{"id":4444,"date":"2024-08-23T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/develop-blog-edubirdie-com.dev.prokit.me\/blog\/are-vs-is\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T09:03:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T09:03:57","slug":"are-vs-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edubirdie.com\/blog\/are-vs-is","title":{"rendered":"Are vs Is: a comprehensive guide to subject-verb agreement"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Understanding when to use &#8216;are&#8217; or &#8216;is&#8217; in a sentence is a vital part of mastering English grammar &#8211; and trust me, it makes a huge difference in getting your point across clearly &amp; accurately in writing and speaking. The way you use the verb &#8220;to be&#8221; determines how well put together your sentences are &#8211; and getting this right is basically key to writing correct sentences.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_difference_between_%E2%80%9Cis%E2%80%9D_and_%E2%80%9Care%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>The difference between \u201cis\u201d and \u201care\u201d<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Getting a handle on the difference between &#8216;is&#8217; and &#8216;are&#8217; is about understanding where they fit in as two different versions of the verb &#8216;to be&#8217;. This verb is what underpins all of our sentences and is responsible for linking the subject to the rest of the sentence, which is where the tone of the writing comes from too.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The subject-verb agreement rule dictates that the subject and verb must match in number: use \u201cis\u201d with singular subjects and \u201care\u201d with plural ones. For instance, \u201cThe dog <strong>is<\/strong> barking\u201d (singular) and \u201cThe dogs <strong>are<\/strong> barking\u201d (plural). Proper use of the verb \u201cto be\u201d is crucial for constructing grammatically correct sentences.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">The importance of mastering these forms<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Much like understanding \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/edubirdie.com\/blog\/what-is-an-idiom\">what is an idiom<\/a>?\u201d aids in grasping figurative language, the \u201care vs is\u201d rules are vital because they directly impact the grammatical accuracy of your writing and speech. Misusing them can confuse, like saying \u201cThe team <strong>are<\/strong> winning\u201d instead of \u201cThe team <strong>is<\/strong> winning,\u201d which creates ambiguity about whether you\u2019re referring to the team as a whole or its members individually.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Subject-verb agreement ensures clear communication in academic papers, professional emails, or casual conversations. Just as knowing the difference between <a href=\"https:\/\/edubirdie.com\/blog\/difference-between-an-analogy-and-metaphor\">analogy vs metaphor<\/a> enhances language skills, understanding the is and are difference strengthens your command of English and ensures your messages are clear and credible. This attention to detail is key to both academic and professional success.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_mistakes\"><\/span>Common mistakes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">When learning are vs is grammar, several errors often occur, particularly due to confusion about subject-verb agreement. If this topic still feels tricky, try <a href=\"https:\/\/edubirdie.com\/coursework-writing\">do my coursework online<\/a> help for practical examples and expert guidance. So let&#8217;s explore the common mistakes:<\/p>\n<h3>Mixing singular and plural subjects.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">One of the most common mistakes is using \u201cis\u201d with a plural subject or \u201care\u201d with a singular subject. For example, saying \u201cThe cars <strong>is<\/strong> fast\u201d instead of \u201cThe cars <strong>are<\/strong> fast\u201d is incorrect.<\/p>\n<h3>Misinterpreting collective nouns.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Collective nouns, like \u201cgroup,\u201d \u201cfamily,\u201d \u201cteam,\u201d or \u201caudience,\u201d can be tricky. In American English, they\u2019re treated as singular, so \u201cis\u201d is used (e.g., \u201cThe team <strong>is<\/strong> winning\u201d). In British English, they can be plural, leading to \u201cThe team <strong>are<\/strong> winning.\u201d Confusion occurs when these conventions are mixed or misunderstood.<\/p>\n<h3>Confusion with compound subjects.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">When you&#8217;ve got a subject made up of two or more nouns linked by &#8220;and&#8221; &#8211; the rule of thumb is to use &#8220;are&#8221;. For example, &#8220;The cat and dog are playing&#8221;. But when a compound subject is treated as a single concept, then you might need to use &#8220;is&#8221; (e.g., &#8220;Peanut butter and jelly is my go-to sandwich&#8221;). The trouble is that people sometimes fail to spot whether the subject is being seen as a single thing or multiple things. Also, don&#8217;t forget to use the right punctuation when you&#8217;re dealing with three or more nouns &#8211; that is, put a comma right before &#8220;and&#8221; in this case.<\/p>\n<h3>Inconsistency with indefinite pronouns.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Indefinite pronouns like &#8220;everyone&#8221;, &#8220;nobody&#8221;, &#8220;each&#8221;, and &#8220;anyone&#8221; are actually singular, which means they usually need to match up with &#8220;is&#8221;. So you&#8217;d say &#8220;Everyone is here&#8221;, not &#8220;Everyone are here&#8221; &#8211; that&#8217;s a pretty common mistake.<\/p>\n<h3>Misalignment with phrases and clauses.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Sometimes, phrases or clauses that qualify the subject and come between it and the verb can lead to confusion. For example, in the sentence \u201cThe basket of oranges <strong>is<\/strong> on the table,\u201d the prepositional phrase \u201cof oranges\u201d might cause someone to mistakenly use \u201care\u201d instead of \u201cis,\u201d since \u201coranges\u201d is plural. The key is identifying the main subject (\u201cbasket\u201d) and ensuring it matches the verb.<\/p>\n<h3>Incorrect use in questions.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Forming questions can also cause errors, such as using \u201care\u201d instead of \u201cis\u201d or vice versa. For example, \u201c<strong>Is<\/strong> the dogs hungry?\u201d should be \u201c<strong>Are<\/strong> the dogs hungry?\u201d because \u201cdogs\u201d is plural. Conversely, \u201c<strong>Are<\/strong> the cat hungry?\u201d should be \u201c<strong>Is<\/strong> the cat hungry?\u201d because \u201ccat\u201d is singular.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_to_use_is_or_are_examples\"><\/span>When to use is or are: examples<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Discover how to correctly use variations of the verb \u201cto be\u201d and explain the rules that apply. These recommendations may be helpful for you if you need to complete any document, humanize my essay, or prepare a speech.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">1. Singular subject + \u201cis\u201d<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example: <em>The cat is sleeping on the couch.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this sentence, \u201ccat\u201d is a singular subject, meaning only one cat exists. The verb \u201cis\u201d is used because it agrees with the singular subject. The verb \u201cis\u201d links the subject \u201ccat\u201d with the predicate \u201csleeping on the couch.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">2. Plural subject + \u201care\u201d<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example: <em>The cats are playing in the garden<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Here, \u201ccats\u201d is a plural subject, meaning multiple cats exist. The verb \u201care\u201d is used because it matches the plural subject. \u201cAre\u201d connects the subject \u201ccats\u201d with the predicate \u201cplaying in the garden.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">3. Collective noun (singular) + \u201cis\u201d<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example: <em>The orchestra is performing tonight.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cOrchestra\u201d is considered a single unit in American English, so \u201cis\u201d is used.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">4. Collective noun (plural) + \u201care\u201d<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example: <em>The orchestra are tuning their instrument.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In British English, collective nouns like \u201corchestra\u201d can be treated as plural when emphasizing the individuals within the group. So, \u201care\u201d reflects the plural interpretation of the subject.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">5. Compound subject + \u201care\u201d<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example: <em>The dog and the cat are friendly with each other.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThe dog and the cat\u201d form a compound subject consisting of two singular nouns joined by \u201cand.\u201d Since the subject is now considered plural, \u201care\u201d is used to match the compound subject.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">6. Indefinite pronoun + \u201cis\u201d<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example: <em>Everyone is invited to the party.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cEveryone\u201d is an indefinite pronoun, always treated as singular. Therefore, \u201cis\u201d is the correct verb to use. The verb \u201cis\u201d agrees with the singular indefinite pronoun \u201ceveryone.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">7. Indefinite pronoun + \u201care\u201d<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example: <em>All of the cookies are gone.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAll\u201d is an indefinite pronoun that can be singular or plural depending on the context. In this case, \u201ccookies\u201d is plural, so \u201care\u201d is used to match the plural meaning of \u201call.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">8. Intervening phrase + \u201cis\u201d<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example: <em>The bouquet of flowers is beautiful.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The sentence&#8217;s main subject is \u201cbouquet,\u201d which is singular. The intervening prepositional phrase \u201cof flowers\u201d doesn&#8217;t affect the number of the subject, so \u201cis\u201d is used to match the singular subject \u201cbouquet.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">9. Intervening phrase + \u201care\u201d<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example: <em>A group of students are working on the project.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although \u201cgroup\u201d is singular, \u201cstudents\u201d is plural. In some cases, the verb can agree with the plural noun within the intervening phrase, especially if the focus is on the individuals in the group. Therefore, \u201care\u201d is used here to emphasize the students.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">10. Question form (singular) + \u201cis\u201d<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example: <em>Is the book on the shelf?<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In questions, the verb comes before the subject. Here, \u201cbook\u201d is singular, so \u201cis\u201d is used before the subject to form the correct question.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\">11. Question form (plural) + \u201care\u201d<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example: <em>Are the books on the shelf?<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In this question, \u201cbooks\u201d is plural, so \u201care\u201d is used before the subject to maintain subject-verb agreement in the question form.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">By understanding and applying these rules, you can ensure your use of \u201cis\u201d and \u201care\u201d is effective and correct, enhancing clarity and precision in your writing and speech.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Exceptions_to_the_rule\"><\/span>Exceptions to the rule<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">While the basic recommendations for using you is or you are cover most situations, there are some special cases where these rules might not apply straightforwardly:<\/p>\n<h3>Subjects with \u201cnone\u201d or \u201cneither.\u201d<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example 1: <em>None of the money is missing.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although \u201cnone\u201d might seem plural, it is often treated as singular, especially when referring to uncountable nouns like \u201cmoney.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example 2: <em>Neither of the options is acceptable.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cNeither\u201d is treated as singular, so \u201cis\u201d is used, even though it refers to two options.<\/p>\n<h3>Subjects with \u201ceach\u201d or \u201cevery.\u201d<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example 1: <em>Each of the students is responsible for their own work<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cEach\u201d is singular, so \u201cis\u201d is used, even though it refers to multiple students.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example 2: <em>Every car and truck is inspected before use<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cEvery\u201d treats the subjects as singular, so \u201cis\u201d is used even though there are two subjects (car and truck).<\/p>\n<h3>Nouns of amount or measurement.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example 1: <em>Ten dollars is a fair price<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">When a noun refers to an amount or measurement, it is treated as a singular unit, so \u201cis\u201d is used, even though \u201cdollars\u201d is technically plural.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example 2: <em>Two weeks is a long time to wait<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cTwo weeks\u201d is considered a single period, so \u201cis\u201d is used. If this rule seems complicated, <a href=\"https:\/\/edubirdie.com\/do-my-homework\">do my homework online<\/a> is exactly what EduBirdie can help you with \u2014 providing a detailed explanation to use it correctly in your texts.<\/p>\n<h3>Subjects joined by \u201cor\u201d or \u201cnor.\u201d<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example 1: <em>Neither the manager nor the employees are available<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">When subjects are joined by \u201cor\u201d or \u201cnor,\u201d the verb should agree with the subject closest to it. In this case, \u201cemployees\u201d is plural, so \u201care\u201d is used.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example 2: <em>Either the teacher or the student is responsible<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Here, \u201cstudent\u201d is singular, so \u201cis\u201d is used, even though \u201cteacher\u201d is also a subject.<\/p>\n<h3>Titles of books, movies, or organizations<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example 1: <em>The United Nations is holding a conference.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Even though \u201cThe United Nations\u201d might seem plural, it is treated as a singular entity, so \u201cis\u201d is used.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example 2: <em>The Chronicles of Narnia is a famous book series.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Despite \u201cChronicles\u201d being plural, the title as a whole is treated as singular, so \u201cis\u201d is used. This is an exception to the general rule about when to use is and are.<\/p>\n<h3>Plural nouns with singular meaning<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example 1: <em>The news is alarming<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cNews\u201d is a plural noun treated as singular, so \u201cis\u201d is used.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Example 2: <em>Mathematics is challenging for some students.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although \u201cMathematics\u201d looks plural, it is treated as a singular subject, so \u201cis\u201d is used.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_thoughts\"><\/span>Final thoughts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Learning these rules and exceptions is a critical step toward mastering English grammar. Accurately applying \u201cto be\u201d forms ensures that your sentences are clear and effective in conveying your message. Whether you\u2019re writing an essay, a report, or just an email, knowing when to use these forms helps avoid multiple mistakes and improves your overall communication skills.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, even with a solid grasp of is or are in a sentence, having a second pair of eyes is always helpful to ensure your writing is flawless. That\u2019s where EduBirdie comes in. As the best helper for all your writing needs, we offer expert assistance to refine your grammar, polish your sentences, and make your essay shine. Whether a student or a professional, EduBirdie is your go-to resource for improving your grammar and writing quality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Understanding when to use &#8216;are&#8217; or &#8216;is&#8217; in a sentence is a vital part of mastering English grammar &#8211; and trust me, it makes a huge difference in getting your point across clearly &amp; accurately in writing and speaking. The way you use the verb &#8220;to be&#8221; determines how well put together your sentences are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"entity":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Are vs Is: Guidelines, Examples &amp; Common Mistakes - EduBirdie.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the is and are difference to use these forms correctly in your writing. 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