“Each is” or “each are”? This is a small grammar question, but it causes a lot of trouble for English learners.
The confusion usually comes from the fact that each talks about more than one person or thing, so learners naturally want to use a plural verb such as are.
For example, look at this sentence:
Each of the students is ready.
There are many students, but the verb is is, not are. Why? Because each means “every one separately.” Grammar treats each as singular when it is the subject of a sentence.
This rule is useful in everyday English. You will see it in conversations, emails, school writing, exams, instructions, and professional communication.
Knowing the difference can also help you avoid one of the most common subject-verb agreement mistakes.
The good news is that the basic rule is simple: when each is the subject, use a singular verb. That normally means each is, each has, each does, or each goes.
By the end of this guide, you will understand why “each is” is normally correct, why “each are” is usually wrong, how each of + plural noun works, and why sentences such as “They each are…” can sometimes be grammatical.
What Does “Each Is” Mean?
Each is is used when we talk about every person or thing in a group one at a time.
The word each is grammatically singular when it acts as the subject. Therefore, it normally takes a singular verb such as is.
For example:
Each student is responsible for the work.
This sentence talks about all the students, but it considers them separately. The meaning is close to:
Every student is responsible for the work.
When should you use “each is”?
Use each is when each is the subject and the verb is to be.
The basic pattern is:
Each + singular verb + complement
Examples:
- Each is different.
- Each is important.
- Each is ready for the test.
- Each is responsible for one task.
- Each is a good choice.
- Each is available in three sizes.
- Each is made from strong material.
- Each is worth trying.
Notice that is follows each in every example.
“Each” can refer to people or things
You can use each for people:
Each is wearing a blue shirt.
You can also use it for things:
Each is made of wood.
The important point is not whether the group contains people or objects. The important point is that each treats the members separately.
Why does “each is” sound singular?
Imagine five students standing in a classroom. If you say:
Each student is holding a book.
You are thinking about the students individually:
- Student 1 is holding a book.
- Student 2 is holding a book.
- Student 3 is holding a book.
- Student 4 is holding a book.
- Student 5 is holding a book.
That is why the singular verb is is used.
A common learner confusion
Many students see the plural noun in a sentence like this:
Each of the players is ready.
They notice players and think:
“Players” is plural, so I should use “are.”
But players is not the subject of the verb here. Each is the subject.
So:
Each of the players is ready. ✅
Not:
Each of the players are ready. ❌
A useful question is: Who or what is the subject?
The answer is each, so use a singular verb.
What Does “Each Are” Mean?
The phrase “each are” is usually considered incorrect when each is the subject of the sentence.
For example:
Each are ready. ❌
The correct sentence is:
Each is ready. ✅
The reason is simple: each is singular in this use, so it needs the singular verb is.
Why do people sometimes write “each are”?
The mistake often happens because each can refer to several people or things.
For example:
Each of the children…
There may be ten children. Because learners see the plural word children, they may choose are:
Each of the children are happy. ❌
But the correct form is:
Each of the children is happy. ✅
The phrase each of the children means every child separately.
Correct examples with “each”
Here are some examples:
- Each of them is ready.
- Each of the books is useful.
- Each child is given a pencil.
- Each answer is correct.
- Each member is important.
- Each of these phones is expensive.
- Each student is expected to attend.
- Each of the rooms is clean.
Is “each are” ever possible?
There is an important detail here.
You may sometimes see are near each when each is not actually the grammatical subject.
For example:
They each are responsible for a different task.
This sentence can be grammatical because they is the subject. The word each is being used to show that the members of the group are considered individually.
However, in natural everyday English, many speakers would prefer:
They are each responsible for a different task.
The second version sounds smoother.
So, if you are choosing between:
Each are ready. ❌
Each is ready. ✅
choose each is.
But if the sentence begins with a plural subject:
They each are ready. ✅
“They are each ready” is often the more natural choice.
Difference Between “Each Is” and “Each Are”
The main difference is subject-verb agreement.
When each is the subject, it is normally singular. Therefore, it takes is, not are.
| Form | Correct? | Example | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Each is | ✅ Yes | Each is ready. | “Each” is singular. |
| Each are | ❌ Usually no | Each are ready. | “Each” needs a singular verb. |
| Each of them is | ✅ Yes | Each of them is ready. | “Each” is the subject. |
| Each of them are | ❌ No | Each of them are ready. | “Them” does not control the verb. |
| They each are | ✅ Grammatically possible | They each are ready. | “They” is the subject. |
| They are each | ✅ Natural | They are each ready. | “They” is plural; “each” modifies it. |
The grammar logic
The most important thing to remember is this:
The noun after “of” does not decide the verb.
Consider:
Each of the boys is playing football.
The word boys is plural, but the subject is each.
Therefore:
Each is playing football.
Now compare it with:
The boys are each playing football.
Here, boys is the subject.
Therefore:
The boys are playing football.
The meaning is almost the same, but the sentence structure is different.
“Each” means one by one
Think of each as a word that breaks a group into individual members.
Compare:
The students are happy.
This looks at the students as a group.
Each student is happy.
This looks at the students individually.
Both sentences can describe the same situation, but the grammar changes because the subject changes.
Compare these sentence pairs
Plural subject:
The players are ready.
Singular “each” subject:
Each player is ready.
Another pair:
The employees are working.
Each employee is working.
And another:
The flowers are beautiful.
Each flower is beautiful.
The second sentence in each pair uses each, so the noun and verb become singular.
Grammar Rules You Must Remember
Rule #1: “Each” normally takes a singular verb
When each is the subject, use a singular verb.
Each is ready. ✅
Each are ready. ❌
This is the most important rule.
The same idea applies to other verbs:
Each student has a notebook.
Each child likes the game.
Each worker does the job carefully.
Not:
Each student have a notebook. ❌
Each child like the game. ❌
Each worker do the job carefully. ❌
Rule #2: “Each of + plural noun” still takes a singular verb
This is where many learners make mistakes.
The structure is:
Each of + plural noun/pronoun + singular verb
Examples:
Each of the students is ready.
Each of the houses has a garden.
Each of them was given a ticket.
Each of the answers is correct.
The noun after of can be plural, but each controls the verb.
Rule #3: Use “are” when the plural noun is the subject
Look at the difference:
Each of the players is tired.
Here, each is the subject.
But:
The players are each tired.
Here, players is the subject, so are is correct.
This simple change in sentence structure explains many confusing examples.
Rule #4: “Each” can come after a plural subject
You can put each after a plural subject.
For example:
They each have a ticket.
We each have a different opinion.
The children each have a small bag.
The verbs have and are agree with they, we, and the children, not with each.
This structure is very common in everyday English.
Common Mistakes Students Make
Mistake 1: Using “are” after “each”
A common sentence is:
Each are responsible for the work. ❌
The correction is:
Each is responsible for the work. ✅
The mistake happens because the speaker is thinking about several people.
Correction tip: Ignore the size of the group. Look at the subject. If the subject is each, use a singular verb.
Mistake 2: Letting the plural noun after “of” control the verb
For example:
Each of the students are ready. ❌
Many learners think students → are.
But the correct sentence is:
Each of the students is ready. ✅
Remember:
each of + plural noun → singular verb
Mistake 3: Thinking “each” means “many”
It is true that each can refer to a group containing many people or things. But its grammar is singular.
For example:
Each of the ten students is ready.
There are ten students, but each means one student at a time.
Think:
Every one of the ten students is ready.
That makes the singular verb easier to understand.
Mistake 4: Changing the verb when “each” comes after the subject
Consider:
They each have a phone.
Some learners change have to has because they see each.
But:
They each have a phone. ✅
Why?
Because they is the subject.
You can think of each as an extra word that tells us to consider the members separately.
Mistake 5: Using “each are” because it sounds natural
Sometimes a wrong sentence can sound normal if you have heard similar mistakes many times.
Each are different.
It may sound understandable, but standard English requires:
Each is different.
When writing for school, exams, work, or formal communication, use the standard form.
Easy Trick to Remember the Difference
Here is a very easy memory trick:
Each = one
Whenever each is the subject, imagine replacing it with every one.
For example:
Each is ready.
Change each to every one:
Every one is ready.
You can clearly see that is is correct.
Try another:
Each of the students is happy.
Think:
Every one of the students is happy.
Again, is makes sense.
Now try:
Each of the students are happy. ❌
Replace each with every one:
Every one of the students are happy. ❌
It sounds wrong because every one is singular.
The “one by one” trick
You can also remember:
Each = one by one
Imagine five boxes on a table.
If you say:
Each box is open.
You are checking the boxes one by one.
That is why is is used.
But if you say:
The boxes are open.
You are talking about the boxes as a group.
That is why are is used.
This little mental picture can help you remember the rule without thinking about complicated grammar terms.
Daily Life Examples
Here are some natural examples you may hear or use in everyday English.
1. At school
Each student is expected to bring a notebook.
A teacher may say this when giving instructions to a class.
2. At work
Each Is or Each Are
The company is talking about employees individually.
3. At home
Each Is or Each Are
There are several children, but each is singular.
4. While shopping
Each Is or Each Are
The speaker is talking about the items one at a time.
5. Talking about friends
Each Is or Each Are
Here, we is the subject, so have is correct.
6. Talking about a team
Each Is or Each Are
They is the subject, so are is correct.
7. At a restaurant
Each Is or Each Are
The sentence means that every guest receives a menu.
8. Talking about books
Each Is or Each Are
Even though books is plural, each controls the verb.
9. Talking about family members
Each Is or Each Are
Here, my brothers is the subject, so have is correct.
10. Giving instructions
Each Is or Each Are
This means every person separately.
Practice Section
Choose the correct option in each sentence.
1. Each student ___ a textbook.
A. have
B. has
2. Each of the rooms ___ clean.
A. is
B. are
3. The students ___ each given a certificate.
A. are
B. is
4. Each of these answers ___ correct.
A. is
B. are
5. They each ___ a different task.
A. has
B. have
Answers
1. B — has
Each Is or Each Are
2. A — is
Each Is or Each Are
3. A — are
Each Is or Each Are
The subject is the students, not each.
4. A — is
Each Is or Each Are
5. B — have
Each Is or Each Are
The subject is they, so have is used.
FAQs
What is the difference between “each is” and “each are”?
Each is is the standard correct form when each is the subject. The word each is grammatically singular in this use.
Each are is normally incorrect when each directly controls the verb.
Each Is or Each Are
Each Is or Each Are
Is “each of them is” correct?
Yes. Each of them is is completely correct.
The pronoun them is plural because it refers to several people or things, but each is the subject.
Each Is or Each Are
Each Is or Each Are
Can “each” be used with “are”?
Yes, but the sentence structure matters.
For example:
Each Is or Each Are
This is correct because they is the subject.
You can also see:
Each Is or Each Are
This can be grammatical, although they are each ready is often more natural.
The important point is that each are should not normally be used when each itself is the subject.
Is “each” singular or plural?
Each is grammatically singular when it acts as the subject.
It can refer to two, ten, or a thousand people or things, but it considers them individually.
Each Is or Each Are
Each Is or Each Are
Should I say “each person is” or “each person are”?
Use each person is.
The noun person is singular, and each also takes a singular verb.
Each Is or Each Are
Each Is or Each Are
Is “each are” always wrong?
Not necessarily if the word each is not the subject. For example:
Each Is or Each Are
Here, they is the subject. Still, they are each ready is generally the smoother wording.
For learners, the safest rule is: when each is the subject, use a singular verb.
Conclusion
The choice between “each is” and “each are” becomes much easier once you understand one simple idea: each is grammatically singular when it is the subject.
So we normally say:
Each is ready.
Each of the students is ready.
Each answer is correct.
Each child has a book.
Do not let a plural noun after of confuse you. In each of the students, the word students is plural, but each controls the verb.
At the same time, remember that are can be correct when a plural subject comes before each:
They are each ready.
We each have a different idea.
The best way to master this rule is to notice the subject before choosing the verb. When each means “every one separately,” think one by one.
That little trick will help you choose is, has, was, and other singular verbs naturally.
With a little practice, this common grammar problem will become much easier in both speaking and writing.
Oliver Bennett is an English language educator and content writer passionate about simplifying grammar. He creates clear, practical lessons, writing tips, and learning resources that help readers improve their English with confidence.
