Are Done vs. Is Done – Which is Correct?

Both “are done” and “is done” are correct; the choice depends on the subject. Use “is done” with a singular noun or pronoun, and “are done” with a plural subject or you. “Done” describes completed actions, finished tasks, or food that has finished cooking, depending on context and intended meaning.

Because completed states can be expressed in several ways, compare Done vs. Finished when choosing the most natural wording.

Are Done or Is Done: Which Is Correct?

“Are done” and “is done” are both grammatically correct. The correct phrase depends on whether the subject is singular or plural. Use “is done” with a singular subject, such as the work or she. Use “are done” with a plural subject, such as the tasks or they, and with you.

In these phrases, is and are are forms of the verb be, while done is the past participle of do. Together, they commonly form a passive construction or describe a completed state.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

Use the subject swap test: replace the subject with it or they. If it sounds right, choose is done. If they sounds right, choose are done.

• The report becomes It is done, so write: The report is done.
• The reports becomes They are done, so write: The reports are done.
• With you, always use are: You are done.

Word or Phrase	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
is done	Verb phrase	Completed or finished with a singular subject	The assignment is done.
are done	Verb phrase	Completed or finished with a plural subject or you	The assignments are done.
done	Past participle or adjective	Completed, finished, or prepared	Dinner is done.

How to Use “Is Done”

Use “is done” when the subject is singular. Singular subjects include singular nouns, names, and singular pronouns such as he, she, and it. The phrase works in formal, academic, workplace, and casual English.

“Is done” can mean that something has been completed, that someone has completed an action, or that food has finished cooking. In a passive sentence, it often focuses on the task rather than the person who performed it.

Example 1: The monthly report is done and ready for review.

Example 2: The repair is done, so you can use the machine again.

Example 3: The chicken is done when its internal temperature reaches a safe level.

What Are the Different Forms of “Is Done”?

The phrase changes according to the tense and the subject. In the present tense, use is done with a singular subject and are done with a plural subject or you. In the past tense, use was done with a singular subject and were done with a plural subject. For the present perfect, use has been done with a singular subject and have been done with a plural subject.

• Present: The work is done.
• Past: The work was done yesterday.
• Present perfect: The work has been done.
• Future: The work will be done tomorrow.
• Continuous passive: The work is being done now.

Etymology of the Word “Done”

Done comes from the Old English verb don, meaning “to put, place, or perform.” It developed into the past participle of do and has long been used to describe an action that has been completed. The modern phrase is done combines this participle with a form of be.

How to Use “Are Done”

Use “are done” when the subject is plural or when the subject is you. Plural subjects include nouns such as projects, documents, and lessons, as well as pronouns such as we and they.

Like “is done,” the phrase may describe completed work, finished events, or food that has finished cooking. It may also appear in informal expressions. For example, We are done can mean “we have finished,” while They are done can mean that several people or things have finished an activity.

Example 1: The final edits are done, and the article can be published.

Example 2: We are done with the meeting.

Example 3: The vegetables are done, so please take them out of the oven.

What Are the Different Forms of “Are Done”?

“Are done” is the present-tense form used with plural subjects and you. Its related forms change according to tense and subject.

• Present: The assignments are done.
• Past: The assignments were done last night.
• Present perfect: The assignments have been done.
• Future: The assignments will be done soon.
• Continuous passive: The assignments are being done now.

Etymology of the Word “Are”

Are is a present-tense form of the verb be. It developed from several early Germanic forms and is related to words such as Old Norse eru. In modern English, are is used with plural subjects and with the pronouns you and we.

Related Concepts

Understanding subject–verb agreement and the role of past participles makes the difference between “are done” and “is done” easy to identify.

• Subject–verb agreement: A verb must agree with its subject in number. Singular subjects take is, while plural subjects and you take are.
• Passive voice: A passive construction emphasizes the person or thing affected by an action. In The project is done, the project receives the focus.
• Past participles: Done is the past participle of do. It can follow forms of be to create passive constructions.
• Singular and plural nouns: A singular noun refers to one person, place, thing, or idea; a plural noun refers to more than one.

Examples from Media and Literature

The following examples show how forms of “is done” and “are done” appear naturally in storytelling, journalism, and everyday media language.

• Business news: A report about a completed merger may state that “the deal is done,” using is because deal is singular.
• Sports coverage: After several games conclude, a commentator might say, “The playoffs are done,” because playoffs is plural.
• Cooking programs: A host may announce, “The cookies are done,” referring to multiple cookies.
• Film dialogue: A character may say, “The job is done,” when referring to one completed assignment.
• Literary narration: A narrator describing several completed preparations could write, “The arrangements are done,” because arrangements is plural.

Is “Are Done” or “Is Done” More Formal?

Neither phrase is inherently more formal than the other. Formality depends on the surrounding sentence and context. For example, The audit is done is suitable in ordinary workplace communication, while The audit has been completed may sound more polished in a formal report.

In casual speech, We are done can mean that an activity has ended. In professional writing, a more precise alternative such as We have completed the review may be preferable when clarity or a formal tone is important.

“Are Done” or “Is Done” With Collective Nouns

Collective nouns can create confusion because they refer to groups but are often grammatically singular in American English. When the collective noun acts as one unit, use is done: The team is done with practice. When you are referring to individual members, use a plural noun instead: The players are done with practice.

In American English, words such as committee, company, and family generally take singular verbs when treated as unified groups.

“You Are Done” and “You Is Done”

The correct expression is always “you are done,” whether you refers to one person or several people. English uses are with you in both singular and plural situations.

• One person: You are done with the interview.
• Several people: You are done with the interviews.

“You is done” is not standard English, although it may appear deliberately in dialect writing, song lyrics, comedy, or fictional dialogue.

“Done” as an Adjective

In some sentences, done functions like an adjective describing a state rather than forming a passive verb. For example, The project is done describes the project’s condition. In The project was done by the design team, the phrase is more clearly passive because it identifies who completed the action.

When talking about food, done usually means sufficiently cooked. The exact meaning can vary by food and preference: medium-rare, well-done, and fully cooked describe different levels of doneness.

Is Done Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Is complete	Has reached completion; used with a singular subject
Is finished	Has ended or requires no further work
Is concluded	Has formally come to an end
Is finalized	Has been completed and approved

Are Done Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Are complete	Have reached completion; used with a plural subject
Are finished	Have ended or require no further work
Are concluded	Have formally come to an end
Are finalized	Have been completed and approved

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Is “are done” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Are done” is correct when the subject is plural or when the subject is you. For example, write The projects are done and You are done.

Question 2: Is “is done” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Is done” is correct with a singular subject, such as the task, the meal, he, or she. For example, write The task is done.

Question 3: Should I say “the work is done” or “the work are done”?
Say “the work is done.” In this expression, work is an uncountable singular noun, so it takes the singular verb is.

Question 4: Should I say “the tasks are done” or “the tasks is done”?
Say “the tasks are done.” The plural noun tasks requires the plural verb are.

Question 5: Is “done” the past tense of “do”?
No. The past tense is did, while done is the past participle. Use done with an auxiliary verb, as in has done, was done, or is done.

Conclusion

“Are done” and “is done” are both correct. Choose is done for a singular subject, and choose are done for a plural subject or you. Check the subject first, then match it with the correct form of be. Pro tip: Consistent subject–verb agreement makes professional writing clearer and strengthens your credibility.