Quick Reference: Which One Is Correct?

Few phrases generate as much hesitation among writers as each of the students is or are. You find yourself typing an email or drafting an essay, you write “Each of the students are…”, and suddenly your intuition hits the brakes. On one hand, students is clearly plural. On the other hand, each points to an individual.

So, which one takes the lead?

In standard English across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, the correct phrase is:

“Each of the students is…”

Use “is”, not “are”.

While native speakers frequently use “are” in informal conversation, standard grammatical conventions require a singular verb. Below, you will discover the exact grammatical principle behind this rule, a foolproof memory trick to avoid the mistake forever, and more than 75 real-world examples categorized across school, business, and everyday life.

The Grammar Rule: Why “Each” Dictates the Verb

To understand why each of the students is wins out over each of the students are, we must look at sentence anatomy. The confusion comes down to a classic linguistic trap known as the Principle of Proximity—the natural urge to match a verb with the noun sitting directly in front of it.

1. Identify the True Subject

In the sentence:
$$\text{\textbf{Each} [of the students] \textbf{is} present.}$$

• “Each” is the grammatical subject. It functions as an indefinite singular pronoun.
• “Of the students” is a prepositional phrase acting as an adjective modifying “each.”
• “Is” is the singular linking verb.

A verb must agree with its grammatical subject, never with the object of a preposition. Because students is merely the object inside the prepositional phrase (of + [the students]), it has zero influence over whether the verb is singular or plural.

       [Each]  <------- (True Singular Subject)
         |
    of the students  <- (Prepositional Modifier - Ignore for Verb Selection)
         |
       [is]    <------- (Matches "Each", NOT "students")

2. What Does “Each” Actually Mean?

The word each implies singularity. It considers members of a collective group one by one, separating every unit into an individual entity.

Think of it as shorthand for:

“Each [single student] out of the group of students is…”

Because you are evaluating the group one person at a time, the action or state applies to a single individual at any given instance. Therefore, singular verbs (is, has, does, writes, finishes) are required.

The “Finger Cover” Test: Never Get Confused Again

Whenever you hesitate between is and are when using prepositional phrases, use the Finger Cover Test:

1. Place your finger (or cursor) over the entire prepositional phrase starting with “of”.
2. Read the sentence with only the head pronoun and the verb.

• Unfiltered sentence: Each [of the students] (is / are) handing in homework.
• Cover the phrase: Each (is / are) handing in homework.
• Evaluate: You would never say, “Each are handing in homework.” You instinctively say, “Each is handing in homework.”
• Restore the phrase: Each of the students is handing in homework.

This quick mental test works 100% of the time for standardized tests such as the SAT, ACT, IELTS, and TOEFL, as well as formal copyediting workflows.

The Important Exception: The Inverted Structure

English grammar features one structural variation where “each” does take a plural verb. This occurs when a plural noun appears before “each”, making “each” an appositive modifier rather than the head subject:

• Structure A (Pronoun as Head Subject):
  $$\text{Each of the students \textbf{is} on time. \quad \checkmark \text{ [Singular Verb]}}$$
• Structure B (Plural Noun as Head Subject):
  $$\text{The students each \textbf{are} on time. \quad \checkmark \text{ [Plural Verb]}}$$

In Structure B, the true subject is “The students” (plural). The word “each” is simply lingering behind it to distribute the action. Because the plural noun leads the sentence, the verb must remain plural:

• The interns each have distinct responsibilities. (Correct)
• Each of the interns has distinct responsibilities. (Correct)

80+ Real-World Examples Across Different Contexts

To solidify this rule, study the following categorized examples. Every sentence demonstrates how indefinite singular pronouns require singular verbs in real contexts.

Category 1: Basic Everyday Examples (1–10)

1. Each of the students is carrying a heavy backpack today.
2. Each of the boys is ready to join the football match.
3. Each of the girls is excited about the upcoming art field trip.
4. Each of the books is placed neatly on the librarian’s shelf.
5. Each of the apples is washed before being served to the children.
6. Each of the cars is parked inside the garage.
7. Each of the teachers is attending the morning briefing.
8. Each of the rooms is cleaned every morning at sunrise.
9. Each of the runners is stretching before the race begins.
10. Each of the candidates is waiting quietly outside the interview room.

Category 2: Intermediate Everyday Usage (11–20)

11. Each of the students has finished the assignment ahead of time.
12. Each of the passengers receives a safety pamphlet before departure.
13. Each of the computers needs a software update before classes resume.
14. Each of the players wears a custom uniform representing the county.
15. Each of the phones vibrates when a campus alert is broadcast.
16. Each of the instruments requires careful tuning before the concert.
17. Each of the dogs barks whenever a visitor approaches the gate.
18. Each of the packages arrives with a designated tracking code.
19. Each of the pictures captures a completely different angle of the monument.
20. Each of the doors locks automatically once 10:00 PM strikes.

Category 3: Advanced & Complex Sentences (21–30)

21. Each of the students who participated in the regional olympiad is eligible for a full scholarship.
22. Despite ongoing weather disruptions, each of the flights is scheduled to depart on time.
23. Each of the historic artifacts uncovered during excavation is undergoing carbon dating.
24. Each of the architectural blueprints submitted to the council reflects modern energy efficiency standards.
25. While opinions differ wildly, each of the panel members is bound by the committee’s nondisclosure agreement.
26. Each of the pharmaceutical formulations undergoes multi-phase clinical validation prior to retail distribution.
27. In modern distributed systems, each of the servers operates as an isolated node to prevent cascading failure.
28. Each of the legal precedents cited by the defense counsel is directly applicable to this hearing.
29. Each of the socioeconomic factors analyzed in the report points to long-term demographic shifts.
30. To maintain parity across jurisdictions, each of the trade delegates adheres strictly to diplomatic protocol.

Category 4: Daily Conversation & Casual English (31–40)

31. “Do you know if each of the kids is getting a party favor bag?”
32. “Check the kitchen and make sure each of the stoves is turned off.”
33. “Each of the drinks tastes slightly different because of the house syrup.”
34. “I think each of the movies is available on that streaming network.”
35. “Each of the drivers wants to bypass the highway detour.”
36. “Ask them if each of the guests has RSVP’d for Saturday dinner.”
37. “Each of my cousins lives in a different metropolitan city.”
38. “Let’s verify that each of the lights is switched off before we leave.”
39. “Each of the shirts costs twenty dollars during the clearance sale.”
40. “Look at the counter; each of the pies smells absolutely delicious.”

Category 5: Academic & University Writing (41–50)

41. Each of the students is required to defend a master’s thesis before graduation.
42. Each of the hypotheses was tested under double-blind conditions.
43. Each of the participating laboratories adheres to Biosafety Level 3 protocols.
44. Each of the primary sources illustrates the prevailing cultural anxieties of the late Renaissance.
45. Each of the study participants demonstrates measurable improvements in working memory retention.
46. In the control group, each of the specimens exhibits standard baseline behaviors.
47. Each of the qualitative surveys contains ten open-ended reflection prompts.
48. Each of the peer-reviewed submissions passes through two independent blind reviewers.
49. Each of the statistical models produces an acceptable margin of error below 2%.
50. Each of the academic departments maintains its own discretionary endowment fund.

Category 6: Corporate & Business Writing (51–60)

51. Each of the departments is responsible for submitting its annual budget by Friday.
52. Each of the board members votes on executive compensation during the Q4 summit.
53. Each of the branch locations conducts safety audits every six months.
54. Each of the vendor contracts contains an indemnification clause protecting trade secrets.
55. Each of the regional managers presents quarterly metrics to the chief operations officer.
56. Each of the marketing initiatives aligns directly with overarching brand strategy.
57. Each of the candidates demonstrates extensive competencies in enterprise cloud logistics.
58. Each of the commercial lease agreements includes a force majeure provision.
59. Each of the investment funds allocates capital toward renewable infrastructure.
60. Each of the stakeholders holds equity proportional to initial capital contributions.

Category 7: Professional Email Communications (61–70)

61. “Please ensure each of the team members is added to the shared workspace.”
62. “Attached is the document; each of the recipients is asked to acknowledge receipt.”
63. “Kindly confirm that each of the client accounts is reconciled before month-end.”
64. “Could you verify if each of the meeting rooms has video conferencing enabled?”
65. “Each of the employees who volunteered is invited to attend the leadership luncheon.”
66. “Please note that each of the attachments requires a digital cryptographic signature.”
67. “I am writing to verify whether each of the invoices has cleared account processing.”
68. “Be advised that each of the applicants is undergoing mandatory credential verification.”
69. “Our team confirmed that each of the software licenses is scheduled for renewal.”
70. “Thank you for your patience while each of the customer claims is systematically assessed.”

Category 8: ESL & Non-Native Speaker Focus (71–80)

Focus: Differentiating “Each” (singular) from “All” (plural).

71. Each of the languages is difficult in its own unique grammatical way. (NOT: are)
72. Each of the vocabulary words requires contextual memorization. (NOT: require)
73. Each of the pronunciation drills builds spoken fluency over time. (NOT: build)
74. Each of the foreign students brings a rich international perspective. (NOT: bring)
75. Each of the grammar exercises tests your grasp of irregular verbs. (NOT: test)
76. Each of the listening tracks contains natural conversational idioms. (NOT: contain)
77. Each of the sentences has a clear subject and predicate. (NOT: have)
78. Each of the workbook modules includes an answer key at the back. (NOT: include)
79. Each of the dictionary entries defines the root origin of the term. (NOT: define)
80. Each of the writing assignments helps learners refine sentence rhythm. (NOT: help)

Common Mistakes and Diagnostic Corrections

Below are frequent subject-verb agreement errors involving prepositional phrases, paired with their grammatical corrections:

Practice Quiz: Test Your Subject-Verb Agreement Knowledge

Choose the correct verb for each sentence. Answers and detailed explanations follow below.

1. Each of the new employees ( is / are ) required to complete cybersecurity training.
2. The professors each ( has / have ) submitted course syllabi for the fall semester.
3. Every single one of the test tubes ( was / were ) sanitized before the lab session.
4. Each of the proposals presented during yesterday’s meeting ( merits / merit ) further review.
5. In my opinion, each of these smartphone models ( feels / feel ) overly fragile.

Answer Key and Explanations

1. Answer: is
   Explanation: The subject is “Each” (singular). “Of the new employees” is a prepositional phrase that does not alter the verb.
2. Answer: have
   Explanation: Here, the plural noun “The professors” sits before “each”. Because the plural noun is the head subject, use the plural verb “have”.
3. Answer: was
   Explanation: “Every single one” functions as a singular subject. Therefore, the singular past-tense verb “was” is correct.
4. Answer: merits
   Explanation: “Each” is singular, requiring the third-person singular present verb “merits” (ending in -s).
5. Answer: feels
   Explanation: “Each” is the subject; “of these smartphone models” is an intervening modifier. The singular subject takes “feels”.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is “each of the students are” ever acceptable in spoken English?

In informal, everyday conversation, native English speakers often say “each of the students are” because the plural word students sits right next to the verb. However, this is an informal speech habit, not standard grammar. In any written context—including academic papers, business communications, journalism, and standardized exams—it is considered an error. Stick to “each of the students is”.

2. What happens if I use “All of the students”? Does that take “is” or “are”?

Unlike each, the pronoun all changes based on what it refers to. When referring to countable objects (like students, books, or chairs), “all” takes a plural verb: “All of the students are present.” When referring to an uncountable mass noun (like water, information, or sugar), “all” takes a singular verb: “All of the water is gone.”

3. Should I use a singular or plural pronoun later in the sentence (e.g., “his/her” vs. “their”)?

Traditionally, formal grammarians mandated singular pronouns: “Each of the students brought his or her book.” Today, almost all modern style manuals (including APA, MLA, Chicago, and Oxford) accept the singular they/their/them: “Each of the students brought their book.” This is grammatically clean, natural to read, and avoids awkward phrasing like “his or her.”

4. What about phrases like “none of the students”?

The pronoun “none” can take either a singular or a plural verb depending on context and style. In strict traditional grammar, “none” meant “not one” and took a singular verb: “None of the students is absent.” Modern usage predominantly treats “none” as plural when it refers to countable items: “None of the students are absent.” Both are accepted, though “are” is more common in current usage.

5. Why do words like “each,” “every,” and “neither” confuse writers?

These words are distributive indefinite pronouns. They describe multiple people or items, but they distribute the action across those items individually rather than viewing them as a collective unit. Because your mind pictures a collection of people, you think of a plural concept, but the grammar rules demand a singular verb.

Did this guide clarify the rule for you? Bookmark this page for quick grammar checks whenever you are drafting essays, cover letters, or corporate emails. Browse our Grammar & Writing Hub for more practical guides on mastering English mechanics.

Editorial Disclaimer

This article is designed for educational purposes and aligns with standard editorial frameworks including The Chicago Manual of Style, The Associated Press Stylebook, and standard British/Commonwealth educational guidelines. Standardized examination boards (such as College Board, ETS, and Cambridge English) assess the singular construction outlined in this guide.

Also Read: Question Formation Common Mistakes: Rules & Fixes

“Everyone Is Here, Aren’t They?” Grammar Rules & Guide

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