Is Each Singular or Plural? The Correct Grammar Rule Explained

Each is usually singular when it is the subject, so it takes a singular verb such as “is” or “has.” Even when each refers to several people, the grammar focuses on them one at a time.

You might write an email and pause at a sentence like, “Each of the students is ready.” Then you may wonder if are sounds better because students is plural.

This confusion is common because a plural noun can appear close to the verb. However, each is the word controlling the verb when it acts as the subject. Cambridge explains that each of is normally followed by a singular verb.

The rule becomes easier once you understand how each works before a noun, after a plural subject, and in phrases such as each of them.

Quick Answer

Each is usually singular when it acts as the subject. Use a singular verb with it, such as is, has, does, or works. For example, “Each student is ready” and “Each of the students is ready” are standard. However, when each follows a plural subject, the plural verb agrees with that subject.

Quick Rule

When each is the subject, use a singular verb; when a plural subject comes first, use its plural verb.

Why Is Each Usually Singular?

Each is usually treated as singular because it considers members of a group individually. Even when a group contains many people or things, each focuses on one member at a time. Therefore, it normally takes a singular verb.

Compare these sentences:

Each student is responsible.

Each teacher has a key.

Each book contains useful information.

The nouns student, teacher, and book are singular.

But each can also appear with a plural noun through each of:

Each of the students is responsible.

Each of the teachers has a key.

Each of the books contains useful information.

The plural nouns students, teachers, and books do not change the number of the subject.

The subject is still each.

Read More: Is It Leafs or Leaves? Correct Plural, Meaning & Examples

Is “Each Is” or “Each Are” Correct?

“Each is” is the standard form when each itself is the subject. The same pattern applies to other singular verbs, including has, does, works, needs, and wants.

Correct

Each is ready.

Each has a ticket.

Each does the work carefully.

Each needs more time.

Incorrect in standard formal writing

Each are ready.

Each have a ticket.

Each do the work carefully.

Each need more time.

A useful test is to remove the extra information.

Instead of:

Each of the students is ready.

Think:

Each is ready.

That makes the singular verb easier to see.

What About “Each of”?

Each of is followed by a plural noun or plural pronoun, but the verb is normally singular. The phrase describes individual members within a larger group, while each remains the grammatical focus.

Examples:

Each of the players is ready.

Each of the rooms has a window.

Each of them was invited.

Each of us has a responsibility.

Notice the pattern:

each + of + plural noun/pronoun + singular verb

More examples

• Each of the children has a book.
• Each of the houses is different.
• Each of the answers seems correct.
• Each of the employees gets a break.
• Each of them wants to help.

The plural noun after of does not control the verb.

Each of the Students Is or Are?

“Each of the students is” is the standard formal construction. Although students is plural, the subject is each, so the verb normally stays singular.

Correct

Each of the students is responsible for the project.

Common mistake

Each of the students are responsible for the project.

The mistake happens because students is close to the verb.

Writers may see:

each of the students are

and naturally connect students with are.

But the grammatical structure is:

Each of the students is responsible.

The phrase of the students tells us which group is being divided into individuals.

When Can “Each” Be Used With a Plural Verb?

A plural verb can appear when each follows a plural subject rather than serving as the subject itself. In this structure, the plural noun or pronoun before each controls the verb.

Compare:

Each student has a book.

Here, each is the subject.

But:

The students each have a book.

Here, students is the subject.

Therefore, have is correct.

More examples:

The children each have their own room.

We each have a different opinion.

They each want to participate.

The players each received a medal.

This is an important distinction.

Pattern 1: Each is the subject

Each + noun + singular verb

Each student has a locker.

Pattern 2: A plural subject comes first

Plural subject + each + plural verb

The students each have a locker.

Oxford gives the same distinction: each student has, but they each have.

Each vs Every

Each and every are similar because both can refer to individual members of a group. However, each can be used with plural nouns through each of, while every normally takes a singular noun directly.

Each

Each student has a notebook.

Each of the students has a notebook.

Every

Every student has a notebook.

You would not normally write:

Every of the students…

Instead, use:

Every student…

or:

Every one of the students…

Every also takes a singular verb when it is the subject:

Every player wants to win.

Every room has a window.

Cambridge confirms that every + singular noun takes a singular verb.

Common Mistakes With “Each”

1. Each of the students are

❌ Each of the students are ready.

✅ Each of the students is ready.

The subject is each, so use is.

2. Each of the books have

❌ Each of the books have a different cover.

✅ Each of the books has a different cover.

The plural noun books does not control the verb.

3. Each student are

❌ Each student are responsible.

✅ Each student is responsible.

Both each and student are singular here.

4. Each of them are

❌ Each of them are available.

✅ Each of them is available.

The pronoun them is plural, but each is the subject.

5. Using a singular verb after a plural subject

❌ The students each has a notebook.

✅ The students each have a notebook.

Here, students is the subject.

Therefore, the verb must be plural.

Real Examples With “Each”

Here are natural examples showing the main patterns.

Each + singular noun

1. Each student has a locker.
2. Each teacher needs a schedule.
3. Each room has two windows.
4. Each child gets a ticket.
5. Each employee receives an email.
6. Each book contains useful information.
7. Each player wears a uniform.
8. Each answer is worth two points.
9. Each person needs an identification card.
10. Each applicant must complete the form.

Each of + plural noun

11. Each of the students is ready.
12. Each of the teachers has a copy.
13. Each of the players was interviewed.
14. Each of the rooms has a window.
15. Each of the books contains a different story.

Plural subject + each

16. The students each have a locker.
17. The teachers each received a copy.
18. They each want to participate.
19. We each have a different opinion.
20. The players each received a medal.

These examples show why you should identify the real subject before choosing the verb.

Does “Each” Always Mean One?

Each refers to every individual member of a group, so it can describe two or more people or things. Its grammatical number is usually singular when it controls the verb, even though its meaning involves multiple members.

For example:

There are five students.

You can say:

Each student is ready.

You are talking about all five students.

But you consider them individually:

Student 1 is ready.
Student 2 is ready.
Student 3 is ready.
Student 4 is ready.
Student 5 is ready.

That individual focus is why is is used.

What About “Each and Every”?

Each and every is treated as singular when it is the subject. The verb should normally be singular because the phrase emphasizes every individual member of a group.

Examples:

Each and every student has a responsibility.

Each and every employee is expected to attend.

Each and every answer needs to be checked.

So do not write:

Each and every student have a responsibility.

Use:

Each and every student has a responsibility.

What About “Each Other”?

Each other is different from each used as a subject. It is a reciprocal expression, meaning that people or things in a group have a relationship with one another.

For example:

The students helped each other.

Here, each other is not the subject.

The subject is the students.

That is why helped agrees with the plural subject.

A common possessive mistake is:

❌ They looked into each others’ eyes.

✅ They looked into each other’s eyes.

The standard possessive form is each other’s.

Easy Memory Trick

Remember this simple rule:

Each = one at a time.

When you see each of, use the same idea:

Each of the students is ready.

Each of the students has a book.

But when the plural subject comes first:

The students each are ready.

The students each have a book.

The verb follows the real subject.

FAQs

1.Is “each” singular or plural?

Each is usually singular when it is the subject of a sentence. It normally takes a singular verb such as is, has, or does.

2.Is it “each is” or “each are”?

Use each is when each is the subject.

Each is ready.

Each are is not the standard form when each is the subject.

3.Is it “each of them is” or “each of them are”?

Each of them is is the standard formal construction. The word each controls the verb, while them identifies the group.

4.Is it “each of the students is” or “each of the students are”?

Use each of the students is in standard formal writing. The subject is each, not students.

Is “each student is” correct?

Yes. Each student is correct because each refers to individual students and takes a singular verb.

5.Can “each” be used with a plural noun?

Yes. Use each of + plural noun.

Each of the students is ready.

You can also use each after a plural subject:

The students each have a book.

6.Can “each” take a plural verb?

Yes, when it follows a plural subject.

The students each have a book.

Here, students is the subject, not each.

7.Is “each of us has” correct?

Yes. Each of us has is the standard construction.

Each of us has a different role.

8.Is “each and every” singular or plural?

Each and every normally takes a singular verb.

Each and every student has a role.

9.Is “each” the same as “every”?

They have similar meanings, but their grammar differs in some structures. Each can be followed by of + plural noun, while every normally takes a singular noun directly.

Conclusion:

Each is usually singular when it acts as the subject. Use is, has, does, or another singular verb with it.

The main challenge comes when a plural noun follows each of. Remember that the plural noun does not control the verb.

Write:

Each of the students is ready.

But write:

The students each have their books.

The difference depends on which word is the true subject. Once you identify the subject, choosing the correct verb becomes much easier.