You use all to refer to a situation or to life in general. When we say all (of) the students, we're talking about a specific group of students. Every one (of), or the complete amount or number (of), or the whole (of):
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See ‘meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. All is silent on the island now. • she had flour and stuff all over her hands.
• katie's toys were spread out all over the floor.
Games staking all of one's chips, as in poker. Discover the shared vision of @sailgpfra and @all for more responsible travel, hospitality, and experiences. The whole number of (used in referring to individuals or particulars, taken collectively): When 'all' refers to a group of people/things as a unified whole, it comes with a singular verb, but when 'all' refers to multiple groups.
There are 63 meanings listed in oed's entry for the word all, two of which are labelled obsolete. Putting all of one's available resources into an effort: When 'all' is a pronoun, it can come with both singular and plural nouns. The governor mounted a halfhearted campaign for the presidency but didn't.
How to use all in a sentence.
As you'll have read in our news pages, all has not been well of late. We use all (of) the (with an article), when we're talking about a specific group of the noun. The whole of (used in referring to quantity, extent, or duration): • there was a sound of.
The meaning of all is the whole amount, quantity, or extent of. • there are leaves all over the car. Like quentin delapierre and his crew, we are all looking in the same direction. • the choir has sung in concerts all over the country.
