The phrase each of looks plural because it usually sits next to a plural noun (students, options, items). But grammar treats each as the boss of the verb, so the verb stays singular in standard writing.
Table of Contents
Correct Form
Each of is a singular controller even when the next word is plural. That’s why you get is, was, and has in careful writing.
Common Verb Matches
- Each of the answers is clear.
- Each of the emails was saved.
- Each of the steps has a label.
What Not To Pair It With
- Each of the answers are clear.
- Each of the emails were saved.
- Each of the steps have a label.
Key idea: the verb agrees with each, not with the plural noun after of. The of-phrase gives extra detail, but it does not change the number of the subject.
Why The Mistake Happens
The mix-up usually comes from proximity: a plural noun sits right next to the verb, so the plural verb feels tempting. Your brain sees students and wants are, even though each is the real subject.
- Pattern
- Each of + plural noun/pronoun + singular verb
- Why It Tricks People
- The plural word after of is closer to the verb, but it is not the grammatical subject.
- Easy Re-Check
- Replace each of with each one. If each one sounds singular, you’re aligned.
One more sneaky reason: people also copy what they hear. In casual speech, each of + plural verb shows up now and then, but it’s not the standard choice for edited sentences.
Pronunciation
In normal speech, each of often gets reduced. You’ll hear something like “each-uhv” or even “each-ə”, which makes the phrase sound like one smooth chunk. That smooth rhythm can make a plural verb slip in by habit.
If you ever see dictionary pronunciation for each, it’s commonly shown as ˈēch (with the long “ee” sound). Source-2✅
Word Parts
Think of each as a one-by-one word. The job of of is just to point to the group you’re distributing over. That group might be plural, but the grammar still treats the “one-by-one” controller as singular.
Where The Verb Agreement Really Comes From
- Each is the subject head when the phrase starts the clause.
- Of begins a prepositional phrase that adds detail.
- The noun after of is not the subject, even when it’s right next to the verb.
Small but useful distinction: Each can also be a determiner in phrases like each student. That’s still singular: Each student is ready.
Related Forms
Many mistakes happen because each of gets mentally lumped together with other “of-phrases.” Some of those are plural, some are singular, and a few can swing either way depending on meaning.
| Phrase | Typical Verb Number | Example |
|---|---|---|
| each of | Singular | Each of the options is listed. |
| one of | Singular | One of the files is missing. |
| all of | Plural | All of the files are here. |
| many of | Plural | Many of the answers are correct. |
You’ll also see other indefinite pronouns behave like singular subjects: either, neither, everyone, anyone. They often “sound” plural because they point to groups, but they take singular verbs in standard agreement rules. Source-3✅
Clean Alternatives That Naturally Take Plural Verbs
If someone really wants a plural verb, the sentence can be built around a plural subject like they:
- They each are ready.
- They each have a copy.
Misspellings Table
This isn’t really a spelling problem. It’s a subject–verb agreement problem. Still, the “wrong vs right” pattern is consistent, so a table makes the contrast easy to spot.
| ❌ Incorrect | ✅ Correct | Why The Correct One Wins |
|---|---|---|
| ❌ Each of the answers are shown. | ✅ Each of the answers is shown. | Each is singular; the plural noun after of does not control the verb. |
| ❌ Each of the items have a label. | ✅ Each of the items has a label. | Has matches a singular subject (even when the object set is plural). |
| ❌ Each of the messages were saved. | ✅ Each of the messages was saved. | Past tense agreement follows the same rule: each → singular. |
| ❌ Each of us have a copy. | ✅ Each of us has a copy. | Us is plural in meaning, but the subject word is still each. |
| ❌ Each of them are ready. | ✅ Each of them is ready. | Each points to individuals, one at a time, so standard agreement stays singular. |
Extra clarity trick: if you swap the phrase to each one of, most plural verbs sound off immediately. That’s because each one is clearly singular.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “Each Of” Always Singular?
In standard edited English, when each of starts the clause and acts as the subject, it takes a singular verb. You may hear plural verbs in casual speech, but the common written expectation stays singular.
What About “Each Of Them Are”?
The standard agreement is Each of them is. The pronoun them is plural in meaning, but it sits inside an of-phrase that does not control the verb.
Does The Verb Change In Questions?
Yes, the verb form still matches each. You’ll typically see Is each of the options…? rather than Are each of the options…?.
Why Can “They Each Are” Be Plural?
Because the subject is they. In They each are, the word each is an add-on that distributes the idea, but it isn’t the subject that controls the verb.
Is “Each Of The Students” Different From “Each Student”?
Meaning-wise, they’re close: both point to individuals one at a time. Grammar-wise, both are treated as singular when they act as the subject, so you get Each of the students is and Each student is.