When a subject is preceded by each or every, the verb should be singular or plural?

• A. Singular
• B. Plural
• C. Depends on the second subject
• D. Irrelevant

Answer: (A)

When a subject is introduced by each or every, the focus is on the individuals in a group treated as one unit, so the verb should be singular. Each student has a pencil. Every box contains a label. In both cases the action is performed by each member, but grammatically the subject is considered as a single entity, which calls for a singular verb.

You can see this even when the phrase after each or every includes several nouns: Each of the students has a pencil. Every of the two options? The verb still stays singular because the subject is the determiner plus the power of each/every to make a single unit, not a plural collection.