Is this sentence meaningful and grammatically correct?
"Each monkey had 1 tortoise in each hand."
★In this sentence, How does it mean that every monkey had a tortoise in each hand? We all know that there is no exact phrase for "in each hand". There is "In each hands". Because, we think the words "Hands, Scissors, eyes, shorts" are plural but they are specialized singular. So when I put on "hands" word in a single phrase, then it points a singular meaning. But how to say "in each hand" means only singular meaning? It just couldn’t be clearer! And if we want to use "hand" as a singular meaning , then how can we use it?

Question

Is this sentence meaningful and grammatically correct?
"Each monkey had 1 tortoise in each hand." 
★In this sentence, How does it mean that every monkey had a tortoise in each hand? We all know that there is no exact phrase for "in each hand". There is "In each hands". Because, we think the words "Hands, Scissors, eyes, shorts" are plural but they are specialized singular. So when I put on "hands" word in a single phrase, then it points a singular meaning. But how to say "in each hand" means only singular meaning? It just couldn’t be clearer! And if we want to use "hand" as a singular meaning , then how can we use it?

Answer

The sentence "Each monkey had one tortoise in each hand." is correct. Saying "each hands" is incorrect.

The adjective "each" refers to all members of a group individually, and not to all of the members of the group collectively. The only nouns that may follow "each" are singular countable nouns. Plural nouns and non-countable nouns cannot follow "each".

However many monkeys there are, all of them as individuals are holding one tortoise in their left hand and one tortoise in their right hand, for a total of 2 tortoise for each monkey.

Answer

Hello 👋 It depends on your understanding of this sentence. If you think, that every monkey had 2 tortoises(one at first hand, second at another hand), than it is correctly to say "Every monkey had a tortoise in each hands". Version "Every monkey had a tortoise in both hands" is also possible.
If you think, that every monkey had 1 tortoise ( 1 tortoise in one hand), than the version "Every monkey had a tortoise in their hand" will be correct.
It's my opinion only))) ;)

Answer

Bill is correct. It's singular. Every monkey had a tortoise in each hand. Each hand is a singular hand, so each hand contains a tortoise. Each monkey is holding two tortoises.

If you said every monkey had a tortoise in its hands it would mean that every monkey held one tortoise, using both hands.

Answers · 6

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