What's the difference between the two?
'It costs $50 per person'
'It costs $50 each person'
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2per = for each --> 'per person' = 'for each', not 'each'. HTH– KrisCommented Dec 2, 2013 at 9:54
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2 Answers
It costs $50 needs an adverbial modifier if any is considered appropriate.
It usually costs $50.
It costs $50 Thursdays.
It costs $50 a bottle.
Adverbs, and the rare adverbial objective (noun used adverbially), fit the bill.
More commonly, to-infinitive clauses and especially prepositional phrases will be used:
It costs $50 to get there.
It costs $50 on the tram.
It costs $50 for a bottle.
It costs $50 per person.
It costs $50 for each person.
But
*/?It costs $50 each person.
would probably not usually be considered acceptable; it would be an adverbial objective usage, with the preposition 'for' dropped from the prepositional phrase, and this often does not give an acceptable-sounding variant. (This particular example may sound more acceptable in the States than in the UK. 'It costs $50 a person' would however be quite acceptable.)
answered Dec 2, 2013 at 8:31
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1“*It costs $50 each person” isn't acceptable US usage; perhaps you have your “more acceptable in the States than in the UK” remark backwards? Commented Dec 2, 2013 at 19:02
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No; it would sound unacceptable here. I've come across a few examples of “It costs $x each person” including one or two from the US, but none with pounds. My perception is that prepositions are more readily dropped in the States (He came [on] Tuesday; she taught [at (a)] school; she appealed [against] the sentence; he stayed [at] home. Commented Dec 2, 2013 at 19:21
'Each person' is commonly used as a subject. Eg: Each person must pay $50. But 'per person' is used as an 'object'. Eg: It costs $50 per person.
"It costs $50 each person" is not correct usage. "It costs $50 for each person (to go on the trip)" or rather "It will cost each person $50 (to go on the trip)".
PS: I am not sure if the terms 'subject', 'object' are correct in the context.
