Is vs. Are – Which is Correct?
“Is” and “are” are both correct forms of the verb “be.” Use “is” with singular subjects, such as “She is ready,” and “are” with plural subjects and the pronouns you and they, such as “They are ready.” The subject, not nearby words, determines which form belongs in a sentence every time.
Is or Are – Which is Correct?
Is and are are both correct. They are present-tense forms of the irregular verb be, but they agree with different subjects. Use is with singular nouns and the pronouns he, she, and it. Use are with plural nouns and the pronouns you, we, and they.
The word you always takes are, whether it refers to one person or several people. The subject—not a nearby noun or phrase—controls the choice.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the one-versus-more-than-one test. If the subject means one person, place, thing, or idea, choose is: “The dog is tired.” If the subject means more than one, choose are: “The dogs are tired.” Memorize the special pronoun group you, we, and they are.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| is | Verb | Present-tense form of be used with singular subjects | The classroom is quiet. |
| are | Verb | Present-tense form of be used with plural subjects and you | The classrooms are quiet. |
How to Use Is
Use is as the third-person singular present-tense form of be. It commonly connects a singular subject with a description, identity, location, condition, or noun complement. It is appropriate in casual, academic, business, and formal writing.
Use is with singular nouns and with he, she, and it. It can also form the present progressive, as in “She is working,” and the passive voice, as in “The report is completed.”
Example 1: The new library is near the station.
Example 2: Marcus is preparing for his examination.
Example 3: The final decision is approved by the committee.
What are the different forms of Is?
Is is one present-tense form of the irregular verb be. The other present forms are am and are. The past-tense forms are was and were, the past participle is been, and the present participle is being.
Common contractions include he’s, she’s, it’s, and that’s. Do not confuse it’s, meaning “it is” or “it has,” with its, the possessive form.
Etymology of the word Is
Is comes from Old English is, related to forms of the verb meaning “to be” in several ancient Germanic languages. It has retained its basic grammatical function for centuries and is related to forms such as Latin est and German ist.
How to Use Are
Use are with plural subjects and with the pronouns you, we, and they. It can describe identity, location, condition, or action, and it can help form progressive and passive constructions.
Although you can refer to one person, standard English still requires are: “You are responsible.” Use are after a compound subject joined by and when the subject refers to more than one person or thing.
Example 1: The students are ready for the lesson.
Example 2: You are welcome to attend the meeting.
Example 3: The documents are being reviewed by the legal team.
What are the different forms of Are?
Are is a present-tense form of the irregular verb be. It appears with plural subjects and with you, we, and they. Other forms of be include am, is, was, were, been, and being.
The common contraction are forms include you’re, we’re, and they’re. Remember that they’re means “they are,” while their shows possession and there refers to a place or introduces an existence statement.
Etymology of the word Are
Are developed from an Old English plural form of be and was influenced by related Scandinavian forms. English preserved several different present-tense forms of this ancient irregular verb rather than reducing them to one form.
Related Concepts
Understanding subject-verb agreement and the different functions of be makes the choice between is and are much easier.
- Subject-verb agreement: A verb must match its subject in number and person. A singular subject generally takes is, while a plural subject generally takes are.
- Linking verbs: Forms of be can link a subject to a description, identity, or location, as in “The sky is blue” and “The clouds are gray.”
- Compound subjects: Two subjects joined by and normally take are: “The manager and assistant are available.”
- There is and there are: Choose the form according to the noun that follows it: “There is a problem” but “There are several problems.”
- Collective nouns: A collective noun such as team is usually singular in American English when the group acts as one unit: “The team is winning.”
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples show how is and are appear in common media and literary contexts:
- News reporting: “The investigation is ongoing” uses is because investigation is singular.
- Film dialogue: A character might say, “You are not alone,” using are because the subject is you.
- Classic literature: Descriptions such as “The house is silent” use is with the singular subject house.
- Sports coverage: “The players are entering the field” uses are because players is plural.
- Documentary narration: “The forests are home to thousands of species” uses are with the plural subject forests.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- The weather ___ unusually warm today. (is/are)
- The children ___ playing in the garden. (is/are)
- You ___ responsible for submitting the form. (is/are)
- My brother and sister ___ visiting this weekend. (is/are)
- There ___ several reasons for the delay. (is/are)
Answer Key
- is — Weather is a singular, uncountable noun.
- are — Children is plural.
- are — The pronoun you always takes are.
- are — Two people joined by and form a plural subject.
- are — The noun following there is the plural noun reasons.
Is Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| exists | Has actual presence or reality |
| remains | Continues in a particular state or place |
| equals | Has the same value, meaning, or identity |
| seems | Appears to have a particular quality or condition |
Are Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| exist | Have actual presence or reality |
| remain | Continue in a particular state or place |
| equal | Have the same value, meaning, or identity |
| seem | Appear to have a particular quality or condition |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Should I use “is” or “are” with “you”?
Always use are with you, whether you are addressing one person or several people. For example: “You are invited.”
Question 2: Is it “there is” or “there are”?
Use there is before a singular noun and there are before a plural noun. Write “There is one answer” and “There are three answers.”
Question 3: Is it “the team is” or “the team are”?
In standard American English, use the team is when the team acts as one unit. Use the players are when referring to the individual members.
Question 4: Should “each” be followed by “is” or “are”?
Use is because each is grammatically singular: “Each of the employees is required to attend.”
Conclusion
Is and are are both correct forms of be. Choose is for singular subjects and are for plural subjects and the pronouns you, we, and they. Pro Tip: Correct subject-verb agreement strengthens your credibility and helps your professional writing appear polished and reliable.
