When to Use Is or Are: Examples, Sentences, and Worksheets

Use is with a singular subject and are with a plural subject, except that you always takes are. The correct choice depends on the grammatical subject, not the nearest noun: “The box of pencils is open,” but “The pencils are sharp.” The worksheets below apply these rules to ordinary and difficult sentences.

Key Facts

Is is the present-tense be form for singular subjects such as she, the dog, and mathematics.

Are is used with plural subjects, with you, and with we and they.

A phrase between the subject and verb does not change subject-verb agreement.

Everyone, each, either, and neither are singular and therefore take is.

In there is and there are sentences, the following noun determines the verb.

A gerund phrase used as the subject, such as Swimming every day, takes is.

What Do Is and Are Mean?

Is and are are present-tense forms of the linking verb be. Linking verbs connect a subject with a description, identity, location, condition, or noun complement: “The soup is hot,” “The students are ready,” and “Maria is a doctor.”

The verb changes according to number, meaning whether the subject represents one entity or more than one. English also gives are a special role with you, whether you addresses one person or several people.

Subject type	Correct form	Example sentence
Singular noun	is	The window is open.
Singular pronoun	is	She is prepared.
Plural noun	are	The windows are open.
Plural pronoun	are	They are prepared.
Second-person pronoun	are	You are prepared.

In present progressive verbs, the same agreement rule applies before the -ing form: “The child is sleeping,” but “The children are sleeping.” The choice remains is or are, even when the main meaning comes from sleeping, working, or waiting.

When Should You Use Is?

Use is when the subject is singular. Singular subjects include one person, one object, one place, one idea, and singular pronouns such as he, she, and it.

Singular subject	Sentence with is	Meaning
The teacher	The teacher is absent.	One teacher is absent.
My bicycle	My bicycle is damaged.	One bicycle is damaged.
He	He is early.	One male person is early.
The weather	The weather is cold.	One condition is cold.
Reading before bed	Reading before bed is relaxing.	One activity is relaxing.

A noun ending in -s can still be singular. For example, news, physics, mathematics, and measles usually name one subject, field, body of information, or disease: “The news is encouraging,” and “Physics is difficult for some beginners.”

Singular pronouns that take is

The pronouns he, she, and it take is in the present tense. The same applies to indefinite pronouns such as everyone, someone, anybody, nobody, each, either, and neither.

• Everyone is welcome.
• Someone is waiting outside.
• Each of the answers is correct.
• Neither option is affordable.
• The machine is making a strange sound.

The phrase after each of does not control the verb. In “Each of the players is wearing a badge,” each is the subject, while players is the object of the preposition of.

When Should You Use Are?

Use are with plural subjects, including plural nouns and the pronouns we, they, and you. A plural subject represents two or more people, objects, places, or ideas.

Plural subject	Sentence with are	Meaning
The teachers	The teachers are meeting.	More than one teacher is meeting.
My shoes	My shoes are wet.	Two or more shoes are wet.
We	We are ready.	The speaker and others are ready.
They	They are outside.	Several people or things are outside.
You	You are correct.	One or more people are addressed.

Some plurals are irregular and do not end in -s. These include children, people, men, women, teeth, feet, mice, and geese:

• The children are in the library.
• The people are waiting for assistance.
• Her teeth are sensitive.
• The geese are flying south.

Why does you always use are?

You always takes are in standard modern English. The rule applies to one listener and to a group.

• Jordan, you are invited.
• Students, you are invited.
• You are my closest colleague.
• You are my closest colleagues.

This pattern is different from many other pronouns, but it is not optional in standard English. “You is late” is incorrect.

How Do You Choose Between Is and Are?

Choose between is and are by identifying the subject, deciding whether it is singular or plural, and matching the verb. This three-step process works even when a sentence contains long descriptions, prepositional phrases, or several nouns.

1. Find the subject. Ask who or what the sentence describes.
2. Remove interrupting phrases. Temporarily ignore phrases beginning with of, with, along with, as well as, or in.
3. Count the subject. One subject takes is; more than one takes are, while you always takes are.
4. Read the complete sentence. Restore the removed phrase and check the meaning.

Example: “The basket of apples is heavy.” The subject is basket, not apples. Because one basket is heavy, is is correct.

Example: “The apples in the basket are fresh.” The subject is apples. Because several apples are fresh, are is correct.

Is or are: a quick comparison

Sentence pattern	Correct form	Example
One noun + description	is	The report is complete.
Several nouns + description	are	The reports are complete.
One noun with of phrase	is	The stack of papers is tall.
Plural noun with of phrase	are	The papers on the desk are important.
You + description	are	You are responsible.

What Happens With Compound Subjects?

Two subjects joined by and usually take are because they form a plural subject. “The nurse and the doctor are available” describes two people.

• The cup and saucer are on the shelf.
• My brother and sister are visiting.
• Pat and Lee are working late.

Subjects joined by or or nor generally follow the proximity rule: the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. This is especially important when one subject is singular and the other is plural.

Construction	Correct sentence	Reason
Either…or, singular nearest	Either the assistants or the manager is calling.	Manager is closest.
Either…or, plural nearest	Either the manager or the assistants are calling.	Assistants is closest.
Neither…nor, singular nearest	Neither the players nor the coach is ready.	Coach is closest.
Neither…nor, plural nearest	Neither the coach nor the players are ready.	Players is closest.

For polished formal writing, rewrite an awkward mixed construction when possible: “The manager or the assistants are responsible” is clearer as “The manager is responsible, or the assistants are responsible.”

How Do There Is and There Are Work?

Use there is before a singular noun and there are before a plural noun. In these existential sentences, there introduces the statement, while the noun that follows identifies what exists.

• There is a problem with the printer.
• There are two problems with the printer.
• There is one envelope on the desk.
• There are several envelopes on the desk.

When a compound noun follows the verb, formal agreement can become difficult. The first noun often controls the immediately expected form, but formal editing should make the number clear.

• There is a notebook and two pens on the desk.
• There are two pens and a notebook on the desk.

The second version is often preferable because the plural subject appears first. In conversation, “There’s two reasons” is common, but formal writing normally uses “There are two reasons.”

Are Collective Nouns Singular or Plural?

Collective nouns can take is or are, depending on dialect and meaning. American English generally treats a group acting as one unit as singular, while British English more readily uses a plural verb when members act individually.

Collective noun	Unified action	Individual action
Team	The team is practicing.	The team are arguing among themselves.
Family	My family is large.	My family are choosing separate meals.
Committee	The committee is voting.	The committee are divided in their opinions.
Staff	The staff is attending training.	The staff are sending separate reports.

For American audiences, use is when the group performs one coordinated action: “The committee is reviewing the proposal.” Use a plural noun such as members when you mean individuals: “The committee members are reviewing separate proposals.”

The choice is not merely a matter of grammar. The verb can change the intended viewpoint from one organized unit to several people.

Which Indefinite Pronouns Take Is or Are?

Indefinite pronouns divide into singular, plural, and variable groups. The singular group takes is, the plural group takes are, and variable pronouns depend on the noun that follows.

Pronoun category	Pronouns	Example
Always singular	everyone, someone, nobody, each	Everyone is ready.
Always plural	both, few, many, several	Several are missing.
Depends on noun	all, some, most, none, more	Some water is left.
Depends on noun	all, some, most, none, more	Some bottles are empty.

“Everyone is required to register” is correct because everyone is grammatically singular, even though it refers to many people. “Both are correct” is plural because both refers to two entities.

With variable pronouns, identify the noun after of: “Most of the cake is gone,” but “Most of the cookies are gone.” Cake is an uncountable singular mass noun, while cookies is plural.

What Are the Most Common Is and Are Errors?

The most frequent errors occur when writers match the verb to a nearby noun instead of the true subject. The correction method is to locate the head noun, ignore modifiers briefly, and then restore the complete phrase.

Incorrect sentence	Correct sentence	Subject
The box of chocolates are open.	The box of chocolates is open.	box
The list of names are long.	The list of names is long.	list
Running every morning are healthy.	Running every morning is healthy.	running
The news are surprising.	The news is surprising.	news
Each of the plans are detailed.	Each of the plans is detailed.	each

A gerund phrase beginning with an -ing form usually acts as one singular activity: “Cooking for friends is enjoyable.” The phrase may contain plural nouns, but the activity itself is one grammatical subject.

A title, disease name, academic discipline, or organization name can also be singular despite its appearance: “The United States is a federal republic,” “Economics is a social science,” and “The Netherlands is in Europe.”

How Do Is and Are Work in Questions and Negatives?

Questions keep subject-verb agreement but place is or are before the subject. Negative statements add not after the verb.

Sentence type	Singular	Plural or you
Statement	The door is locked.	The doors are locked.
Question	Is the door locked?	Are the doors locked?
Negative	The door is not locked.	The doors are not locked.
Contraction	The door isn’t locked.	The doors aren’t locked.

Examples include:

• Is your sister at home?
• Are your parents at home?
• Why is the machine noisy?
• Why are the machines noisy?
• You are not late.
• The instructions aren’t clear.

Do not use is with a plural subject merely because the sentence is a question. “Are the students ready?” remains plural because students is the subject.

Do Measurements and Titles Take Is or Are?

Amounts can take is when the measurement is viewed as one total, even if the noun contains a plural unit. Use are when separate items are the subject.

• Ten dollars is enough for lunch.
• Five miles is a long walk for a beginner.
• Ten dollars are scattered across the floor.
• Five miles are marked on separate signs.

Titles of books, films, songs, and organizations generally take is because each title names one work or entity:

• The Chronicles of Narnia is a popular series title.
• The Beatles are influential musicians, but the band is famous worldwide.
• “The United States” is singular as a country name.

Meaning determines the verb. Writers should ask whether the sentence describes one total, one title, or several separate objects.

Is or Are Worksheet 1: Basic Practice

Directions: Write is or are in each blank.

1. She ______ reading a fascinating novel.
2. The children ______ playing in the backyard.
3. You ______ the best friend I have ever had.
4. The heavy table ______ difficult to move.
5. They ______ going to the grocery store.
6. My new shoes ______ uncomfortable.
7. Everyone ______ invited to the meeting.
8. The news ______ available online.
9. We ______ ready to begin.
10. The dog and cat ______ sleeping.

Worksheet 1 answer key

1. is, because she is singular.
2. are, because children is an irregular plural.
3. are, because you always takes are.
4. is, because table is singular.
5. are, because they is plural.
6. are, because shoes is plural.
7. is, because everyone is grammatically singular.
8. is, because news is singular.
9. are, because we is plural.
10. are, because dog and cat form a compound plural subject.

Is or Are Worksheet 2: Advanced Practice

Directions: Choose the correct verb in parentheses.

1. The flock of wild geese (is / are) flying south.
2. Either the manager or the assistants (is / are) responsible.
3. Every one of the laptops (is / are) updated.
4. There (is / are) a list of instructions and two pens.
5. Eating fresh vegetables daily (is / are) beneficial.
6. Some of the soup (is / are) still warm.
7. Some of the bowls (is / are) still warm.
8. The committee (is / are) voting as one unit.
9. Neither the players nor the coach (is / are) available.
10. The mathematics of the problem (is / are) difficult.

Worksheet 2 answer key

1. is, because flock is the singular subject. Of wild geese is a modifying phrase.
2. are, because assistants is the closest subject.
3. is, because every one is singular.
4. is, in the formal version, because a list is the first singular subject. For maximum clarity, write “There are two pens and a list.”
5. is, because the gerund phrase eating fresh vegetables daily names one activity.
6. is, because soup is an uncountable singular noun.
7. are, because bowls is plural.
8. is, because the committee acts as one unit.
9. is, because coach is the nearest subject.
10. is, because mathematics is a singular academic field.

How Can You Practice Is and Are Efficiently?

Practice produces faster improvement when exercises move from obvious subjects to misleading sentence structures. A typical 10-minute session can include five basic items, five sentences with interrupting phrases, and five corrections explained aloud.

Use this four-stage routine:

1. Mark the subject. Underline box, not chocolates, in “The box of chocolates is open.”
2. Label number. Write S for singular or P for plural.
3. Insert the verb. Apply is for S and are for P, except that you takes are.
4. Explain the choice. A short explanation exposes guesses that happen to be correct.

Teachers can assign Worksheet 1 to early learners and Worksheet 2 after students understand prepositional phrases and indefinite pronouns. For English-language learners, contrast pairs are effective: “The child is ready” beside “The children are ready.” Irregular plurals deserve separate practice because children and people cannot be recognized through an ending alone.

A useful limitation matters here: worksheets cannot resolve every dialect or style decision. Collective nouns, coordinated existential phrases, and measurement expressions may vary by regional English, so advanced learners should follow the style guide used by their school, employer, or publication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is “there is” or “there are” correct before a list?

Use the form that agrees with the noun being introduced, but rewrite unclear sentences when a list contains mixed numbers. “There is a list of instructions” is correct because list is singular. “There are two pens and a list” is clearer when the plural noun comes first.

Should “each of” use is or are?

Use is after each of because each is singular. The noun after of does not control agreement: “Each of the employees is trained,” not “Each of the employees are trained.”

Is “the family is” always correct?

“The family is” is standard in American English when the family acts as one unit. British English may use “the family are” when members act separately. Writers should choose according to dialect, intended meaning, and the publication’s style guide.

Why is “news is” correct when news ends in s?

News is a singular, uncountable noun meaning reported information. The correct form is “The news is encouraging.” The plural idea is expressed through a different noun, such as “The reports are encouraging.”

Can a sentence use “is” and “are” together?

Yes. A sentence may contain multiple clauses or subjects with different numbers: “The problem is serious, but the solutions are practical.” Each verb agrees with its own subject.

What is the fastest way to check is versus are?

Find the subject, ignore phrases beginning with of or with, and decide whether the subject is one or more than one. Use is for singular subjects, are for plural subjects, and are with you. This method catches most agreement errors in seconds.

The Bottom Line

When to use is or are depends on subject-verb agreement: is matches a singular subject, while are matches a plural subject and the pronoun you. Identify the true subject before choosing the verb, then apply the same rule to compound subjects, indefinite pronouns, gerunds, collective nouns, and there is/there are constructions. Use the examples and worksheets to turn the rule into reliable sentence-writing practice.