All German word comparisons · Back to the topic overview
Meaning, sentence patterns and examples
| Word | Core meaning | Typical context | Grammar |
|---|---|---|---|
| jeder | every; each | Members considered individually | Inflected forms include jeder, jede, jedes, jeden and jedem, according to gender and case. Each/every use normally accompanies a singular noun: jeden Tag, mit jedem Kind. Alone: Jeder ist willkommen. |
| all | all; everything in the form alles | The complete group or total amount | Headword all; common forms alle, allen, aller, alles. Alle Kinder spielen has plural agreement; Alles ist fertig has singular agreement. Dative plural: mit allen Kindern. |
| sämtlich | all, with emphasis on completeness | An entire set without omissions | Inflect before a noun: sämtliche Unterlagen, sämtliches Material, mit sämtlichen Unterlagen. A following adjective commonly takes weak endings; variant patterns exist. In predicative/adverbial use: Die Bücher sind sämtlich vorhanden. |
jeder
Meaning and usage: Jeder can determine a singular noun or stand alone for each person. It emphasizes that no individual member is left out. Jeder Teilnehmer kommt and Alle Teilnehmer kommen can describe the same group arriving, but they organize the sentence differently. Use the singular verb with an ordinary jeder + singular-noun subject.
Grammar: Inflected forms include jeder, jede, jedes, jeden and jedem, according to gender and case. Each/every use normally accompanies a singular noun: jeden Tag, mit jedem Kind. Alone: Jeder ist willkommen.
Jede Teilnehmerin bekommt ein Heft.
Every participant receives a booklet.
Ich übe jeden Tag.
I practise every day.
all
Meaning and usage: For countable groups, use alle with a plural noun and plural verb. All also has singular forms for a whole amount or abstract concept: alle Zeit, alles Geld. Standalone alles means everything and normally takes a singular verb. The grammar of alle and alles is therefore not interchangeable.
Grammar: Headword all; common forms alle, allen, aller, alles. Alle Kinder spielen has plural agreement; Alles ist fertig has singular agreement. Dative plural: mit allen Kindern.
Alle Teilnehmer bekommen ein Heft.
All participants receive a booklet.
Alles ist schon vorbereitet.
Everything is already prepared.
sämtlich
Meaning and usage: Sämtlich reinforces completeness. It is useful when every document, item or member is included. It can sound more emphatic or administrative than a plain alle in everyday contexts, but the core meaning overlaps. Singular amount uses also exist, so it is not restricted to plural nouns.
Grammar: Inflect before a noun: sämtliche Unterlagen, sämtliches Material, mit sämtlichen Unterlagen. A following adjective commonly takes weak endings; variant patterns exist. In predicative/adverbial use: Die Bücher sind sämtlich vorhanden.
Bitte bringen Sie sämtliche Unterlagen mit.
Please bring all the documents.
Sämtliches Material liegt bereit.
All the material is ready.
Overlap and context
Jeder Teilnehmer and alle Teilnehmer often cover the same people; the distributive versus collective presentation changes the grammar, not necessarily the facts. Sämtliche adds completeness emphasis but does not mean more than all. Alle zwei Tage is a repeated interval every two days, whereas jeden Tag is daily; do not transfer the singular pattern mechanically.
Common mistakes
- Avoid Jeder Teilnehmer kommen: use kommt with the singular subject.
- Avoid Alles sind fertig: use Alles ist fertig, or Alle sind fertig for people/items in the plural.
Memory aid: Each member: jeder + singular. Whole group: alle + plural. Everything: alles + singular. Sämtliche stresses that the whole relevant set is included.
Try it
Complete with the correct present-tense form of spielen: Alle Kinder ___ im Garten.
Show the answer
spielen
Alle Kinder is a plural subject, so the verb must be plural.