so use tributes and train.
❌ The all nation watches the Games.
✅ The whole nation watches the Games.
For one complete thing, use the whole.
❌ Each of the tributes have a mentor.
✅ Each of the tributes has a mentor.
Each of the + many things still takes has, not have.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
“All day” and “every day” are different. All day means from morning to night, on one day. Every day means Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and so on, again and again.
✅ The tributes train all day. (from morning to night)
✅ The tributes train every day. (on each day, with no breaks)
Practice: choose the right word
Eight questions. Choose one word. You get the answer, and why.
1. ___ year, the Capitol holds the Hunger Games.
Year is one thing, and it repeats → every.
2. ___ the tributes ride in a parade.
Tributes is plural → all.
3. ___ nation watches the show on TV.
One complete thing → the whole.
4. Each district ___ two tributes.
Each goes with one thing, so the verb is sends.
5. ___ of the tributes has a mentor.
You can say each of, but not every of.
6. The tributes train ___ day, from morning to night.
From morning to night on one day → all day.
7. Peeta’s family bakes bread ___ day.
It happens again and again → every day.
8. Effie reads the names in front of ___ district.
District is one thing, complete → the whole district.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
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