【明報專訊】Bill: Guys, let's start refurbishing our lab. Remember what you are going to do?

MoMo: Yes, I will make sure that (1) all the windows are clean.

Dr Panda: I will make sure that (2) every tile is properly fixed on the ground.

Pat: I am going to check (3) all power switches to see if they work well.

Bill: Great, and I will repaint the walls... wait, where is the paint?

Eason: Ha ha! I have used (4) all your paint to decorate my new car! How do you like it?

Bill: Oh no! I shall buy some new paint!

■English highway﹕

The determiners "all" and "every" have similar meanings. They are used with different agreements.

◆For countable nouns:

Plural agreement (1)(3):

e.g. All children need love.

Singular agreement (2):

e.g. Every child is special.

◆For uncountable nouns:

Only "all" can be used (4).

e.g. He gave all his money to me.

◆Now you try

1. ( All / Every ) student in this class is clever.

2. Please clean ( all / every ) the equipment on that table.

3. I think ( all / every ) cats are cute.

4. I think ( all / every ) dog has its own character.

5. Don't eat ( all / every ) the chocolates. You will lose appetite for dinner.

(Answers on next text)

■Glossary

refurbish (v) 翻新

tile (n) 瓷磚

character(n) 性格

appetite (n) 胃口

[Smarties' Power English 第201期]