They checked every/all table(s) before the guests arrived.

[Winwin2011]

1. They checked every table before the guests arrived.
2. They checked all tables before the guests arrived.

I was wondering if the above sentences have the same meaning.

Thanks.

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes, they do.

In 2, '...all the tables' would sound more natural.

 

[PeterValk]

I'm not a teacher nor native English speaker.

I think there is no real difference between the two sentences.
The first one does seem to suggest a more thorough check of each table, but I could be wrong.
Maybe "They checked each table before the guests arrived" would be even stronger?

Other options: each and every table, all the tables, all of the tables

 

[Winwin2011]

Yes, they do.

In 2, '...all the tables' would sound more natural.

Thanks Rover

I was wondering if 'all the tables' have the same meaning of 'all of the tables' .

 

[Winwin2011]

I'm not a teacher nor native English speaker.

I think there is no real difference between the two sentences.
The first one does seem to suggest a more thorough check of each table, but I could be wrong.
Maybe "They checked each table before the guests arrived" would be even stronger?

Other options: each and every table, all the tables, all of the tables

Not a teacher

I think 'each' and 'every' are interchangeable in the above sentence.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Thanks Rover

I was wondering if 'all the tables' have the same meaning of 'all of the tables' .

Yes, same meaning.