Mastering the seemingly simple distinction between “is” and “are” is fundamental to clear and correct English communication. This grammatical choice hinges entirely on the subject of the sentence, dictating whether the subject is singular or plural. Understanding this core principle unlocks a significant aspect of sentence construction and ensures your writing is both accurate and impactful.
The correct usage of “is” and “are” directly influences the perceived professionalism and credibility of your writing. Errors in subject-verb agreement, particularly with these common verbs, can distract readers and undermine the message you intend to convey. Therefore, a firm grasp of these rules is not just about grammar; it’s about effective communication and leaving a positive impression.
Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that states a verb must agree in number with its subject. This means that a singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb. The verbs “is” and “are” are the present tense forms of the verb “to be,” and their usage is a prime example of this fundamental rule in action.
Identifying the subject of a sentence is the crucial first step in determining whether to use “is” or “are.” The subject is typically a noun or pronoun that performs the action of the verb or is described by it. Once the subject is clearly identified, its number—singular or plural—will dictate the correct verb form.
Singular subjects refer to one person, place, thing, or idea. For example, “The dog,” “She,” or “The concept” are all singular subjects. These subjects require the singular verb “is.”
Plural subjects refer to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. Examples include “The dogs,” “They,” or “The concepts.” These subjects necessitate the plural verb “are.”
The Singular Subject with “Is”
When the subject of your sentence is singular, you must use the verb “is.” This applies to single nouns, singular pronouns, and even collective nouns that are treated as a single unit. The sentence structure remains straightforward, focusing on a single entity or concept.
Consider the sentence, “The book on the table is red.” Here, “book” is the singular subject, and therefore “is” is the correct verb. The phrase “on the table” acts as a prepositional phrase modifying “book” but does not affect the subject’s number.
Pronouns like “he,” “she,” “it,” and “I” are inherently singular and always take “is” in the present tense, except for “I,” which takes “am.” For instance, “He is happy,” and “She is going to the store.” “It is a beautiful day.”
Abstract concepts also function as singular subjects. “Justice is important for a fair society.” “Honesty is the best policy.” These ideas represent a single, unified concept.
Even when a singular subject is followed by a phrase containing a plural noun, the verb remains singular. The rule is to agree with the subject, not with a noun in a modifying phrase. For example, “The box of chocolates is heavy.” The subject is “box,” which is singular, so “is” is used, despite “chocolates” being plural.
Similarly, when referring to a single instance or occurrence, “is” is appropriate. “The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.” “The performance is tonight.”
The Plural Subject with “Are”
Conversely, when the subject of your sentence is plural, you must use the verb “are.” This applies to plural nouns, plural pronouns, and certain indefinite pronouns when they refer to multiple entities. The sentence will then describe multiple items or individuals.
For example, “The books on the table are new.” Here, “books” is the plural subject, so “are” is the correct verb. The presence of the plural noun directly influences the verb choice.
Plural pronouns such as “they,” “we,” and “you” (when referring to more than one person) always take “are.” “They are friends.” “We are ready.” “You are all invited.”
When two or more singular subjects are joined by the conjunction “and,” they form a compound subject that is plural and requires “are.” “The cat and the dog are playing.” “John and Mary are coming over.”
Just as with singular subjects, plural subjects can be followed by prepositional phrases. The verb must still agree with the plural subject, not the noun within the phrase. “The students in the classroom are noisy.” The subject is “students,” which is plural, thus “are” is used.
Instances referring to multiple items or events also use “are.” “The cars in the parking lot are all occupied.” “The results of the experiment are surprising.”
Compound Subjects
Compound subjects, those consisting of two or more subjects joined by a coordinating conjunction, present a specific set of rules for subject-verb agreement. The most common conjunction is “and,” which typically creates a plural subject. However, other conjunctions like “or” and “nor” require different considerations.
When two or more singular subjects are joined by “and,” they form a plural subject and take the plural verb “are.” This is a fundamental rule for compound subjects indicating multiple distinct entities. “Sarah and Emily are collaborating on the project.” This clearly indicates two individuals working together.
If the compound subject refers to a single, unified idea or entity, then a singular verb “is” may be used. This occurs less frequently but is important for nuanced expression. “Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.” Here, “peanut butter and jelly” is considered a single, inseparable culinary unit.
When subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject that is closest to it. This rule applies regardless of whether the subjects are singular or plural. “Neither the manager nor the employees are aware of the change.” Here, “employees” is plural and closer to the verb, so “are” is used.
If the subjects are of different numbers and joined by “or” or “nor,” place the plural subject closer to the verb. This ensures the verb agrees with the nearest subject. “Either the teacher or the students are responsible for the mess.” The plural “students” is closer to “are.”
Consider the case where one subject is singular and the other is plural, joined by “or.” “Either the team members or the coach is making the final decision.” The singular “coach” is closer to the verb, so “is” is used.
Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns, such as “everyone,” “somebody,” “anything,” “all,” and “none,” can be tricky because their number can sometimes be ambiguous. Their agreement with “is” or “are” depends on whether they refer to a single entity or multiple entities.
Most indefinite pronouns are singular and always take the singular verb “is.” These include “anyone,” “anybody,” “anything,” “each,” “either,” “neither,” “everyone,” “everybody,” “everything,” “no one,” “nobody,” and “nothing.” “Everyone is invited to the party.” “Nothing is impossible.”
However, some indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural depending on the context and what they refer to. These include “all,” “any,” “more,” “most,” “none,” and “some.” If they refer to a singular noun, they take “is.” If they refer to a plural noun, they take “are.”
For example, “Some of the cake is left.” Here, “some” refers to “cake,” which is singular, so “is” is used. “Some of the cookies are gone.” In this case, “some” refers to “cookies,” which is plural, so “are” is used.
The indefinite pronoun “none” can be a particular point of contention. Traditionally, “none” was always considered singular and took “is.” However, modern usage often allows “none” to be plural when it refers to multiple items or people. “None of the students are absent today” is widely accepted, as is “None of the students is absent today.”
When in doubt with these ambiguous indefinite pronouns, consider what they are quantifying. If it’s a single, uncountable mass or a singular entity, use “is.” If it’s multiple, countable items or people, use “are.”
Collective Nouns
Collective nouns represent a group of individuals or things as a single unit. Examples include “team,” “family,” “committee,” “audience,” and “flock.” The agreement of collective nouns with “is” or “are” depends on whether the group is acting as one entity or as individuals within the group.
When the collective noun is acting as a single, cohesive unit, it is treated as singular and takes the verb “is.” This is the most common usage in American English. “The team is playing well tonight.” “The committee is making a decision.”
If the members of the group are acting as individuals, or if the focus is on the separate actions of the members, the collective noun is treated as plural and takes the verb “are.” This is more common in British English but is also acceptable in American English when the context clearly indicates individual actions. “The team are arguing amongst themselves about the strategy.” Here, the focus is on the individual members’ disagreements.
Consider the sentence, “The jury has reached a verdict.” This treats the jury as a single decision-making body. However, if the sentence were, “The jury are filing out of the courtroom one by one,” the plural verb “are” would be appropriate to emphasize their individual movements.
The key is to analyze the context and the intended meaning. If the group functions as a singular entity, use “is.” If the individuals within the group are emphasized, use “are.”
Sentences Starting with “There”
Sentences that begin with the expletive “there” often cause confusion regarding subject-verb agreement. In such constructions, “there” is not the subject of the sentence; rather, it acts as a placeholder, and the true subject follows the verb.
The verb “is” or “are” in these sentences must agree with the noun or pronoun that comes *after* it. This is a crucial distinction to remember when constructing sentences that start with “there.” “There is a cat on the roof.” The subject is “cat,” which is singular, so “is” is used.
When the noun following “there” is plural, the verb must also be plural. “There are many reasons for this decision.” The subject is “reasons,” which is plural, necessitating the use of “are.”
This rule applies even if there are prepositional phrases between “there” and the subject. The verb still agrees with the actual subject that follows. “There seems to be a problem with the system.” The subject is “problem,” singular, hence “is.”
Conversely, “There appear to be several issues that need addressing.” The subject is “issues,” plural, so “are” is required.
Pay close attention to the noun immediately following the verb in “there” sentences. This noun dictates whether “is” or “are” is the correct choice.
Special Cases and Tricky Situations
Beyond the basic rules, several special cases and tricky situations require careful attention to ensure correct subject-verb agreement with “is” and “are.” These often involve phrases that might obscure the true subject or nouns that appear plural but are grammatically singular.
Nouns that are plural in form but singular in meaning typically take the singular verb “is.” Examples include “news,” “mathematics,” “physics,” and “mumps.” “The news is good today.” “Physics is a challenging subject.”
Titles of books, movies, or organizations are also treated as singular, even if they contain plural words. “The Lord of the Rings is an epic tale.” “The United Nations is a global organization.”
Phrases expressing a period of time or a sum of money are usually treated as singular. “Ten years is a long time to wait.” “Fifty dollars is too much for that item.”
When a sentence contains a clause that functions as the subject, that clause is always singular and takes “is.” “What she said is true.” “That he succeeded is remarkable.”
The phrase “a number of” is treated as plural and takes “are.” “A number of students are present.” In contrast, “the number of” is treated as singular and takes “is.” “The number of students is increasing.”
Common Errors and How to Avoid Them
Despite understanding the rules, common errors in using “is” and “are” persist. Awareness of these pitfalls can significantly improve accuracy in writing and speech.
One frequent mistake is letting a plural noun in a prepositional phrase near the subject incorrectly influence the verb. For instance, writing “The key to the cabinets are lost” instead of “The key to the cabinets is lost.” Always identify the true subject, which is “key” in this case.
Another common error involves compound subjects joined by “or” or “nor.” People sometimes incorrectly apply the “and” rule. Remember to align the verb with the closest subject when “or” or “nor” is used. “Neither the dogs nor the cat is allowed on the furniture.”
Indefinite pronouns, especially those that can be singular or plural, are often misused. Relying on the context to determine if “all,” “some,” or “none” refers to a singular or plural entity is essential. “All of the water is gone” versus “All of the bottles are empty.”
Misinterpreting collective nouns is also a source of error. Deciding whether the group acts as a unit or as individuals is key. Is the “family is gathering for dinner” (unit) or “the family are discussing their plans” (individuals)?
Finally, be mindful of sentences starting with “there.” Always look for the noun that follows the verb to determine agreement. “There is many opportunities available” should be corrected to “There are many opportunities available.”
Practice and Application
Consistent practice is the most effective way to solidify your understanding of “is” and “are.” Regularly engaging with grammar exercises and actively applying the rules in your writing will build confidence and accuracy.
Reading widely exposes you to correct usage in various contexts. Pay attention to how authors construct sentences and employ subject-verb agreement, particularly with these common verbs.
When writing, take a moment to identify the subject of each sentence and confirm its number. This deliberate pause can catch potential errors before they make it into your final draft.
If you’re unsure about a specific sentence, try rephrasing it to remove any potentially confusing elements. Simplifying the sentence structure can often reveal the correct verb form more clearly.
Reviewing your work for subject-verb agreement errors is a crucial step in the editing process. A dedicated pass for this specific grammatical point can significantly improve the quality of your writing.