Distributive Determiners

Distributive determiners refer to a group of people or things, and to individual members of the group.

Using each, every, and any to talk about the members of a group as individuals
Using all to talk about the whole group
Using most or half to talk about part of a group

Using both, either, and neither to talk about pairs of people or things

Using “each” and “every”

Each is a way of seeing the members of a group as individuals, while every is a way of seeing a group as a series of members. These distributives can only be used in countable nouns. They are normally used with singular nouns, and are placed before the noun. In many cases, they are interchangeable.

Examples

Each child received a present.
Every child received a present.
I gave each plant some water.
I gave every plant some water.

Each can also be used with plural nouns and pronouns but must be followed by ‘of’. Every cannot be used with plural nouns.

Examples

Each of the children received a present.
I gave each of the plants some water.
He told each of us our jobs.
I gave each of them a kiss.

Every can express different points in a series, especially with time expressions. Each works in the same way, but is less common.

Examples

Every morning John goes jogging.
This magazine is published every week.
I have my coffee here every day.
I go visit my mother each week.
Each Monday, he buys a kilo of apples.

Using “all” as a distributive

The distributive determiner all is used to talk about a whole group, with a special emphasis on the fact that nothing has been left out. All can be used as a distributive in several different patterns.

All can be used with uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns by itself. In this usage, it refers to the group as a concept rather than as individuals.

Examples

All cheese contains protein.
I like all dogs.
All children need affection.
This soap is for all purposes.

All can be used with uncountable nouns and plural countable nouns preceeded by the or a possessive pronoun. In this case, the meaning is shifted towards referring to a concrete, physical group rather than the group as a concept. In these uses, the word of can be added just after all with no change in meaning.

Examples

All the people in the room were silent.
All of the birds flew away.
Have you eaten all the bread?
I will need all of the sugar.
I’ve invited all my friends to the party.
I’ve used up all of our eggs.
You wasted all your time.

All can be used with plural pronouns preceded by of.

Examples

All of us are going.
He scolded all of you.
Did you find all of them?

All can be used in questions and exclamations with uncountable nouns preceded by this or that. In these uses, the word of can be added just after all with no change in meaning.

Examples

Who has left all this paper on my desk?
Look at all this snow!
Why is all of that sugar on the floor?
Where did all of this confetti come from?

All can be used in questions and exclamations with countable nouns preceded by these or those. In these uses, the word of can be added just after all with no change in meaning.

Examples

Look at all those balloons!
Where did all of those books come from?
Why are all these children crying?

Using “half” and "most" as a distributive

The distributive determiner half is used to talk about a whole group divided in two. Most is used to talk about more than half. Half and most can be used as a distributive in several different patterns. Other fractions can be used in the same patterns, although they are less frequent.

Half can be used with nouns preceded by the, a, a demonstrative, or a possessive pronoun. In this case, the meaning refers to a concrete, physical division. The word of can be added just after half with no change in meaning.

Examples

Half of the people have already left.
Half of an apple isn’t very much lunch.
Did you use half my sugar?
I will need half of the flour for my cake.
I earned half of that money last summer.
She found half these frogs in the river.
I spent half that time on my project.
You can take half of those books back.
I’ve invited half my friends to the party.
I’ve used up half of our eggs.
You wasted half of your money on that!

Half can be used with plural pronouns preceded by of.

Examples

Half of us are going.
He scolded half of you but he let the rest off.
You couldn’t find half of them?

Distributives for pairs of objects

The distributive determiners both, either and neither are concerned with distribution between a pair of objects. Normally, these words cannot be used to refer to a group of three or more individuals. They also cannot be used to refer to a group of indefinite size. These distributives can only refer to countable nouns.

Using “both”

Both refers to the whole pair and is equivalent to “one and the other”. Both can be used with plural nouns on their own, or it can be followed by “of”, with or without an article. When followed by a plural pronoun, both must be separated from the pronoun by “of”. Both cannot be used with singular nouns, because it refers to two things.

Examples

Both children were born in Italy.
Both the children were born in Italy.
Both of the children were born in Italy.
Both my parents have fair hair.
Both of my parents have fair hair.
Both of us like skiing.
I told both of them to calm down.

Using “either”

Either is positive and when used alone, refers to one of the two members of the pair. It is equivalent to “one or the other”. Because it refers to just one member of a pair, either must be used before a singular noun. It can also be used with a plural noun or pronoun if followed by “of”.

Examples

I can stay at either hotel.
Either day is fine for me.
There are two chairs here. You can take either of them.
Either of you can come.
Either of the hotels will be fine.
I can eat either of the salads.

Either can also be used with or in a construction that talks about each member of the pair in turn. The meaning remains the same, but in this case either is not functioning as a distributive. It is functioning as a conjunction.

Examples

You can have either ice cream or chocolate cake.
I will come on either Thursday or Friday.
You can either come inside or put on your raincoat.

Using “neither”

Neither is negative and when used alone, refers to the whole pair. It is equivalent to “not one or the other”. Because it refers to just one member of a pair, neither must be used before a singular noun. It can also be used with a plural noun or pronoun if followed by “of”.

Examples

Neither chair is any good.
Neither brother came.
Which bag do you want? Neither of them.
Neither of us were on time.
I think neither of these dresses fits me.
Neither of the children wanted to go.

Neither can also be used with nor in a construction that talks about each member of the pair in turn. The meaning remains the same, but in this case neither is not functioning as a distributive. It is functioning as a conjunction.

Examples

You can have neither cookies nor candy.
It is neither raining nor snowing.
She is neither tall nor short.

Creating Pronouns from Distributives

Each can also be used a pronoun. It’s used as a short way of saying each of them. Because of this, it’s usually only used when it is already understood what you are talking about.

Examples

The students leave on Friday. Each will bring a bag.
My video games are so old. I'm so bored with each.
I love every dish at this restaurant. Each is delicious.

Most is used like each, meaning it’s a short way of saying most of them.

Examples

Khmer people live in Cambodia. Most live in the countryside.
Students don’t like learning grammar. Most hate it.

Both / Either / Neither are used like each and most, meaning it’s a short way of saying both of them / either of them / neither of them.

Examples

Bill and Ted like music. Both play guitar.
Romeo and Juliet were in love. Neither found it, though.
Students, there are two topics available for your essay. Either is fine. Please pick one.

Every can be used to create pronouns such as everyone / everybody (= every person), everything (= every thing), or everywhere (= every place). Every cannot be used as a pronoun by itself.

Examples

Everyone in Cambodia eats rice.
I think everybody who visits Cambodia should try prahok.
Everything I try to say in Khmer is wrong.
There is something cool to see everywhere in Cambodia.
I like my students. Every of them.

Any follows the exact same rules as every: anyone / anybody (= any person), anything (= any thing), or anywhere (= any place). Any cannot be used as a pronoun by itself, unless you are using it as a quantifier.

Examples

Anyone who lives in Cambodia eats rice.
I think anybody who visits Cambodia should try prahok.
Anything I try to say in Khmer is wrong.
Anywhere you look, there is something cool to see in Cambodia.
I like my students. Any of them.

Examples

Anyone who lives in Cambodia eats rice.
I think anybody who visits Cambodia should try prahok.
Anything I try to say in Khmer is wrong.
Anywhere you look, there is something cool to see in Cambodia.
I like my students. Any of them.

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