All Is Done vs. All Are Done – Which is Correct?
Both “all is done” and “all are done” can be grammatically correct. Use “all is done” when all refers to one task, situation, or uncountable idea; use “all are done” when all refers to multiple countable items or people. The noun or implied subject determines the verb in each sentence.
All Is Done or All Are Done – Which Is Correct?
Both expressions are correct, but they follow different agreement patterns. Use “all is done” when all means “everything” as one complete situation, task, or uncountable idea. Use “all are done” when all refers to several separate, countable things or people.
For example, “All is done” means that the entire job or situation is complete. However, “All the assignments are done” refers to several individual assignments. When the noun is omitted, the surrounding context must make the intended meaning clear.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the one-versus-many test. If you could replace all with everything, choose “all is done.” If you could replace it with all the items, all the people, or another plural noun, choose “all are done.”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| All is done | Fixed subject-and-verb phrase | Everything or one complete situation is finished | All is done; we can go home. |
| All are done | Fixed subject-and-verb phrase | Several separate things or people are finished | All are done with their presentations. |
How to Use All Is Done
“All is done” is used when all acts as a singular pronoun meaning “everything.” It commonly refers to a completed project, process, duty, or general situation. The expression can sound neutral in everyday speech, though it may also have a formal, dramatic, or literary tone depending on the context.
In modern conversation, speakers often say “Everything is done” or “It is all done.” Nevertheless, “All is done” is grammatical and concise, especially when the speaker wants to emphasize total completion.
This distinction also connects with the broader question of Done vs. Finished in everyday English.
Example 1: All is done, so the team can submit the report.
Example 2: After the ceremony, all is done and the guests may leave.
Example 3: Do not worry about the repairs; all is done.
What Are the Different Forms of All Is Done?
“All is done” is a fixed phrase whose verb changes when the grammatical meaning changes. The singular form is used when all means “everything”: “All is done.” With a plural noun, use are: “All the preparations are done.” In a sentence with a stated singular noun, use the appropriate singular verb: “All the work is done.”
The phrase can also appear in different tenses and constructions:
- Present: All is done.
- Past: All was done before noon.
- Future: All will be done by Friday.
- Perfect: All has been done correctly.
- Passive emphasis: All has been completed.
Etymology of the Phrase All Is Done
All comes from Old English eall, meaning “entire” or “every.” Is comes from an ancient Germanic form of the verb to be, while done developed from the past participle of do. The phrase combines these older elements to express complete fulfillment or completion.
How to Use All Are Done
“All are done” is used when all refers to multiple people or separate countable things. The plural verb are agrees with that understood plural meaning. The phrase is often clearer when the plural noun is included, as in “All the forms are done” or “All the students are done.”
When referring to people, “all are done” may mean that everyone has finished a task. When referring to objects or assignments, it means that every individual item has been completed. In casual English, speakers may prefer “They are all done” or “Everything is finished,” but “all are done” is still correct in the right context.
Example 1: All are done with the examination and may leave the room.
Example 2: The invoices have been checked, and all are done.
Example 3: All are done except the final three applications.
What Are the Different Forms of All Are Done?
“All are done” uses the plural form of the verb to be. Its form changes according to tense, while done remains the past participle in this construction:
- Present: All are done.
- Past: All were done by the assistant.
- Future: All will be done tomorrow.
- Perfect: All have been done carefully.
- With an explicit noun: All the documents are done.
If the subject is singular, do not use are: “All the paperwork is done.” The noun paperwork is uncountable and takes a singular verb, even though it may represent many individual tasks.
Etymology of the Phrase All Are Done
The phrase is built from the same historical words as “all is done.” The difference between is and are comes from English subject-verb agreement: is is singular, while are is plural. The phrase therefore reflects whether all represents one whole or several individuals.
Related Concepts
Understanding pronouns, countability, and subject-verb agreement makes the difference between these expressions easier to identify.
- Subject-verb agreement: A singular subject takes a singular verb, such as is, while a plural subject takes a plural verb, such as are.
- Pronoun reference: The word all may refer to everything as one whole or to several separate people or things. Its meaning determines the verb.
- Countable and uncountable nouns: Countable plural nouns such as tasks take are, while uncountable nouns such as work usually take is.
- Ellipsis: In “All are done,” the noun may be omitted because the listener already knows whether all means assignments, employees, forms, or another plural group.
Examples from Media and Literature
Writers and speakers choose between these forms according to whether they present completion as one whole situation or as a collection of completed individuals or items.
- Literary narration: A historical novel might use “All is done” after a battle, ceremony, or major decision to give the conclusion a solemn or final tone.
- Film dialogue: A character closing a workshop or investigation might say, “All is done,” meaning that every part of the overall job has been completed.
- News reporting: A report about an election process could state, “All the ballots are done,” although “All the ballots have been counted” would usually be more precise.
- Workplace communication: A project manager might write, “All the deliverables are done,” referring to several separate items.
- Personal conversation: Someone who has finished cooking, cleaning, and packing may say, “It is all done,” using it to represent the entire situation.
All Is Done Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Everything is finished | The entire task or situation has reached completion. |
| It is complete | A particular overall task or process has been completed. |
| It is over | An event, process, or situation has ended. |
| The job is finished | The complete piece of work has been completed. |
All Are Done Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| They are all finished | Every member of a known group has completed a task. |
| Each one is complete | Every separate item has been completed. |
| Everything has been completed | All individual tasks or items have reached completion. |
| None remain unfinished | No members or items in the relevant group still require work. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “all is done” grammatically correct?
Yes. “All is done” is correct when all means “everything” or refers to one complete situation. For example, “All is done, and the event can begin.”
Question 2: Is “all are done” grammatically correct?
Yes. “All are done” is correct when all refers to multiple people or countable things. For example, “All are done with the assignment.”
Question 3: Should I say “all is done” or “all are done” for work?
Use “all the work is done” because work is usually an uncountable singular noun. You may also say “all the tasks are done” when referring to several separate tasks.
Question 4: Which expression sounds more natural in everyday English?
“It is all done” and “Everything is done” are often more natural in casual conversation. “All is done” may sound more formal or dramatic, while “all are done” is clearest when the plural noun or group is understood.
Question 5: Is “all done” different from “all is done”?
Yes. “All done” is a shortened expression commonly used in casual speech, such as “Are you all done?” “All is done” is a complete clause with the singular verb is.
Conclusion
Both “all is done” and “all are done” are correct. Choose “all is done” when all means everything as one whole, and choose “all are done” when it refers to several people or countable items. Pro Tip: In professional writing, include the noun whenever possible—“all the work is done” or “all the tasks are done”—to make your meaning immediately clear.
