How to Use No, None, Each, Every, Either, Neither & Both - Learn Grammar Through Stories
- Feb 11, 2025
- 11 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
🤔 When learning English, certain words can be confusing because they seem similar but are used differently.
Let's break down how to use no vs none, each vs every, as well as
either vs neither and both.
This guide includes grammar explanations, example sentences, and practice exercises to sharpen your skills.
👩🏼🏫 Also read an intriguing short story titled " The Grand Tea Party Dilemma" which incorporate the above words for extra grammar practice.
📖 Vocabulary List:
a) elegant – stylish and graceful.
b) inquire – to ask for information.
c) drafty – allowing cold air to enter.
d) energetic – full of energy and enthusiasm.
e) greet – to welcome someone.
f) suitable – appropriate or fitting for a situation.
g) option – a choice or possibility.
h) reserve – to set aside for a specific person or purpose.
i) solution – an answer to a problem.
📚Grammar Story: 🫖"The Grand Tea Party Dilemma"
Lady Eleanor was famous for hosting the most elegant tea parties in town.
Today, she had invited her closest friends, Lady Penelope and Sir Alfred, to discuss a grand charity event.
“This will be a perfect gathering,” Lady Eleanor thought, but soon she encountered some unexpected challenges.
Lady Eleanor asked the gardener about the flowers for the table.
“Are there any roses left?” she inquired.
“I’m afraid there are no roses, my lady,” said the gardener.
Lady Eleanor sighed. “Well, I suppose none of the other flowers will match the theme as beautifully, but we’ll make do.”
(a) Question: What did Lady Eleanor learn about the flowers?
👉Answer:________________________________
As Lady Eleanor reviewed the guest list, she said aloud, “I’ll personally greet each guest as they arrive. It’s important to make everyone feel welcome.”
Sir Alfred laughed. “You’ll need to be very energetic for that. With so many guests, perhaps it’s better to greet them every five minutes as they enter.”
Lady Eleanor smiled. “I suppose I can manage that.”
(b) Question: What did Lady Eleanor plan to do initially?
👉Answer:________________________________
Lady Penelope asked, “Should we seat Lady Margaret on the left or the right?”
Sir Alfred chimed in, “Why not give her either seat? She’ll be happy wherever she sits.”
Lady Eleanor frowned. “Actually, I think neither seat will work since both spots
are near the drafty/draughty windows.”
Penelope suggested, “Then perhaps she can join us at the head table. We’ll reserve both seats by the fireplace for her and Lord Charles.”
(c) Question: Why did Lady Eleanor reject both seating options for Lady Margaret?
👉Answer:________________________________
Finally, it was time to choose the desserts. The chef presented two options: a lemon tart and a chocolate mousse.
Lady Eleanor couldn’t decide. “Oh dear, I love both desserts! How can I choose?”
Sir Alfred laughed. “Why choose? Let’s serve both and make everyone happy.”
Lady Penelope agreed. “It’s the perfect solution. Everyone will have either dessert or maybe even both if they’re lucky.”
(d) Question: What did Lady Eleanor decide about the desserts?
👉Answer:________________________________
🔑Grammar Story: Answer Key
(a) Answer: There were no roses left, and none of the other flowers seemed perfect for the theme.
(b) Answer: She planned to greet each guest personally.
(c) Answer: Neither seat was suitable because they were near the drafty windows.
(d) Answer: She decided to serve both desserts.
🎥 Check out the YouTube video with 🗣️voice narration to practise listening:
👉 Learn Grammar Through Stories - The Grand Tea Party Dilemma
👀Watch and Learn! For video lessons subscribe to our YouTube channel.
How to use No, None, Each, Every, Either, Neither, Both correctly
1. No vs None
👉 Grammar Rules:
✔️No is used before a noun without an article to indicate the absence of something.
👉 How to Form:
"no" + noun
e.g. no money, no time, no reason
🗣️Example Sentences:
There is no milk in the fridge.
He has no reason to be upset.
✔️None is used without a noun or followed by "of" to indicate zero amount or absence.
👉How to Form:
none (by itself or) + of + noun/pronoun
e.g. none, none of the books, none of them
🗣️Example Sentences:
I asked for cookies, but there were none left.
None of the students knew the answer.
🎯Quick Tip:
✔️ the noun is directly stated, use no.
✔️ If it’s implied or after "of," use none.
✍🏻Practice Exercise:
Fill in the blanks with "no" or "none":
1. She has ___ idea what happened.
2. We have ___ of the information needed.
3. There’s ___ way I’m missing the party!
4. ___ of the books were available in the library.
2. Each vs Every
(a) - "Each" refers to individual items in a group of two or more.
👉 How to Form:
each + singular noun
- e.g. each student, each person
🗣️Example Sentences:
Each student received a certificate.
She gave each of her friends a gift.
(b) Every refers to all items collectively in a group of three or more.
👉How to Form:
every + singular noun
- e.g. every car, every day
🗣️Example Sentence:
He goes to the gym every morning.
Every car on the street was parked.
🎯Quick Tip!
Use 'each' to emphasise individuality and 'every' to stress the whole group.
✏️Practice Exercise:
Choose "each" or "every" to complete these sentences:
1. ___ time I see her, she looks happy.
2. He handed out gifts to ___ child at the party.
3. ___ of the participants completed the form.
4. She visits her parents ___ weekend.
3. Either, Neither, Both
Grammar Rules:
(a) Either refers to one of two options.
👉How to Form:
- either + singular noun
- e.g. either option, either side
🗣️Example Sentence:
You can have either coffee or tea.
Either option is acceptable.
(b) Neither means not one nor the other.
👉 How to Form:
neither + singular noun
e.g. neither choice, neither candidate
🗣️Example Sentence:
Neither candidate won the election.
She likes neither apples nor oranges.
(c) Both means two together.
👉How to Form:
- both + plural noun
e.g. both answers, both cities
🗣️Example Sentence:
Both answers are correct.
We visited both Paris and London.
🎯Quick Tip:
Use 'either' for a positive choice, 'neither' for a negative exclusion, and 'both' to include two.
✏️Practice Exercise:
Fill in the blanks with "either," "neither," or "both":
1. ___ of the twins is coming to the event.
2. We tried two routes, but ___ worked.
3. I’ll take ___ dessert, the cake or the ice cream.
4. ___ cities are beautiful in the spring.
✏️Mixed Practice Exercise:
Choose the correct word (no, none, each, every, either, neither, both) to complete these sentences:
1. There is ___ point in arguing with her.
2. ___ of the guests received a personalised invitation.
3. We searched for the documents, but there were ___ to be found.
4. ___ car in the parking lot was covered in snow.
5. He couldn't choose between the two dresses, so he bought ___.
6. ___ of the solutions provided a complete answer.
7. I enjoy visiting ___ Paris and Rome.
8. They were given two options, but ___ was appealing.
9. Please check ___ page carefully for errors.
10. She found ___ of the routes convenient for her commute.
🔑Answer Key:
No vs. None:
1. no
2. none
3. no
4. none
Each vs. Every:
1. Every
2. Each
3. Each
4. Every
Either, Neither, Both:
1. Either
2. Neither
3. Either
4. Both
Mixed Practice:
1. no
2. Each
3. none
4. Every
5. both
6. Neither
7. both
8. Neither
9. each
10. either
By understanding and practising these grammar points, you’ll gain confidence in expressing yourself clearly in English. Keep practising and remember—language learning is all about consistency!
☕ Topic Discussion Questions: The Grand Tea Party Dilemma
🍰 1. The Grand Tea Party
Would you enjoy attending a grand afternoon tea? Why or why not?
What would you expect to see at a traditional tea party?
If you could invite anyone to your tea party, who would you invite?
Would you prefer a small gathering or a large party?
What would make a tea party memorable?
🫖 2. Making Choices: Either, Neither & Both
Imagine you have two kinds of tea: Earl Grey and English Breakfast. Which would you choose? Why?
If you didn't like either of the teas, what would you ask for instead?
If both teas were delicious, would it be difficult to choose?
Would you choose either cake or sandwiches, or would you have both?
If neither dessert looked appealing, what would you do?
💬 Challenge: Try to answer using either, neither, or both.
“I’d choose both because I love tea and cake.”“Neither tea sounds interesting to me.”
🌸 3. Each vs Every
At a large party, should every guest receive the same food?
Would you give each guest a personalised gift?
What's something you do every time you attend a party?
If you invited ten people, would you try to speak to each person?
Do you think every guest should follow the same party rules?
💡 Grammar challenge: Describe a party using both each and every.
🍓 4. No vs None
What would you do if there were no seats left at the tea party?
What would you do if none of the desserts were suitable for you?
Would you stay at a party if there were no people you knew?
Have you ever gone somewhere and found no one you knew there?
What would you do if none of your friends could attend an event?
💬 Challenge: Can you make one sentence with no and another with none?
“There was no cake left.”
“None of the guests wanted the last piece.”
💭 5. What Would YOU Do?
Imagine you're one of the guests at The Grand Tea Party.
You can choose either the garden or the ballroom. Which would you choose?
Neither table has enough chairs. What would you do?
Both desserts look delicious, but you can only choose one. Which one would you pick?
There are no vegetarian sandwiches. What would you ask the host?
None of your friends have arrived. Would you stay or leave?
You want to speak to each guest, but there are 50 people. Would you try?
What would you do if every guest suddenly disappeared?
🌟 6. Personal Conversation
Do you usually find it easy or difficult to make decisions?
When you have two good choices, do you choose quickly or take your time?
Have you ever had to choose between two things you really liked?
Is it better to have lots of choices or no choice at all?
What's something you would happily have every day?
What's something you would never choose?
If you could have both more free time and more money, which would make you happier—or would you want both?
🎯 Speaking Challenge: The Tea Party Dilemma
Choose one situation and explain what you would do. Try to use at least THREE target words.
A. You arrive at the tea party, but there are no seats available.
B. The host offers you two desserts, but you don't like either of them.
C. You have tried both teas, but you can't decide which one you prefer.
D. You look at the dessert table, but none of the desserts are suitable for you.
E. You want to talk to each guest, but every guest seems to be busy.
👉 Useful language:
I would… / I'd rather… / I'd choose… / Neither… / Either… / Both… / None of… / There is no… / Every… / Each…
💡 Pair Discussion: “The Perfect Tea Party”
Work with a partner. Design your perfect tea party together.
Discuss:
Who would you invite?
What would you serve?
What would each guest receive?
What would every guest be able to enjoy?
What would you do if none of the guests liked the food?
Would you offer either tea or coffee—or both?
What would happen if neither of your planned activities worked?
Final challenge:
Tell the class about your tea party using at least five of the target words:
no • none • each • every • either • neither • both.
💬 Have a question or want to share your answers?
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions: No, None, Each, Every, Either, Neither & Both
What is the difference between no and none?
No comes before a noun, while none is usually used without a noun or with of + noun/pronoun.
There is no cake left.
None of the cake is left.
There are no guests outside.
None of the guests are outside.
Quick tip:
👉 no + noun
👉 none (of) + noun/pronoun
What is the difference between each and every?
Both each and every talk about people or things in a group, but they have slightly different meanings.
Each focuses on people or things individually:
Each guest received a small gift.
Every looks at the group as a whole:
Every guest enjoyed the tea party.
Can I use each with a plural noun?
Usually, each is followed by a singular countable noun.
✅ Each guest received a gift.
❌ Each guests received a gift.
However, each of + plural noun/pronoun is possible:
Each of the guests received a gift.
What is the difference between either and neither?
Either means one of two choices.
You can choose either tea or coffee.
Neither means not one and not the other.
Neither tea nor coffee is available.
Think of it this way:
either = one or the other
neither = not one and not the other
What does both mean?
Both means the two together or the two people/things in a pair.
Both cakes look delicious.
You can also use both + plural noun:
Both desserts were delicious.
Or:
Both of the desserts were delicious.
Can I use either and neither with two choices?
Yes! They are commonly used when talking about two people or things.
You can choose either cake.
Neither cake looks very fresh.
Remember:
either = one of two
neither = zero of two
both = two of two
What is the difference between neither and none?
This is an important distinction.
Neither is normally used for two people or things.
Neither of the two cakes was delicious.
None can be used for three or more people or things, or for an unspecified amount.
None of the five cakes was delicious.
A simple way to remember it:
2 → neither
3+ → none
Can I say both of?
Yes. Both of + plural noun/pronoun is common.
Both of the guests arrived early.Both of them loved the tea.
You can also use both + plural noun:
Both guests arrived early.
What grammar can I learn from The Grand Tea Party Dilemma?
The story helps you practise several common English quantifiers and determiners:
no and none — talking about zero
each and every — talking about members of a group
either and neither — talking about two choices
both — talking about two people or things together
The story gives you a fun context for seeing these words in action, rather than simply memorising grammar rules.
Is this grammar story suitable for ESL learners?
Yes! The Grand Tea Party Dilemma is suitable for Pre-Intermediate to Intermediate English learners (A2–B1), particularly learners who want to improve their everyday grammar and speaking skills.
It can be used for reading practice, vocabulary development, grammar review, speaking activities, and self-study.
How can I practise these words after reading the story?
Try creating your own sentences about a party, restaurant, holiday, shopping trip, or another everyday situation.
For example:
There was no coffee left. None of my friends came. Each guest received a gift. Every table had flowers. You can choose either cake. Neither option sounds good. Both desserts look delicious.
Then try the Topic Discussion Questions and see how many of the target words you can naturally use in conversation.
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Thank you for reading & Happy Learning!
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Mastering these grammar determiners helps students write clearly and accurately, especially in academic essays and competitive exams. Understanding when to use “no” vs. “none,” or how “each,” “every,” “either,” “neither,” and “both” change sentence meaning can significantly improve language precision. For students aiming to pursue higher studies abroad, checking the Humber College acceptance rate becomes an important step in planning applications wisely, especially when guided properly toward the right academic opportunities.