Is vs. Are: Subject-Verb Agreement Rules and Examples

Quick Summary:

Use “is” with singular subjects, non-countable nouns, and third-person singular pronouns (he, she, it). Use “are” with plural subjects, collective groups acting as individuals, and second/third-person plural pronouns (you, we, they). The choice between “is” and “are” depends entirely on the grammatical subject of your sentence.

Introduction: Understanding the Verb “To Be”

In English grammar, few words are used as frequently as “is” and “are.” Both words are present-tense forms of the primary auxiliary verb to be.

The verb to be is essential because it serves two distinct purposes:

1. Main Verb: Standing independently to describe a state of being, identity, or quality (e.g., “He is a teacher”).

2. Auxiliary (Helping) Verb: Working alongside a present participle (-ing verb) to form continuous tenses (e.g., “They are studying for the exam”).

Despite their daily use, choosing between “is” and “are” can present challenges, especially when dealing with complex subjects, collective nouns, or words like data, all, and everyone.

Understanding how subject-verb agreement works ensures that your spoken and written English remains clear, accurate, and natural. This comprehensive guide breaks down the core rules, tricky exceptions, and real-world examples.

The Core Rule: Singular vs. Plural Subjects

The choice between “is” and “are” comes down to a fundamental grammatical principle: subject-verb agreement.

The subject of a sentence is the noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that performs the action or exists in a state of being.

• Singular Subjects: Refer to one person, place, object, or concept $\rightarrow$ Use IS.

• Plural Subjects: Refer to two or more people, places, objects, or concepts $\rightarrow$ Use ARE.

Subject-Verb Alignment Blueprint:

  SINGULAR SUBJECT  (He / She / It / Cat)    --->  IS   (e.g., "The cat IS sleeping")
  PLURAL SUBJECT    (You / We / They / Cats)  --->  ARE  (e.g., "The cats ARE sleeping")

Pairing “Is” and “Are” with Subject Pronouns

6 Tricky Grammar Cases: “Is” vs. “Are”

While basic subject-verb agreement is straightforward, certain nouns and sentence structures require special attention.

1. Is “Data” Singular or Plural?

Historically, data is the plural form of the Latin noun datum. Under strict traditional rules, “data” is plural:

• Formal / Academic: “The data are clear.” / “The research data show a positive trend.”

However, in modern everyday English, technology, and general journalism, “data” is frequently treated as an uncountable mass noun (similar to words like information or furniture). Therefore, using a singular verb is widely accepted in non-academic settings:

• Modern / Informal: “The data is clear.” / “The data shows a positive trend.”

Recommendation: In academic papers and scientific journals, use “data are.” In casual conversation, technology, and business communications, “data is” is standard.

2. “Are” vs. “Our”: Homophones Explained

English language learners sometimes confuse are and our because they can sound identical in fast conversational speech. However, they perform entirely different grammatical roles:

• Are (Verb): A present-tense form of to be (e.g., “We are driving to work”).

• Our (Possessive Pronoun): Indicates ownership belonging to us (e.g., “The teacher told us to open our books”).

3. Is “All” Singular or Plural?

The word all is context-dependent. It can take either a singular or plural verb depending on the noun it modifies or represents.

• When “All” Represents a Singular Concept or Uncountable Mass $\rightarrow$ Use IS:

  • “All is well.” (All acts as a singular pronoun meaning everything).

  • “All the milk is on the counter.” (Milk is an uncountable noun).

• When “All” Refers to Countable Plural Items $\rightarrow$ Use ARE:

  • “All of the houses are painted white.” (Houses is a plural noun).

  • “All the students are present today.” (Students is a plural noun).

4. Singular Indefinite Pronouns (“Everyone”, “Somebody”)

Indefinite pronouns ending in -body or -one (everyone, somebody, nobody, anyone, localized items) may feel plural because they refer to groups of people. However, grammatically, they are always singular.

• Correct: “Everyone is ready to leave.” (Incorrect: “Everyone are ready…”)

• Correct: “Somebody is standing at the door.”

• Correct: “Neither of the two choices is ideal.”

5. “Either/Or” and “Neither/Nor” Rules

When subjects are connected by either…or or neither…nor, the verb must agree with the subject closest to the verb.

• Singular Subject Closest: “Either my brothers or my father is coming.” (Father is singular).

• Plural Subject Closest: “Either my father or my brothers are coming.” (Brothers is plural).

6. Non-Countable Nouns vs. Collective Nouns

• Non-Countable Nouns (Always Singular): Abstract ideas or substances that cannot be counted individually take is (e.g., water, milk, advice, sleep, information).

  • “Sleep is essential for a baby’s growth.”

• Collective Nouns (Unified Group vs. Individual Members): Nouns representing a group (team, family, committee) take is when acting as a single unit, but take are when referring to individual members.

  • Unified Unit: “The team is aiming to break the record.”

  • Individual Members: “The members of the team are arriving separately.”

“There Is” vs. “There Are”: How to Choose

When starting a sentence with the dummy subject there, look at the noun that comes after the verb to determine whether to use “is” or “are.”

• “There is” + Singular / Uncountable Noun:

  • “There is a man in the waiting room.”

  • “There is water on the floor.”

• “There are” + Plural Noun:

  • “There are men in the waiting room.”

  • “There are several options available.”

Summary Comparison Table

Practice Exercise: Test Your Knowledge

Choose the correct verb to complete each sentence:

1. Neither of the candidates ________ qualified for the position.

   a) is

   b) are

   c) be

2. There ________ three new messages in your inbox.

   a) is

   b) are

   c) am

3. All of the equipment ________ stored safely in the warehouse.

   a) is

   b) are

   c) were

(Answers: 1 = a, 2 = b, 3 = a)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is “data is” or “data are” correct?

Both are correct depending on context. In academic, scientific, and formal research writing, “data” is treated as plural (“the data show”). In everyday business, technology, and casual speech, “data” is treated as an uncountable singular noun (“the data shows”).

Why do we say “you are” when talking to just one person?

In English grammar, the pronoun you always takes the plural verb form are, regardless of whether it refers to a single individual or a group of people (e.g., “You are my best friend”).

When should I use “there is” vs. “there are”?

Use “there is” before singular nouns or uncountable mass nouns (e.g., “There is a book on the table”). Use “there are” before plural nouns (e.g., “There are books on the table”).

Master English Subject-Verb Agreement

Mastering subject-verb agreement with “is vs. are” builds a strong foundation for clear, authoritative writing and natural spoken English.

To keep expanding your understanding of prepositions, verb tenses, and sentence structure, explore our full library of guides on the English Forward Grammar Hub.

Have a question about a complex sentence structure? Ask our global teacher community in the English Forward Language Community Forum to receive direct guidance from certified ESL teachers and native speakers!

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