student asking question

Is it different from saying "all puddles are dry"?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Yes, saying "the puddles are all dry" is different from saying "all the puddles are dry". In "the puddles are all dry", "all" is being used as an adverb to mean "completely". So she is saying that the puddles are completely dry, they're not even a little wet. Whereas saying "all the puddles are dry" uses "all" as a determiner and means that every puddle is dry. It gives no notion as to how dry they are. Ex: The cake was all eaten last night. (Completely) Ex: The baby got food all over her dress. (Completely) Ex: All animals have to eat in order to live. (Every animal) Ex: She has four children, all under the age of five. (Every child)

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