Everyone and Everything Is vs. Everyone and Everything Are – Which is Correct?
When everyone and everything are joined by and as the subject, use the plural verb are: Everyone and everything are accounted for. Use is only when everyone or everything stands alone: Everyone is ready; everything is packed. This rule reflects subjects, although each pronoun is singular alone.
Is or Are: Which is Correct?
Both is and are are correct English verbs, but they serve different purposes. In the expression “everyone and everything”, the two pronouns are joined by and, creating a compound subject. Therefore, the standard verb is are: Everyone and everything are welcome.
Use is when everyone or everything appears alone because each indefinite pronoun is grammatically singular: Everyone is invited. Everything is ready.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the and test: replace everyone and everything with they. Because they are sounds correct, choose are: Everyone and everything are accounted for becomes They are accounted for. If only everyone or everything appears, use is: Everyone is ready and Everything is ready.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| is | Singular form of the verb be | Describes one person, thing, or singular subject | Everything is prepared. |
| are | Plural form of the verb be | Describes multiple people, things, or a plural subject | Everyone and everything are prepared. |
How to Use Is
Is is the third-person singular present-tense form of the verb be. Use it with singular nouns, singular pronouns, and indefinite pronouns such as everyone, everything, someone, and nothing. It is common in casual, academic, professional, and formal writing.
Although everyone refers to multiple people and everything refers to multiple things, both words are grammatically singular when used separately. That is why the correct forms are Everyone is here and Everything is finished.
Example 1: Everyone is welcome at the community meeting.
Example 2: Everything is ready for the presentation.
Example 3: Everyone and everything are included in the final report.
What are the different forms of Is?
Is is one present-tense form of the irregular verb be. The main forms are be (base form), am (used with I), is (used with singular third-person subjects), are (used with you and plural subjects), was (singular past form), were (plural and second-person past form), being (present participle), and been (past participle).
Etymology of the Word Is
Is comes from Old English is, related to similar forms in other Germanic languages. It developed from an ancient Indo-European root associated with existence and identity. The verb be is highly irregular because its modern forms come from several historically different roots.
How to Use Are
Are is a present-tense form of the verb be. Use it with plural subjects and with the pronoun you. When everyone and everything are connected by and, they form a compound subject, so are is normally required.
The verb should agree with the complete subject, not merely with the words immediately before it. In Everyone and everything are accounted for, the two subject elements are everyone and everything. Together, they require the plural verb are.
Example 1: Everyone and everything are safe after the storm.
Example 2: The documents and the equipment are in the storage room.
Example 3: You are responsible for checking the final details.
What are the different forms of Are?
Are is a form of the irregular verb be. It is used in the present tense with you, we, they, and plural nouns. Its related forms include be, am, is, was, were, being, and been. In the present perfect, use have been or has been; in the passive voice, use are with a past participle, as in are completed.
Etymology of the Word Are
Are developed from Old English forms related to be and was influenced by forms found in other Germanic languages. Its history reflects the unusually complex development of the English verb be, whose present-tense forms do not share a single simple origin.
Related Concepts
Understanding subject-verb agreement and indefinite pronouns makes it easier to choose between is and are in sentences containing everyone and everything.
- Subject-verb agreement: A verb should match its subject in number. Singular subjects generally take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs.
- Indefinite pronouns: Words such as everyone and everything refer to people or things without naming specific individuals or objects. Many indefinite pronouns are grammatically singular.
- Compound subjects: Two subjects joined by and usually form a plural subject and take a plural verb, as in The teacher and the student are talking.
- Collective meaning: A phrase can refer broadly to a group while still having a particular grammatical number. Meaning alone does not always determine whether the verb is singular or plural.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples reflect the kinds of constructions commonly found in novels, films, journalism, and public announcements:
- News reporting: “Everyone and everything are being moved to a secure location.” This construction treats people and objects as two coordinated subjects.
- Film dialogue: “Everyone is waiting outside.” Here, everyone stands alone and correctly takes is.
- Literary narration: “Everything is quiet in the village.” The singular indefinite pronoun everything requires is.
- Emergency announcements: “Everyone and everything are accounted for.” The compound subject correctly takes are.
- Documentary or formal prose: “Everyone and everything are connected within the ecosystem.” The joined subjects require the plural verb.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- Everyone and everything ___ ready for the inspection. (is / are)
- Everyone ___ required to sign in at the front desk. (is / are)
- Everything ___ stored in the correct container. (is / are)
- Everyone and everything ___ affected by the power outage. (is / are)
- The employees and their equipment ___ being transferred to another building. (is / are)
Answer Key
- are — Everyone and everything are joined by and, forming a compound subject.
- is — Everyone is grammatically singular when used alone.
- is — Everything is grammatically singular.
- are — The two subjects together require a plural verb.
- are — The employees and their equipment form a compound subject.
Is Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| exists | Has a real or identifiable presence |
| remains | Continues to be in a particular condition or place |
| seems | Appears to have a particular quality or condition |
| equals | Has the same value, meaning, or significance |
Are Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| exist | Have a real or identifiable presence as plural subjects |
| remain | Continue to be in a particular condition or place |
| seem | Appear to have a particular quality or condition |
| equal | Have the same value, meaning, or significance as plural subjects |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Should I write “everyone and everything is” or “everyone and everything are”?
Use are in standard English because everyone and everything are two subjects joined by and: Everyone and everything are accounted for.
Question 2: Is “everyone” singular or plural?
Everyone refers to multiple people but is grammatically singular. Use is with it when it appears alone: Everyone is ready.
Question 3: Is “everything” singular or plural?
Everything is grammatically singular, so it takes is when used alone: Everything is complete. When it is joined to another subject with and, the complete compound subject usually takes are.
Question 4: Why does “everyone and everything” take “are” if both words are singular?
Each pronoun is singular by itself, but and combines the two subjects. The resulting compound subject is plural, just as the manager and the assistant take are.
Conclusion
Use are in the phrase everyone and everything because and joins two subjects into a compound plural subject: Everyone and everything are included. Use is when everyone or everything appears alone. Pro Tip: Applying correct subject-verb agreement strengthens your credibility in professional, academic, and public writing.
