Are Aware vs. Is Aware – Which is Correct?

Both are aware and is aware are correct, but they agree with different subjects. Use are aware with plural subjects and the pronoun you; use is aware with singular third-person subjects such as he, she, it, or a company. The key is subject-verb agreement, not meaning. Aware remains unchanged throughout.

Are Aware or Is Aware – Which Is Correct?

Both are aware and is aware are grammatically correct forms of the phrase be aware. The correct choice depends on the subject of the sentence.

Use are aware with plural subjects, including we, they, and you. Use is aware with singular third-person subjects, including he, she, it, and singular nouns such as the manager or the company.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

Look at the subject before the phrase. If you could replace it with they or we, choose are aware. If you could replace it with he, she, or it, choose is aware.

For example, “The employees” becomes “they,” so write “The employees are aware.” However, “The employee” becomes “he” or “she,” so write “The employee is aware.”

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
are aware	Verb phrase	Know or understand something; used with plural subjects and “you”	The students are aware of the deadline.
is aware	Verb phrase	Knows or understands something; used with singular third-person subjects	The student is aware of the deadline.

How to Use Are Aware

Are aware is the present-tense form of be aware used with plural subjects and with you. It means that two or more people, or the person or people being addressed, know, recognize, or understand something.

The phrase is common in professional, academic, and everyday English. It is often followed by of and a noun or gerund, as in “are aware of the risks” or “are aware of the changes.” It can also be followed by a clause introduced by that.

Example 1: The directors are aware of the potential costs.

Example 2: We are aware that the schedule may change.

Example 3: You are aware of the company’s privacy policy.

What Are the Different Forms of Are Aware?

Are aware is not a separate verb with its own complete tense system. It is a form of the phrase be aware. The auxiliary verb are changes according to the subject and tense, while aware remains unchanged.

• Present: We are aware of the issue.
• Past: We were aware of the issue.
• Present perfect: We have been aware of the issue.
• Future: We will be aware of the issue.
• Progressive form: We are becoming aware of the issue.

Etymology of the Word Are Aware

Aware comes from Middle English expressions related to being watchful or on guard. It developed from the idea of being mentally alert and eventually came to mean knowing or understanding a fact, situation, or condition. The word are is a present-tense form of the verb be.

How to Use Is Aware

Is aware is the present-tense form of be aware used with singular third-person subjects. It means that one person, animal, organization, object, or other singular subject knows or understands something.

Use is aware with nouns such as the director, the public, the machine, and the organization. It also follows the pronouns he, she, and it.

Example 1: The manager is aware of the problem.

Example 2: She is aware that the policy has changed.

Example 3: The organization is aware of its responsibility to customers.

What Are the Different Forms of Is Aware?

Is aware is one present-tense form of the phrase be aware. The word aware does not change for number or person. Only the form of be changes.

• Present: He is aware of the concern.
• Past: He was aware of the concern.
• Present perfect: He has been aware of the concern.
• Future: He will be aware of the concern.
• Negative: He is not aware of the concern.

Etymology of the Word Is Aware

Is aware combines is, the third-person singular present form of be, with aware, a word historically associated with watchfulness and alertness. Together, the phrase expresses a singular subject’s knowledge or understanding.

Related Concepts

Understanding subject-verb agreement and the structure of the phrase be aware makes it easier to choose between are aware and is aware.

• Subject-verb agreement: A verb must match its subject in number and person. Plural subjects generally take are, while singular third-person subjects take is.
• Forms of be: The verb be appears as am, is, are, was, and were, depending on the subject and tense.
• Adjectives after be: Aware is an adjective that follows a form of be. It describes a person’s or organization’s state of knowledge.
• Prepositional complements: The phrase is frequently followed by of, as in “is aware of the facts” or “are aware of the risks.”

Examples from Media and Literature

The phrase appears frequently in formal reporting, dialogue, nonfiction, and fictional narration. These examples show how the subject determines the correct form:

• News reporting: “Officials are aware of the disruption and are investigating its cause.” The plural subject officials requires are aware.
• Business writing: “The company is aware of customer concerns.” The singular subject company requires is aware.
• Historical nonfiction: “The researchers are aware that the surviving records are incomplete.” The plural subject researchers takes are.
• Film dialogue: “She is aware of what happened.” The singular pronoun she takes is.
• Literary narration: “They are aware of the danger beyond the gate.” The plural pronoun they takes are.

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.

1. The teachers are aware or is aware of the schedule change.
2. The principal are aware or is aware of the complaint.
3. You are aware or is aware of the terms and conditions.
4. The two companies are aware or is aware of the agreement.
5. It are aware or is aware of the surrounding temperature.

Answer Key

1. are aware — “Teachers” is plural.
2. is aware — “Principal” is singular.
3. are aware — “You” takes are in the present tense.
4. are aware — “Companies” is plural.
5. is aware — “It” is singular and third person.

Are Aware Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Know	Have information or understanding about something.
Understand	Recognize the meaning, importance, or nature of something.
Recognize	Identify or acknowledge a fact, condition, or situation.
Realize	Become conscious of or understand something previously unnoticed.
Be informed	Have received information about a subject.

Is Aware Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Knows	Has information or understanding about something.
Understands	Recognizes the meaning or significance of something.
Recognizes	Acknowledges or identifies a fact, condition, or situation.
Realizes	Becomes conscious of or discovers a fact.
Is informed	Has been given information about a subject.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Is “are aware” correct?
Yes. Use are aware with plural subjects, such as they, we, the employees, and the results. It is also correct with you.

Question 2: Is “is aware” correct?
Yes. Use is aware with singular third-person subjects, such as he, she, it, the manager, and the organization.

Question 3: What is the difference between “are aware” and “is aware”?
The meaning is essentially the same: both indicate knowledge or understanding. The difference is grammatical. Are agrees with plural subjects and you, while is agrees with singular third-person subjects.

Question 4: Should I write “the company are aware” or “the company is aware”?
In standard American English, write “the company is aware” because company is a singular collective noun. “The companies are aware” requires are aware because companies is plural.

Conclusion

Are aware and is aware are both correct expressions. Choose are aware for plural subjects and you; choose is aware for singular third-person subjects. The adjective aware never changes. Pro Tip: Checking subject-verb agreement carefully helps your professional writing appear precise, polished, and credible.