The Rest Is Fine vs. The Rest Are Fine – Which is Correct?
When choosing between “the rest is fine” and “the rest are fine,” both can be correct. Use “is” when rest refers to an uncountable amount or a singular thing; use “are” when it refers to multiple countable things. The surrounding noun or context determines the verb, not the word “rest” alone.
The Rest Is or Are Fine – Which Is Correct?
Both “the rest is fine” and “the rest are fine” are grammatically correct. The choice depends on what the rest refers to.
Use is when “the rest” means one remainder, an uncountable substance, a period of time, or a singular item. For example, “The rest of the cake is fine” treats the remaining cake as one quantity.
Use are when “the rest” refers to several separate, countable items or people. For example, “The rest of the cookies are fine” refers to multiple cookies.
The verb agrees with the implied noun after the rest of, not automatically with the word rest itself.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the “of” test: mentally add the noun after the rest and identify whether it is singular, uncountable, or plural.
- The rest of the water is fine. Water is uncountable, so use is.
- The rest of the report is fine. Report is singular, so use is.
- The rest of the reports are fine. Reports is plural, so use are.
A quick memory aid is: one amount means “is”; several separate items mean “are.”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| is | Third-person singular form of the verb “be” | Used with a singular or uncountable remainder | The rest of the equipment is fine. |
| are | Second-person or plural form of the verb “be” | Used with multiple remaining items or people | The rest of the tools are fine. |
How to Use Is
Is is the third-person singular present-tense form of be. In the expression the rest is fine, use it when the remaining portion is understood as one unit, a singular noun, or an uncountable quantity. This usage is common in both formal and casual English.
Use is with singular nouns such as the rest of the book, the rest of the meal, or the rest of the work. It also works with uncountable nouns such as water, information, money, and equipment.
Example 1: The rest of the presentation is fine.
Example 2: The rest of the soup is fine after we add more seasoning.
Example 3: We fixed the damaged section, and the rest is fine.
What Are the Different Forms of Is?
Is is one form of the irregular verb be. Its main forms are be, am, is, are, was, were, being, and been.
- Present tense: I am; you are; he, she, or it is; we and they are.
- Past tense: I, he, she, and it was; you, we, and they were.
- Present participle: being.
- Past participle: been.
Etymology of the Word Is
Is comes from Old English is, related to similar forms in other Germanic languages. It is an ancient form of the verb be and has retained a very similar spelling and function in modern English.
How to Use Are
Are is the present-tense form of be used with you and plural subjects. In the rest are fine, use it when the remaining things or people are separate, countable items.
This form is appropriate with plural nouns such as the rest of the documents, the rest of the students, the rest of the chairs, and the rest of the questions. It is also common in casual conversation when the plural noun is understood from context.
Example 1: The rest of the documents are fine.
Example 2: Two players need medical attention, but the rest are fine.
Example 3: I checked the photographs, and the rest are fine.
What Are the Different Forms of Are?
Are is another form of the irregular verb be. It is used with you in both singular and plural contexts, as well as with plural subjects such as we, they, and the rest of the items.
- Present tense: You are; we are; they are.
- Past-tense counterpart: You were; we were; they were.
- Infinitive: to be.
- Present participle: being.
- Past participle: been.
Etymology of the Word Are
Are developed from early Germanic forms of the verb be. Its history is somewhat different from that of is; English adopted and preserved several different forms of this highly irregular verb for different subjects.
Related Concepts
Understanding subject–verb agreement and the difference between countable and uncountable nouns makes this choice straightforward.
- Subject–verb agreement: A verb should match its subject in number. A singular or uncountable subject takes is, while a plural subject takes are.
- Countable nouns: Countable nouns refer to separate items that can be numbered, such as books, people, and chairs. They usually require are when plural.
- Uncountable nouns: Uncountable nouns refer to substances, concepts, or quantities viewed as a whole, such as water, information, and equipment. They usually require is.
- Partitive phrases: Expressions such as the rest of, some of, and all of take a verb based on the noun that follows them.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples show how the choice changes according to the noun or group being discussed:
- Film review: “The ending needs revision, but the rest of the movie is fine.” Here, the rest refers to one film as a whole.
- News report: “Several buildings suffered damage, but the rest are fine.” Here, the rest refers to multiple buildings.
- Novel discussion: “The first chapter is confusing, but the rest of the book is fine.” The remaining portion is treated as one book.
- Sports coverage: “Two players left the field, but the rest are fine.” The phrase refers to several remaining players.
- Restaurant review: “The dessert was disappointing, but the rest of the meal is fine.” The meal is treated as one remaining experience or whole.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence: is or are.
- The rest of the furniture ___ in good condition.
- The rest of the chairs ___ ready for the event.
- One page is missing, but the rest of the report ___ fine.
- Three boxes were damaged, but the rest ___ fine.
- The rest of the information ___ available online.
Answer Key
- is — Furniture is an uncountable noun.
- are — Chairs is a plural countable noun.
- is — Report is a singular noun.
- are — The omitted noun refers to multiple boxes or items.
- is — Information is uncountable.
Is Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Remains | Continues to be in a particular condition or state. |
| Seems | Appears to have a particular quality or condition. |
| Exists | Is present or real. |
| Stays | Continues in the same condition or place. |
Are Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Remain | Continue to be in a particular condition or state. |
| Seem | Appear to have a particular quality or condition. |
| Exist | Be present or real in the plural context. |
| Stay | Continue in the same condition or place when the subject is plural. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “the rest is fine” grammatically correct?
Yes. Use “the rest is fine” when the remainder refers to one thing, one overall quantity, or an uncountable noun, such as “the rest of the food is fine.”
Question 2: Is “the rest are fine” grammatically correct?
Yes. Use “the rest are fine” when the remainder refers to multiple people or separate countable items, such as “the rest of the books are fine.”
Question 3: Should I say “the rest of it is fine” or “the rest of them are fine”?
Use “the rest of it is fine” for one thing or an uncountable amount. Use “the rest of them are fine” for multiple people or items. The pronoun provides a useful clue about the correct verb.
Conclusion
Both “the rest is fine” and “the rest are fine” are correct. Choose is for a singular or uncountable remainder, and choose are for multiple countable items or people. Pro Tip: In professional writing, identify the noun implied by “the rest” before selecting the verb; accurate subject–verb agreement strengthens your clarity and credibility.
