Use is with a singular subject and are with a plural subject. That’s the core rule behind is vs are, and it covers most sentences you’ll ever write. The confusion usually starts with trickier subjects — collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and compound subjects — where the “right-sounding” word isn’t always the grammatically correct one.
Is vs Are: Quick Answer
| Is | Are | |
|---|---|---|
| Used with | Singular subjects (he, she, it, one person/thing) | Plural subjects (we, you, they, more than one) |
| Example | The dog is hungry. | The dogs are hungry. |
Correct: My sister is a nurse. Incorrect: My sister are a nurse. Key difference: “Sister” is one person, so it takes the singular verb “is.”
What “Is” and “Are” Mean (and Where They Come From)
“Is” and “are” are both present-tense forms of the verb to be, one of the oldest and most irregular verbs in English. “To be” doesn’t follow a normal conjugation pattern (am, is, are instead of a single consistent ending), which is why it trips up even confident writers. Historically, English inherited this irregularity from Old English, where the verb “to be” was built from several different root words rather than one — a pattern shared with many other Germanic languages.
In a sentence, “is” and “are” can work in two different ways:
- As a linking verb, connecting the subject to a description: The coffee is cold.
- As an auxiliary (helping) verb, forming a continuous tense with another verb: She is studying for the exam.
Both jobs follow the same singular/plural rule — only the subject decides which form you need.
The Main Difference Between Is and Are
The difference comes down to subject-verb agreement: the verb must match the number of the subject.
- Is → singular subjects (one person, place, thing, or idea)
- Are → plural subjects (two or more) and the pronoun “you,” whether it refers to one person or several
This single rule resolves the vast majority of is/are decisions. The exceptions covered later in this guide exist because some subjects only look singular or plural.
When to Use “Is”
Use “is” when the subject is:
- A singular noun: The car is new.
- A singular pronoun (he, she, it): He is tired.
- An uncountable noun: The information is helpful.
- A singular indefinite pronoun (everyone, each, nobody): Everybody is welcome.
When to Use “Are”
Use “are” when the subject is:
- A plural noun: The cars are new.
- A plural pronoun (we, they): They are tired.
- The pronoun “you,” singular or plural: You are right.
- A compound subject joined by “and”: Sara and Tom are here.
“Is” and “Are” as Auxiliary Verbs vs. Linking Verbs
It helps to recognize which job “is” or “are” is doing in a sentence, because the same agreement rule applies either way.
- Linking verb: connects the subject to an adjective or noun that describes it. The soup is delicious.
- Auxiliary verb: pairs with a present participle (-ing form) to build the present continuous tense. The soup is simmering on the stove.
If you can replace the phrase after “is” or “are” with an adjective or noun and the sentence still makes sense, it’s a linking verb. If the word ends in “-ing” and describes an ongoing action, “is” or “are” is working as an auxiliary.
Memory Trick and Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes
Memory trick (a learning aid, not an official rule): Try swapping the subject for “he/she/it” or “they.” If “he/she/it” fits naturally, use “is.” If “they” fits, use “are.”
- The committee is meeting. → “It is meeting” sounds right → use “is.”
- The players are practicing. → “They are practicing” sounds right → use “are.”
Practical tips:
- Find the true subject first, especially when a phrase sits between the subject and the verb.
- Ignore words closest to the verb if they aren’t the actual subject: The box of apples is fresh (not “are,” because “box,” not “apples,” is the subject).
- With indefinite pronouns like “everyone” or “each,” remember they are grammatically singular even though they sound like they mean many people.
- Read the sentence aloud slowly — errors are often easier to catch by ear once you know what to listen for.
Is vs Are in Example Sentences
In Statements
- Correct: The report is due tomorrow.
- Correct: The reports are due tomorrow.
- Correct: This form is required for the loan application. (formal/legal)
- Correct: All employees are expected to complete the training. (workplace)
In Questions
- Correct: Is the meeting still at 3 p.m.?
- Correct: Are your documents ready for submission?
- Correct: Is this field mandatory? (online form)
In Negative Sentences
- Correct: The printer is not working.
- Correct: The printers are not working.
- Correct: This clause is not applicable to remote employees. (workplace/legal)
Common Is vs Are Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
Mistake: The list of items are on the table. Correct: The list of items is on the table. Explanation: “List,” not “items,” is the subject.
Mistake: Everyone are invited to the ceremony. Correct: Everyone is invited to the ceremony. Explanation: “Everyone” is a singular indefinite pronoun.
Mistake: Neither of the answers are correct. Correct: Neither of the answers is correct. Explanation: “Neither” is treated as singular in standard usage.
Mistake: The news are troubling today. Correct: The news is troubling today. Explanation: “News” looks plural but functions as an uncountable singular noun.
Mistake: She are the best candidate. Correct: She is the best candidate. Explanation: “She” always pairs with “is,” never “are.”
Tricky Cases: Collective Nouns, Indefinite Pronouns, and More
Collective Nouns (Team, Family, Committee)
Collective nouns refer to a group but are usually treated as one unit. In American English, they almost always take a singular verb: The team is winning. In British English, they can take either a singular or plural verb depending on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as separate individuals: The team is winning (as a unit) or The team are arguing among themselves (as individuals).
There Is vs. There Are
Match the verb to the noun that immediately follows:
- There is one solution. (singular)
- There are several solutions. (plural)
When the first item in a list is singular, most writers use “there is,” even if later items are plural: There is a laptop, two chargers, and a mouse in the box.
Compound Subjects
Two subjects joined by “and” usually take a plural verb: Reading and writing are core skills. But when the two nouns describe a single idea, treat them as singular: Peanut butter and jelly is a classic combination.
Indefinite Pronouns (Everyone, Everybody, Each, Neither, None)
Most indefinite pronouns ending in “-one,” “-body,” or “-thing” (everyone, everybody, anybody, someone, nothing) are always singular, even though they seem to describe a group: Everybody is here. “Each” and “either” are also treated as singular: Each of the students is responsible for their own work.
“None” is the exception that causes the most disagreement among writers — it can take either a singular or plural verb depending on meaning:
- None of the cake is left. (referring to an uncountable amount)
- None of the cookies are left. (referring to countable items)
Either/Or and Neither/Nor Constructions
When two subjects are joined by “either/or” or “neither/nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closer to it:
- Neither the manager nor the employees are available.
- Neither the employees nor the manager is available.
Uncountable and Mass Nouns (News, Advice, Information)
Some nouns end in “-s” but are grammatically singular because they describe an idea or substance rather than countable items: news, advice, information, furniture, homework.
- Correct: The advice is useful.
- Incorrect: The advice are useful.
Negative and Question Forms: “Isn’t” vs. “Aren’t”
“Isn’t” is the contraction of “is not” and follows the same singular rule as “is”: He isn’t ready. “Aren’t” is the contraction of “are not” and follows the plural rule: They aren’t ready.
One irregular case: in questions with the pronoun “I,” English uses “aren’t,” not the logical-sounding “amn’t”: Aren’t I invited too? This is an accepted exception in modern English, even though it doesn’t match the usual pattern.
American vs British English
American English
American English generally treats collective nouns as singular units: The band is playing tonight. Plural meaning is usually expressed by rewording the sentence rather than switching the verb: The band members are playing tonight.
British English
British English allows collective nouns to take a plural verb when the emphasis is on the individual members of the group rather than the group as a whole: The band are playing tonight. Both the singular and plural forms are considered correct in British usage, depending on the intended meaning.
Is vs Are vs Was vs Were: How They Connect
“Is” and “are” are present-tense forms of “to be.” Their past-tense counterparts are “was” (singular) and “were” (plural), following the same basic agreement pattern:
- Present: She is late. → Past: She was late.
- Present: They are late. → Past: They were late.
If you’re comfortable choosing between is and are, the same subject-matching logic carries over directly to was and were.
Practice Exercises and Answers
- My keys ___ on the kitchen counter. (is/are)
- Neither of the options ___ ideal. (is/are)
- The furniture in this room ___ outdated. (is/are)
- Everybody at the party ___ enjoying the music. (is/are)
- The scissors ___ in the top drawer. (is/are)
- Either the teacher or the students ___ mistaken. (is/are)
- There ___ a reason for the delay. (is/are)
- The committee ___ divided on the issue. (is/are, British usage)
- Ten dollars ___ not enough for the ticket. (is/are)
- Correct this sentence: “The list of complaints are long.”
(Answer key below.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it “everyone is” or “everyone are”? “Everyone is” is correct. “Everyone” is a singular indefinite pronoun, so it always takes a singular verb, even though it refers to a group of people.
Which is correct: “the team is” or “the team are”? Both can be correct depending on the variety of English. American English typically uses “the team is” to treat the group as one unit. British English may use “the team are” when emphasizing the individual members.
Do you say “there is” or “there are” with a list of items? Match the verb to the first noun in the list. If the first item is singular, use “there is”; if it’s plural, use “there are.”
Is “the data is” or “the data are” correct? Both appear in modern usage. In formal academic and scientific writing, “data” is often treated as plural (“the data show”). In everyday and business writing, “data” is commonly treated as a singular mass noun (“the data shows”).
Which is right: “neither of them is” or “neither of them are”? “Neither of them is” is the standard, formal choice, since “neither” is treated as singular. “Neither of them are” appears often in casual speech but is considered less formal.
Is “you is” ever correct? No. “You” always takes “are,” whether it refers to one person or several.
Why is “news” used with “is” if it ends in “s”? “News” is an uncountable noun that describes a category of information, not individual countable items, so it takes a singular verb despite its plural-looking spelling.
Is “aren’t I” correct, or should it be “amn’t I”? “Aren’t I” is the accepted standard form in modern English questions, even though “amn’t” would be the logical contraction of “am not.” “Amn’t” survives mainly in some Scottish and Irish dialects.
Which do you use with “each”: “is” or “are”? Use “is.” “Each” is always treated as a singular subject, even when followed by a plural phrase like “each of the students.”
Is “none of them is” or “none of them are” correct? Both can be correct. Use “is” when “none” means “not one” (a countable amount), and “are” when it means “not any” in a more general, plural sense.
Do British and American English always agree on is vs are? No. The main disagreement involves collective nouns, where British English allows more flexibility to use a plural verb than American English does.
Is “is” or “are” used with amounts of money, distance, or time? Use “is” in formal English, since these amounts are treated as a single unit rather than separate countable items: Ten dollars is the entry fee.
Key Takeaways
Choosing between is and are comes down to one question: is the subject singular or plural? “Is” pairs with one person or thing; “are” pairs with more than one, plus the pronoun “you.” Once you’re confident spotting the true subject — even when tricky words like “everyone,” “none,” or “the team” get in the way — the rest of the decision becomes automatic.
Practice Answer Key
- are — “keys” is plural.
- is — “neither” is singular.
- is — “furniture” is uncountable.
- is — “everybody” is a singular indefinite pronoun.
- are — “scissors” is treated as plural.
- are — the verb agrees with “students,” the closer subject.
- is — “reason” is singular.
- are — acceptable in British English, emphasizing individual members.
- is — the amount is treated as a single unit.
- Correct version: “The list of complaints is long.” (“List,” not “complaints,” is the subject.)
