Each, Every, Both, Either, and Neither

What you’ll learn

Talk about members of groups with accurate agreement.

និយាយអំពីសមាជិកក្រុមដោយ agreement ត្រឹមត្រូវ។

Meaning and use

Each focuses on individual members; every presents all members of a group. Both covers two together, either one of two, and neither excludes both. Each, every, either, and neither before a singular count noun take singular agreement. Agreement after of can vary in informal usage; use singular after each of in edited writing.

Each ផ្ដោតលើម្នាក់ៗ; every លើសមាជិកទាំងអស់។ Both សម្រាប់ទាំងពីរ; either មួយណាក៏បានក្នុងពីរ; neither មិនមួយណាទាំងពីរ។

Grammar patterns

Pattern	Example or form
Singular noun and verb	Each student has a book. / Every seat is taken.
Two alternatives	Both doors are open. / Neither door is open.

Examples

1. Every student has an account.

   សិស្សគ្រប់រូបមានគណនី។

2. Each of the rooms has a window.

   បន្ទប់នីមួយៗមានបង្អួច។

3. Both answers are correct.

   ចម្លើយទាំងពីរត្រឹមត្រូវ។

4. Either route is fine.

   ផ្លូវមួយណាក៏បានក្នុងពីរនេះ។

Everyday conversation

Dara: Which of these two dates works for you?

Maly: Either date is fine. Both days are free.

Common mistakes

Instead of	Use	Why
Every students have a book.	Every student has a book.	Every directly takes a singular noun and singular verb.
Both answer is correct.	Both answers are correct.	Both refers to two and takes plural agreement.

Practice

Try these questions before opening the answers. Write or say each answer.

សាកល្បងឆ្លើយសំណួរទាំងនេះជាមុនសិន មុននឹងបើកមើលចម្លើយ។ អ្នកអាចសរសេរ ឬនិយាយចម្លើយរបស់អ្នក។

1. Complete: Each child ___ (need) a ticket.
2. Rewrite: The first door is not open. The second door is not open. Use neither.
3. Choose: I like the two designs. (Both / Every) designs are attractive.

Answers and explanations

Show answers / បង្ហាញចម្លើយ

1. needs

   Each child is singular.

2. Neither door is open.

   Neither excludes both alternatives.

3. Both

   Both directly modifies the plural noun for two items.

Quick recap

• Singular noun and verb: Each student has a book. / Every seat is taken.
• Two alternatives: Both doors are open. / Neither door is open.