Understanding when to use is and are in English can be tricky, but mastering this rule is key to forming clear and grammatically correct sentences. Both is and are are forms of the verb to be, but they are used in different situations depending on the subject of the sentence. This guide will explain the differences between is vs. are, provide simple examples, and offer helpful tips for remembering which one to use.
Whether you’re a student learning the basics of English grammar or a professional seeking to refine your writing skills, knowing how to use is and are correctly will significantly improve your communication. Let’s dive into the details of when to use each form.
What Is the Difference Between Is and Are?
To begin with, it’s important to understand that is and are are both present tense conjugations of the verb to be. They are used to indicate the existence, state, or condition of something or someone. The difference between is and are primarily depends on the subject of the sentence.
Points:
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Is is used with singular subjects, particularly in the third person (he, she, it).
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Are is used with plural subjects or with the second person (you) and first-person plural (we, they).
Examples:
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Is: She is going to the store. (Singular subject)
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Are: They are going to the store. (Plural subject)
As you can see, is is used when the subject is a singular noun or pronoun, while are is used for plural nouns and pronouns.
When to Use Is vs Are: General Rules
Let’s break down when to use is and are with some clear guidelines and examples. This section will focus on singular vs. plural subjects, as well as specific rules for tricky cases.
Singular Subjects and Is
Use is when the subject of the sentence is singular. Singular subjects can be a single person, animal, thing, or idea.
Examples:
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The cat is sleeping on the couch.
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She is studying for the test.
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The book is on the table.
In all of these cases, is is used because each subject is singular.
Plural Subjects and Are
Use are when the subject is plural, meaning there is more than one person, thing, or idea involved.
Examples:
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The cats are sleeping on the couch.
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They are studying for the test.
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The books are on the table.
Here, are is used because the subjects are plural.
Special Cases: Collective Nouns, Indefinite Pronouns, and More
There are some instances when you may need to pay closer attention to the subject in the sentence. For example, collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and phrases like “a number of” can make it tricky to decide whether to use is or are.
Collective Nouns
A collective noun refers to a group of people or things treated as a single unit. For example, “team,” “group,” “family,” and “audience” are collective nouns. In American English, collective nouns are treated as singular and usually take is. However, British English may use are for collective nouns when emphasizing the individual members of the group.
Examples:
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The team is practicing hard for the game. (American English)
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The team are divided in their opinions. (British English)
Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns like everyone, someone, each, and everything are typically treated as singular and take is.
Examples:
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Everyone is excited for the concert.
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Something is wrong with my phone.
On the other hand, indefinite pronouns like both, many, few, and several are treated as plural and take are.
Examples:
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Many are attending the event.
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Several are waiting outside.
Is vs Are with Either/Or and Neither/Nor
The phrases either/or and neither/nor can also affect the choice between is and are. Here’s how:
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If either/or or neither/nor connects two singular nouns, the verb is is.
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Either the cat or the dog is missing.
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If either/or or neither/nor connects plural nouns, the verb is are.
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Either the cats or the dogs are missing.
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If one of the nouns is singular and the other plural, the verb agrees with the noun closest to it.
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Neither the teacher nor the students are available.
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Either you or your parents are coming to the party.
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Examples:
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Either the pizza or the pasta is delicious. (Singular)
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Neither the girls nor the boys are ready for the trip. (Plural)
Is and Are with Compound Subjects
When a subject consists of two or more nouns connected by and, the verb will typically be are, since the subject is plural.
Examples:
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The dog and the cat are playing outside.
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John and his friends are coming over for dinner.
However, when compound subjects are connected by or, the verb will agree with the noun closest to it.
Examples:
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Either the coach or the players are late. (Plural subject closest to verb)
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Either the player or the coach is late. (Singular subject closest to verb)
Is vs Are with Mass Nouns
Mass nouns, such as water, sand, or information, refer to something that cannot be counted directly. Mass nouns typically take is in both American and British English.
Examples:
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Water is essential for life.
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Information is power.
Common Mistakes with Is vs Are and How to Avoid Them
Even though is and are are relatively straightforward, there are several common mistakes that many English speakers make. Let’s look at some of these mistakes and learn how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Using Is with Plural Subjects
One of the most frequent mistakes is using is with a plural subject. As we discussed earlier, is should only be used with singular subjects. When the subject is plural, are should be used.
Incorrect: The dogs is playing outside.
Correct: The dogs are playing outside.
When the subject is more than one noun or pronoun (such as dogs, cats, people), use are.
Mistake 2: Forgetting Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is essential in English grammar. This means the subject and verb must match in number (singular or plural). Many errors arise when people forget to match the subject with the correct verb form.
Incorrect: She and her friends is coming to the party.
Correct: She and her friends are coming to the party.
Since her friends is plural, the verb are should match.
Mistake 3: Using Are with Singular Subjects
On the flip side, some speakers mistakenly use are with singular subjects. Are should only be used when the subject is plural, or with the second person you and first-person plural we.
Incorrect: The teacher are giving a lecture.
Correct: The teacher is giving a lecture.
Here, the teacher is singular, so the correct verb form is is.
Mistake 4: Overlooking Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns, such as everyone, someone, each, and everything, are singular and should always take is. Many people mistakenly use are with these pronouns.
Incorrect: Everyone are excited for the trip.
Correct: Everyone is excited for the trip.
Remember that everyone, everyone, and similar indefinite pronouns are treated as singular subjects.
Mistake 5: Incorrect Verb Agreement with Collective Nouns
As mentioned earlier, collective nouns like team, group, and family are usually treated as singular in American English. Therefore, is should be used, not are.
Incorrect: The team are playing well today.
Correct: The team is playing well today.
However, in some cases, when the individuals within the group are being emphasized, are may be used, particularly in British English.
Example: The team are arguing among themselves. (Here, the individual members are being emphasized, so are is used.)
How to Form Questions with Is vs Are
Forming questions with is and are follows the same basic rules as forming statements, but the word order is different. In English, when forming questions, the verb typically comes before the subject.
Questions with Is
Use is when the subject is singular or when you are asking about something in the third person.
Examples:
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Is she going to the movies?
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Is the weather nice today?
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Is your brother coming with us?
Questions with Are
Use are when the subject is plural, or when the subject is you or we.
Examples:
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Are they ready to leave?
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Are you coming to the party tonight?
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Are the books on the shelf?
In questions, the placement of is or are at the beginning of the sentence changes the subject-verb order, so the sentence sounds like a question.
How to Use Is vs Are in Negative Sentences
Negative sentencesin English follow a similar structure to positive ones, but they include the word not after the verb. Here’s how to form negatives with is and are:
Negative Sentences with Is:
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She is not going to the concert tonight.
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The book is not on the table.
Negative Sentences with Are:
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They are not coming over for dinner.
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We are not ready for the test.
The structure for negative sentences is: [Subject] + [is/are] + not + [Rest of the sentence]. This structure is simple and easy to follow once you understand the basic rules of is vs. are.
Conculation
Getting the hang of is vs are can truly level up your English skills. It’s all about knowing when to use is for singular subjects and are for plural ones, or specific pronouns like “you” and “we.” The more you practice, the easier it gets! Don’t forget those tricky cases like collective nouns or indefinite pronouns, which might throw you off. With a little attention to detail, you’ll naturally start using is and are correctly in your everyday conversations and writing. So, whether you’re tackling grammar in school or just aiming to improve your fluency, mastering this rule will make your communication clearer and more accurate. Keep at it, and you’ll notice the difference!