Distributive Adjective|Usage and Examples

Distributive adjective play a crucial role in shaping the clarity and specificity of our language, yet their significance often goes unnoticed. These adjectives, such as each, every, either, neither, both, and all, serve to highlight individuality within groups or emphasize inclusivity across sets. By modifying nouns to indicate whether we are referring to each member individually or the group as a whole, distributive adjectives enhance both written and spoken communication. 

Understanding how to use these adjectives effectively not only enriches our expression but also ensures precision in conveying meaning. In this article, we will explore the definitions, functions, and correct usage of these distributive adjectives, empowering you to wield them with confidence in your everyday communication.

What are Distributive Adjective?

To begin our journey, let’s establish what distributive adjectives are. Distributive adjectives are a subset of adjectives that refer to individual members of a group or distribute characteristics to each member individually. They help provide clarity and precision when describing multiple items within a group. They are the words that make sentences like “Each student passed the test” or “Both cookies are delicious” possible.

Distributive adjectives are typically placed before the noun they modify, and they emphasize the individuality of each item within a group. They answer the question “Which one?” or “How many?” when describing objects within a set.

Types of Distributive Adjective

Distributive adjectives come in various forms, each serving a specific purpose in emphasizing individuality or inclusivity within a group. Here are the types along with examples:

Each: 

“Each” is used when you want to emphasize the individuality of each item within a group. It suggests that every member is considered individually.

Examples:

• “Each student received a certificate.”
• “Each book on the shelf has a unique cover design.”

Every: 

“Every” is similar to “each” but implies the inclusivity of all members within a group. It suggests that there are no exceptions.

Examples:

• “Every employee attended the training session.”
• “Every house on the street is beautifully decorated for Christmas.”

Either: 

“Either” is used when you want to refer to one of two choices. It indicates that there are only two options, and you can choose one.

Examples:

• “You can choose either pizza or pasta for dinner.”
• “Either the pink or the red dress would look great on you.”

Neither: 

“Neither” is the negative counterpart of “either” and implies not choosing either of the two options. It suggests exclusion.

Examples:

• “Neither option A nor option B met our requirements.”
• “Neither book on the shelf is worth reading.”

Both: 

“Both” emphasizes the idea that two items or individuals are considered together. It highlights a sense of duality.

Examples:

• “Both black cars in the garage need repairs.”
• “Both the teacher and the student were excited about the field trip.”

All: 

“All” is used to refer to every item or individual within a group. It emphasizes inclusivity without exception.

Examples:

• “All participants completed the survey.”
• “All the children at the party received a gift.”

These examples illustrate how each type of distributive adjective serves a unique purpose in emphasizing individuality or inclusivity within a group or when indicating the number of choices available. 

Singular vs. Plural Nouns with Distributive Adjective

Distributive adjectives can significantly change the meaning of a sentence depending on whether they are used with singular or plural nouns. Here, we’ll explore this concept with examples and illustrations:

Using Distributive Adjective with Singular Nouns

When you use distributive adjectives with singular nouns, you are referring to individual items within a group. Let’s illustrate this with some examples:

• Each student completed their assignment on time.
• Every car in the parking lot was checked for security.
• Either option will lead you to a satisfactory outcome.
• Neither answer seemed correct to the professor.
• Both parents attended the school meeting.
• All information provided was accurate.
• Each flower in the garden blooms in its own time.
• Every child deserves a quality education.
• Either candidate could win the election.
• Neither idea was feasible given the budget constraints.
• Both friends enjoyed the movie immensely.
• All passengers must fasten their seat belts.
• Each chapter of the book reveals a new mystery.
• Every cell in the body plays a specific role.
• Either path leads to the summit of the mountain.
• Neither option appealed to the picky eater.
• Both actors delivered outstanding performances.
• All guests received a warm welcome at the event.
• Each star in the sky twinkles with its own light.
• Every sentence in the paragraph must be analyzed carefully.
• Either approach will yield similar results.
• Neither side was willing to compromise.
• Both sides of the argument presented valid points.
• All students must submit their assignments by Friday.
• Each member of the team contributed to the project’s success.
• Every word spoken during the debate was recorded.
• Either solution is acceptable to the committee.
• Neither suggestion seemed plausible at first.
• Both hands were needed to lift the heavy box.
• All parts of the puzzle fit together perfectly.
• Each toy in the store was carefully crafted.
• Every cloud in the sky had a silver lining.
• Either route will take you to the city center.
• Neither explanation satisfied the curious child.
• Both siblings shared a love for adventure.
• All members of the team attended the training session.
• Each blade of grass in the field swayed in the breeze.
• Every dollar donated goes directly to charity.
• Either outcome will have significant implications.
• Neither option seemed fair to both parties.

Using Distributive Adjective with Plural Nouns

When distributive adjectives are used with plural nouns, they refer to the group as a whole rather than individual items within the group. Let’s illustrate this concept:

• All students participated in the school play.
• Both dogs chased after the ball.
• Every child received a gift at the party.
• Each of the flowers in the garden was watered daily.
• Either of the options will satisfy your requirements.
• Neither of the arguments convinced the jury.
• All employees attended the mandatory training session.
• Both teams played exceptionally well in the tournament.
• Every student in the class passed the final exam.
• Each of the paintings on display was unique.
• Either of the books is worth reading.
• Neither of the theories adequately explains the phenomenon.
• All members of the committee agreed on the proposal.
• Both cars in the garage need new tires.
• Every participant received a certificate of achievement.
• Each of the apples in the basket was ripe.
• Either of the dresses will suit the occasion.
• Neither of the candidates received enough votes to win.
• All students completed their assignments on time.
• Both brothers helped their parents with chores.
• Every student in the class submitted their project.
• Each of the dishes on the menu is delicious.
• Either of the paths leads to the same destination.
• Neither of the teams scored a goal in the first half.
• All employees received a bonus for their hard work.
• Both sisters excelled in their respective fields.
• Every member of the club attended the meeting.
• Each of the actors delivered a memorable performance.
• Either of the proposals will be acceptable.
• Neither of the solutions solved the problem entirely.
• All guests enjoyed the wedding reception.
• Both athletes set new records in their events.
• Every student in the class received a textbook.
• Each of the rooms in the hotel was beautifully decorated.
• Either of the candidates would make a suitable leader.
• Neither of the computers was functioning properly.
• All houses in the neighborhood were decorated for the holidays.
• Both teams deserved recognition for their efforts.
• Every member of the family contributed to the project.
• Each of the paintings in the gallery was priced differently.

How to Use Distributive Adjective Correctly

Distributive adjectives, as we’ve discussed, are used to describe individual members within a group or to emphasize inclusivity within a set. Here are some practical guidelines along with examples to illustrate their usage:

Context Matters

The choice of a distributive adjective depends on the context and the message you want to convey. Let’s consider two examples to highlight this:

• Example 1: Each vs. Every
  • Each student received a certificate for their hard work.
  • Every employee attended the training session.

Placement

Distributive adjectives are typically positioned before the noun they modify. This placement is essential for grammatical accuracy.

• Example 2: Placement of Distributive Adjectives
  • Correct: “Each student submitted their assignment.”
  • Incorrect: “The student each submitted their assignment.”

Agreement

Distributive adjectives should agree in number with the noun they modify.

• Example 3: Agreement of Distributive Adjectives
  • Correct: “All participants completed the survey.”
  • Incorrect: “All participant completed the survey.”

Distributive Adjective Examples – Usage in Sentences

Here are some more concrete examples of distributive adjectives used in sentences to help you understand their usage:

• Each student in the class has a unique talent.
• Every morning begins with a fresh cup of coffee.
• Either path will lead you to the river.
• Neither option seemed appealing to the group.
• Both parents attended the school meeting.
• All participants must register before the event.
• Each flower in the garden blooms in its own time.
• Every child deserves to feel loved.
• Either method can be used to solve the problem.
• Neither candidate received enough votes to win.
• Both teams played hard until the final whistle.
• All guests were impressed by the host’s hospitality.
• Each chapter of the book reveals a new mystery.
• Every star in the sky shines brightly at night.
• Either road will take you to the city center.
• Neither book on the shelf interested the librarian.
• Both brothers graduated from the same university.
• All students must complete the assignment by Friday.
• Each member of the team contributed to the success.
• Every word spoken during the meeting was recorded.
• Either solution will work for our problem.
• Neither option seemed viable given the circumstances.
• Both dogs wagged their tails eagerly.
• All employees are required to attend the safety training.
• Each child received a toy from Santa Claus.
• Every effort was made to complete the project on time.
• Either choice leads to a different outcome.
• Neither route was suitable for the bus.
• Both sisters share a passion for music.
• All applicants must submit their resumes online.
• Each piece of furniture in the room is antique.
• Every student in the class passed the exam.
• Either dress will look stunning on you.
• Neither suggestion received much attention.
• Both sides of the argument have valid points.
• All tickets for the concert sold out quickly.
• Each member of the team has a specific role.
• Every dollar donated goes directly to charity.
• Either option is acceptable to the committee.
• Neither candidate was able to answer the question.
• Both movies were nominated for an award.
• All dishes in the restaurant are prepared fresh.
• Each participant received a certificate of completion.
• Every moment spent with family is precious.
• Either solution will satisfy the requirements.
• Neither answer seemed correct to the teacher.
• Both children are excited about the upcoming holiday.
• All passengers must fasten their seatbelts.
• Each contestant performed their best in the competition.
• Every song on the album has its own unique charm.

FAQs

What is a distributive adjective and examples?

Distributive adjectives refer to individual members of a group or distribute characteristics to each member individually. They emphasize the distribution or individuality within a set. Examples include: each, every, either, neither, both, and all.

Example sentences:

Each student received a certificate.

Every house on the street is decorated for Christmas.

You can choose either option for dinner.

Neither of the answers were correct.

Both cars need repairs.

All guests enjoyed the party.

What is a distributive numeral adjective with an example?

A distributive numeral adjective specifically refers to the exact number of items distributed individually within a group. Examples include: one each, two each, three each, etc.

Example:

They were given one each to solve the problem.

What is the difference between a distributive adjective and indefinite adjective?

Distributive adjectives refer to individual members within a group or distribute characteristics to each member individually (each, every, either, neither, both, all).

Indefinite adjectives, on the other hand, refer to nonspecific items or quantities without specifying exact identities or numbers (some, any, many, few, several, etc.).

What is the difference between a distributive pronoun and distributive adjective?

Distributive adjectives modify nouns directly to indicate individual members within a group (each student, every house, either option).

Distributive pronouns stand in place of nouns and refer to individual members within a group (each one, every one, either one, neither one, both, all).

How do you use distributive adjectives in a sentence?

Distributive adjectives are used before nouns to indicate how something is distributed among members of a group or to specify individual items within a set. For example:

• Each student received a book.
• Every child received a gift.
• Either option is acceptable.
• Neither answer was correct.
• Both dogs are friendly.
• All participants must register.

What is the difference between attributive and distributive adjectives?

Attributive adjectives directly modify nouns and typically appear before the nouns they modify (big house, red car).

Distributive adjectives emphasize the distribution or individuality within a group and also modify nouns but with a specific focus on how something is distributed among the members of the group (each student, every house, either option).

What is the adjective of possessive?

The adjective form of possessive is possessive itself. It relates to possession or ownership, indicating that something belongs to someone or something else.

Example:

This is her book (possessive pronoun).

She showed her kindness (possessive adjective).

What is a double adjective?

A double adjective refers to two adjectives that are used together to describe a noun, typically connected by a hyphen or simply placed one after the other.

Example:

She wore a bright-red dress.

It was a large, comfortable chair.

What are predicate adjectives?

Predicate adjectives are adjectives that follow a linking verb and describe the subject of the sentence. They provide additional information about the subject, often expressing a quality, condition, or relation.

Example:

The soup is delicious. (Here, delicious describes the soup after the linking verb is.)

Final words

In summary, this discussion has explored the complexities of distributive adjectives and their various forms, emphasizing their role in specifying individuality or inclusivity within groups. By understanding the distinctions between each, every, either, neither, both, and all, one gains clarity in expressing precise meanings in communication. Ultimately, mastering the usage of these adjectives enriches language proficiency and ensures effective communication in both written and spoken contexts.