“Is” vs. “Are” – Understanding the Difference in English Grammar

English can feel confusing, especially when deciding between “Is” vs. “Are.” These two small words hold big meaning and can change a sentence completely. Many learners make mistakes when matching subjects and verbs, leading to incorrect grammar. Even one wrong use of “is” or “are” can affect clarity. Understanding how they connect with singular and plural subjects helps bring accuracy to your writing and speaking skills.

If you’ve ever felt confused about when to use “Is” or “Are,” don’t stress – it’s a common issue for both learners and native speakers. The trick lies in making your subject and verb agree properly. Once you practice and pay attention to sentence structure, your understanding of English grammar will improve. Over time, you’ll feel more confident using “Is” and “Are” naturally and correctly in every context.

Introduction: Why is vs are Confuses So Many Learners

You’ve likely asked yourself: “Should I say ‘The team is…’ or ‘The team are…’?” Small verbs like is and are carry more weight than they look at first glance. They play a key role in making your message clear and correct. Many learners-and even native speakers-stumble over them because the rules seem simple but hide tricky exceptions. In this article you’ll get a deep, practical, and example-rich guide to mastering the difference between is vs are. You’ll understand why we use one instead of the other, when things get fuzzy, and how to avoid common mistakes that trip up even seasoned writers.

The Verb “To Be”: Foundation of English Grammar

The verbs is and are are just two forms of the fundamental verb to be. Before exploring is vs are, it’s worth looking at how the verb behaves and why it matters.

What “to be” does

• It links a subject to a state, identity, condition, or existence.
• It appears in forms like: am, is, are, was, were, being, been.
• In present tense, is = singular third-person; are = plural (and second-person) third-person.

How “is” and “are” fit

Form	Subject type	Example
is	Singular third person / singular subject	She is ready.
are	Plural subject / second-person singular	They are ready. / You are ready.

Notice: The correct choice hinges on the subject (who/what is doing or being something), not on words in a phrase that come after.

Why this matters

Getting is vs are right shows you understand subject-verb agreement (a core grammar skill). It raises your writing’s credibility, boosts clarity, and helps you sound confident-from casual chat to professional emails.

Subject-Verb Agreement Simplified

Subject-verb agreement is the rule that a subject and its verb must match in number (singular vs plural). With is vs are, this is the essential guideline:

• If the subject is singular → use is.
• If the subject is plural → use are.

Key considerations

• Identify the actual subject. Words between the subject and verb can mislead you. Example: The keys to the car are on the table. Here the subject is keys (plural) despite the intervening phrase “to the car.”
• Compound subjects (two or more subjects joined by and) normally take plural verbs → use are. Example: Tom and Jane are here.
• Phrases like “as well as,” “along with,” “together with” do not change the number of the subject. Example: The teacher, along with her students, is excited. (Teacher = singular subject)

Table of special rules

Situation	Use “is”	Use “are”	Note
Single subject	✔	✘	The dog is barking.
Two subjects with “and”	✘	✔	The dog and cat are playing.
Subject + “as well as” phrase	✔	✘	The CEO, as well as the managers, is attending.
Indefinite pronouns (each, everyone)	✔	✘	Everyone is invited.
Compound subject with “or/nor”	✔ or ✔ depending on closest subject	✘ or ✔	Either the manager or the assistants are ready.

When to Use “Is” – The Singular Form

You’ll choose is when the subject is singular, or when you treat something as a single entity. Let’s break that down.

Identifying singular subjects

Use is when the subject is:

• A singular noun (dog, car, idea) → The car is fast.
• A singular pronoun (he, she, it, this, that) → She is ready.
• A mass noun / uncountable noun (water, information) even though it looks plural → The information is reliable.

Examples of “is” usage

• This book is mine.
• He is the manager of the project.
• The water in the glass is cold.
• Each student is assigned a topic. (Each = singular)

Tips for spotting when to use “is”

• Ask: What is doing or being something? If it’s one person/thing → “is”.
• If you see words like each, every, one, someone → they usually signal singular → use is.
• With mass nouns (research, equipment, information) → treat as singular.

When to Use “Are” – The Plural Form

Use are when your subject is clearly plural, or when you address second-person (“you”), or you treat multiple items as separate.

Identifying plural subjects

Use are when the subject is:

• A plural noun (dogs, cars, ideas) → The dogs are barking.
• A pronoun for plural (they, we, those) → They are ready.
• Multiple subjects joined by “and” → The manager and the assistant are available.

Examples of “are” usage

• The keys are on the table.
• We are going to the meeting.
• Those ideas are interesting.
• The students are excited about the trip.

When things get trickier

• When subject appears after verb (especially in sentences starting “There is/are”) → you must match the true subject. Example: There are many options. Because “options” is plural.
• When referencing quantifiers like few, many, several → likely plural → use are.

The Confusing Middle Ground: Collective and Indefinite Nouns

Here we meet the tricky territory. Some nouns look singular but may behave as plural (or vice versa). Understanding this nuance is key to mastering is vs are.

Collective nouns

Words like team, family, group, committee, staff describe a collection of individuals.

• In American English, these are often treated as singular → use is. Example: The team is winning.
• In British English, they may be treated as plural → use are. Example: The team are arguing among themselves.

Tip: Ask whether you are speaking of the group as a single unit (singular) or as individual members (plural). Then choose accordingly.

Indefinite pronouns & tricky cases

• Words like each, every, one, no one, someone, anyone are singular → use is. Example: Everyone is invited.
• Words like many, few, several, both, others are plural → use are.
• Sometimes phrases like a number of… vs the number of… → “a number of” takes are, “the number of” takes is.

Notional vs grammatical agreement

Sometimes, you can treat a plural-looking subject as singular based on meaning (notional agreement). For example:

“Peanut butter and jelly is delicious.” (treated as one food item) “Peanut butter and jelly are very different foods.” (treated as separate items)

Quick reference guide

• Collective noun as one unit → is.
• Collective noun as individual parts → are.
• Indefinite pronoun each/every/one → is.
• Indefinite pronoun many/few/both → are.
• Compound subject joined by “and” → are.

Using “Is” and “Are” in Questions

Questions using is and are require you to invert the usual subject–verb order in many cases. This is known as subject-auxiliary inversion.

How inversion works

• Statement: He is ready.
• Question: Is he ready?
• Statement: They are coming.
• Question: Are they coming?

Tips & common errors

• Make sure the verb matches the subject, even when it’s inverted. Example: Are the keys on the table? (keys = plural → are)
• When starting with there is/are, identify the true subject that comes after. Example: Are there any questions? (questions = plural → are)
• Avoid confusion like: “Is the shoes on sale?” → should be “Are the shoes on sale?” because the subject “shoes” is plural.

Negative questions too

• Isn’t he coming?
• Aren’t they ready yet? Be sure to use isn’t (is not) vs aren’t (are not) accordingly.

Using “Is” and “Are” in Negative Statements

Negatives follow the same agreement rules, but you’ll often see contractions. Keep in mind the subject-verb agreement still holds.

Structure of negatives

• Singular subject → is not / isn’t. Example: She isn’t here.
• Plural subject / “you” → are not / aren’t. Example: They aren’t ready.

Contractions and formality

Form	Use case	Example
is not / are not	Formal writing	The device is not functioning properly.
isn’t / aren’t	Conversational tone	The kids aren’t here yet.

Common traps

• Failing to identify the true subject (especially in “there is/are” sentences). Example: There isn’t many students. ❌ Should be There aren’t many students.
• Treating the subject incorrectly when it’s a compound or collective noun. Example: The team aren’t ready. (If team is singular as a unit in American usage → should be isn’t.)

Grammar Tips to Master “Is” and “Are”

Here are practical tricks and tools to help you confidently pick is or are every time.

Memory tricks & mnemonics

• Singular = Is → “One thing is happening.”
• Plural = Are → “Multiple things are happening.”
• Use the phrase: “If you can replace with he/she/it → use is. If you can replace with they → use are.”

A simple flowchart

1. Identify the subject. 2. Is it singular or plural? • Singular → use is. • Plural → use are. 3. Did a tricky phrase intervene (as well as / together with)? • Still follow number of the subject. 4. Collective noun? Decide if you treat it as a unit (is) or individuals (are). 5. In a question? Invert verb and subject, but match number. 6. In a negative? Same subject-verb number rules apply.

Everyday examples from real life

• Email subject line: “Your order is confirmed.” (singular order)
• Social media post: “Your questions are important to us.” (plural questions)
• Sports commentary (US style): “The team is on fire!”
• British newspaper headline: “The team are celebrating victory.”

Key takeaways

• Always find the true subject.
• Don’t let intervening words mislead you.
• Think is = singular, are = plural.
• Watch for collective nouns-meaning matters.
• Practice by scanning your writing: Does verb match subject number?

Common Mistakes Learners Make

Even after knowing the rules, some pitfalls keep popping up. Let’s look at real-world problems and how to avoid them.

Mistake: Mixing singular and plural incorrectly

• ❌ The cars is fast. → subject “cars” is plural → should be are.
• ✅ The cars are fast.

Mistake: Misidentifying the subject because of modifiers

• ❌ The key to the cabinets are missing. (Some think “cabinets” is subject)
• ✅ The key to the cabinets is missing. (Actually “key” is subject)

Mistake: Treating compound subjects wrongly

• ❌ Tom and Jerry is here.
• ✅ Tom and Jerry are here.

Mistake: Misusing collective nouns

• ❌ The committee are divided among themselves. (American style would favour singular)
• ✅ The committee is divided over the issue. (If you treat committee as one unit)

Mistake: Over-correcting or implementing rules mechanically

From Reddit discussion:

“Some people say Three years of full-time work experience is required. Others say are required.” Here the subject is a measure phrase, and both forms may be accepted depending on meaning (singular time period vs plural years).

How to avoid these mistakes

• Slow down and identify the subject.
• Remove prepositional phrases (“of the …”, “to the …”) and test again.
• Ask yourself: Is this one thing, or many things?
• If unsure, rephrase the sentence to avoid the ambiguity.
• Practice with real sentences: Speak them, write them, ask someone to check.

Regional Nuances: American vs. British Grammar

Grammar isn’t always absolute-regional differences affect how is vs are are used, especially with collective nouns.

Region	Collective noun treatment	Example
American English	Treats collective nouns as singular (often)	The staff is meeting today.
British English	Often treats them as plural	The staff are meeting today.

What this means for you

• If writing for an American audience (business, US-school, US-media) → safer to use singular for collective nouns treated as units.
• If writing for a British audience → plural may seem natural.
• In academic or professional writing, check your style guide: many prefer consistency, e.g., “the company is”.
• When in doubt, rephrase to avoid the collective noun ambiguity. Example: “The team members are celebrating.” (clear plural)

Practice Section: Test What You’ve Learned

Let’s put your skills to the test. Fill in the blanks with is or are. Then check the answers and the explanations.

1. The list of items ___ on the table.
2. My family ___ going on vacation next week.
3. Both the manager and her assistant ___ present at the meeting.
4. Everyone in the class ___ excited about the project.
5. A number of students ___ asking for extra help.
6. The committee ___ divided in its opinion.
7. There ___ several options remaining.
8. The equipment ___ outdated and in need of replacement.
9. Neither the teacher nor the students ___ aware of the change.
10. The peanut butter and jelly ___ delicious together.

Answer Key & Explanations

#	Answer	Why
1	is	Subject = “list” (singular) despite “of items”.
2	is	“Family” treated as one unit (American style).
3	are	Compound subjects joined by “and”.
4	is	“Everyone” = singular indefinite pronoun.
5	are	“A number of students” → students (plural).
6	is/are	Depends on style: American → is; British → are.
7	are	Subject = “options” (plural).
8	is	“Equipment” = mass noun (singular).
9	are	Nearest subject = “students” (plural) in “neither … nor”.
10	is	Treated as one food item (“peanut butter and jelly”).

Speak and Write with Confidence

Now you’ve walked through the full terrain of is vs are: from the core rule (singular → is, plural → are) to the complex terrain of collective nouns, questions, negatives, regional differences, and tricky exceptions. By practicing the steps outlined, you’ll catch yourself thinking about the subject, not just reflexively choosing a verb.

Key reminders

• Always find the true subject.
• Don’t be misled by intervening phrases.
• Compound subjects → plural.
• Collective nouns → decide unit vs individuals.
• Questions/inversion → match subject number.
• Negatives → same agreement rules apply.
• Style matters: know your audience (US vs UK).

When you do this, your writing will sound natural, accurate, and confident. You’ll avoid common traps and make your English clearer-whether you’re drafting an email, writing a blog post, or simply chatting with friends. Keep practising, and you’ll move from “Is it…?” to “I am sure!” with ease.

Conclusion

Understanding when to use “is” and “are” is more than a grammar rule-it’s the foundation of clear and confident communication. These verbs, both forms of “to be,” connect subjects and predicates, showing number agreement and ensuring sentences make sense. By now, you’ve seen how subject-verb agreement, plurality, and context determine which form to use. While “is” fits singular subjects, “are” suits plural subjects, but exceptions-like collective nouns or uncountable terms-require closer attention.

Real mastery comes through practice. When writing or speaking, take a moment to identify your subject. If it represents one entity, use “is.” If it represents more than one, use “are.” Grammar tools and reading well-edited content can reinforce these rules naturally. Understanding exceptions-like phrases involving team, family, or audience-will make your usage sound native and accurate.

Ultimately, grammar is not just about correctness-it’s about clarity and confidence. The difference between “is” and “are” helps you express thoughts precisely, whether in formal writing, academic contexts, or daily conversations. Keep refining your understanding through examples, practice sentences, and real-world observation. With consistent use, these forms of “to be” will become second nature, making your English not only correct but also polished and professional.

FAQs

What’s the main rule for using “is” and “are”?

Use “is” with singular subjects (e.g., “She is happy”) and “are” with plural subjects (e.g., “They are happy”). The choice depends on whether the subject represents one or more entities. Remember: he, she, it = is, while you, we, they = are.

Can “are” ever be used with singular nouns?

Rarely, but yes-in questions or subjunctive mood, you may see it. For instance, “Are you the one?” uses “are” with “you,” though “you” refers to one person. This happens because “you” always takes “are,” regardless of number.

How do collective nouns affect “is” and “are”?

Collective nouns (like team, group, audience) can take “is” or “are” depending on emphasis. Use “is” when the group acts as a single unit (“The team is winning”) and “are” when focusing on individual members (“The team are wearing new uniforms”).

Are “is” and “are” used differently in British and American English?

Yes, slightly. British English often uses “are” with collective nouns (“The government are planning…”), while American English prefers “is” (“The government is planning…”). Both are correct within their dialectical conventions.

What are common mistakes to avoid with “is” and “are”?

Avoid mismatched subject-verb agreement-for example, saying “They is” or “He are.” Also, ensure compound subjects (“Tom and Sarah”) take “are,” not “is.” Checking the main subject before choosing the verb helps eliminate confusion.