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Teo Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
each of + plural verb
Each of the 2 beautiful girls upstairs is/are ...
A dictionary of English usage says,"If you are thinking of each as individualizing, you will use the singular verb; if you think of it as collecting, you will use the plural. Both singular and plural are standard, but singular is much more common."
Do you agree?
A dictionary of English usage says,"If you are thinking of each as individualizing, you will use the singular verb; if you think of it as collecting, you will use the plural. Both singular and plural are standard, but singular is much more common."
Do you agree?
Top answer
If we are referring to something the two girls have in common, we don’t begin or sentence with “Each”. We say, “Both girls are …” Both girls are doing the laundry. Or we say, Both of them are doing the laundry.
- If we are referring to something the two girls have in common, we don’t begin or sentence with “Each”.
- We say, “Both girls are …” Both girls are doing the laundry.
- Or we say, Both of them are doing the laundry.
- Or Both are doing the laundry .
- You won’t hear, “ Each of the two girls is doing the laundry ” If you are referring to more than two girls, you say, All of the girls are doing the chores.
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6 Answers
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If we are referring to something the two girls have in common, we don’t begin or sentence with “Each”. We say, “Both girls are …”
Both girls are doing the laundry.
Or we say,
Both of them are doing the laundry.
Or Both are doing the laundry.
You won’t hear, “
Both girls are doing the laundry.
Or we say,
Both of them are doing the laundry.
Or Both are doing the laundry.
You won’t hear, “
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He usually has about eight pupils, each of whom pay about $200 a month -- Time, 3 June 1946
Each of his ideas are stated -- Down Beat, 20 Oct. 1950
Each of these texts have been further validated -- Training Manuel for Auxiliary Firemen, 1942
Each of Mr. Fugard's plays ... are themselves acts of contrition -- Mel Gussow, N. Y. Times, cited in Simson
Each of his ideas are stated -- Down Beat, 20 Oct. 1950
Each of these texts have been further validated -- Training Manuel for Auxiliary Firemen, 1942
Each of Mr. Fugard's plays ... are themselves acts of contrition -- Mel Gussow, N. Y. Times, cited in Simson
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"Each" is a singular noun, and therefore is associated with the singular form of the verb. However, "each" is not used to describe one of a collective of two. That's the point that Muayad Jajo was making.
"Each of the three girls" vs. "Both of the two girls"
"Each of the three girls" vs. "Both of the two girls"
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He usually has about eight pupils, each of whom pay about $200 a month -- Time, 3 June 1946
Each of his ideas are stated -- Down Beat, 20 Oct. 1950
Each of these texts have been further validated -- Training Manuel for Auxiliary Firemen, 1942
Each of Mr. Fugard's plays ... are themselves acts of contrition -- Mel Gussow, N. Y. Times, cited in Simson
Each of his ideas are stated -- Down Beat, 20 Oct. 1950
Each of these texts have been further validated -- Training Manuel for Auxiliary Firemen, 1942
Each of Mr. Fugard's plays ... are themselves acts of contrition -- Mel Gussow, N. Y. Times, cited in Simson
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CalifJimRegarding the very first post in this thread: Yes, I agree.Yes, and I agree with CJ. You can say "each of the two" or "each of the three" to emphasize the individual nature of what each is doing, thinking, whatever. If you want to emphasize the collective nature, then you say Both (meaning two) or All (for more than two).
CJ
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