Is vs Are: Correct Usage of Singular and Plural Verbs

Are you confused about when to use “is” versus “are”? Do you find yourself second-guessing your grammar rules when it comes to singular and plural verbs? You’re not alone! Many English speakers struggle with subject-verb agreement, particularly when it comes to matching singular and plural subjects with their corresponding singular and plural verbs. In fact, according to a study by Grammarly, subject-verb disagreement is one of the most common grammatical errors in written English, affecting both native and non-native speakers alike. Fortunately, with a little bit of knowledge and practice, you can master the art of using “is” and “are” correctly. In this post, we’ll provide a comprehensive guide to understanding the difference between singular and plural verbs, common mistakes to avoid, and tips for choosing the right verb.

Understanding the Difference Between Is and Are

Singular Verbs with Singular Subjects

One of the fundamental rules of grammar is the subject-verb agreement, which means that a singular subject requires a singular verb and a plural subject requires a plural verb. In this section, we will focus on singular verbs with singular subjects and provide valuable insights into this essential aspect of English grammar.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement refers to the grammatical rule that states that the verb in a sentence must agree with its subject in number and person. For example, if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

Examples of Singular Verbs

Let’s look at some examples of sentences with singular subjects and their corresponding singular verbs:

The cat sleeps on the couch.
Mary plays the piano beautifully.
John eats sushi every Friday.

As you can see from these examples, the singular verbs (sleeps, plays, eats) match their respective singular subjects (cat, Mary, John).

Exceptions to the Rule

While subject-verb agreement is generally straightforward, there are some exceptions to the rule. One example is when the subject is an indefinite pronoun like ‘everyone’ or ‘nobody.’ In such cases, the verb used is always singular, irrespective of the number of the object of the preposition:

Everyone wants to be happy.
Nobody likes to be criticized.

Another exception is when the subject is a collective noun, referring to a group of individuals as a single entity. In such cases, the verb can be either singular or plural, depending on whether the group is seen as a single entity or as many individuals:

The team is playing well. (seen as a single entity)
The team are arguing among themselves. (seen as many individuals)

Conclusion

In conclusion, using singular verbs with singular subjects is a crucial aspect of subject-verb agreement in English grammar. It is essential to understand this rule to communicate effectively and avoid common grammatical errors. Remember to match your verb to the number and person of the subject, except in cases of indefinite pronouns or collective nouns.

Plural Verbs with Plural Subjects

When it comes to using plural verbs with plural subjects, subject-verb agreement is crucial for ensuring grammatical correctness. A plural subject refers to a noun, pronoun or noun phrase that represents more than one person, animal, thing, or concept. In such cases, the verb used in the sentence must also be in the plural form.

Examples of plural verbs include words such as ‘are’, ‘have’, ‘do’, and ‘were’. For instance, “The students are studying hard for their exams” or “The cats were playing in the garden”. In both sentences, the subjects (students and cats) are plural, and so the verb used (are and were) is also plural.

It’s important to note that many nouns that appear singular actually represent groups of people, animals, or things. These are known as collective nouns, and they can take either a singular or plural verb depending on the context of the sentence. For example, “The team is in the locker room” uses a singular verb since ‘team’ is considered a single entity. However, “The team are arguing about strategy” uses a plural verb since the focus is on the individual members of the team.

Plural subject-verb agreement is particularly important in longer sentences that contain multiple clauses. For instance, “My friends and I have been planning our vacation for months, and we are excited to finally go on our trip”. In this case, both the subject (friends and I) and the verb (have been planning) are in the plural form.

To ensure correct usage of plural verbs with plural subjects, keep these tips in mind:

Identify the subject(s) of the sentence and determine whether they’re singular or plural
Use plural verbs when the subject is plural
Pay attention to collective nouns, which may require a singular or plural verb depending on the context

By following these guidelines and practicing subject-verb agreement, you’ll be able to master the correct use of plural verbs with plural subjects.

Tricky Cases of Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement seems simple enough at first glance: singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. However, there are some tricky cases that can trip up even the most experienced writers.

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns refer to a group of people or things, but they are singular in form. Examples include “team,” “jury,” and “family.” When using a collective noun as the subject of a sentence, it is important to decide whether you want to emphasize the group acting as a single unit or the individuals within the group. Depending on your choice, you may need to use a singular or plural verb. Take a look at these examples:

The team is playing well this season. (emphasizing the group as a single unit)
The team are arguing among themselves. (emphasizing the individuals within the group)

Compound Subjects

Compound subjects are formed by joining two or more subjects with “and.” When the subjects are joined by “and” and refer to different people or things, they take a plural verb. However, when the subjects are joined by “and” and refer to the same person or thing, they take a singular verb. Here are some examples:

My brother and sister are coming to visit me. (different people)
Peanut butter and jelly are my favorite sandwich fillings. (different things)
Mac and cheese is my go-to comfort food. (same thing)

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns (such as “everyone,” “someone,” and “anyone”) are singular and take singular verbs. However, some indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural depending on context. For example:

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. (singular “everyone” but plural “their”)
Both of my friends were happy to hear the news. (plural “both”)

It’s important to pay attention to the context in which an indefinite pronoun is used in order to determine whether to use a singular or plural verb.

By being aware of these tricky cases of subject-verb agreement, you can avoid making common errors and write with confidence.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using ‘is’ with Plural Nouns or Pronouns

One of the most common errors in subject-verb agreement is using ‘is’ with plural nouns or pronouns. This mistake occurs when the writer or speaker fails to match the verb with its subject, leading to grammatical errors and confusion for the reader.

For example, consider the following sentence:
The team is playing their game.

Here, the subject ‘team’ is singular, but the verb ‘is’ is plural, creating a subject-verb disagreement. The correct use of verb in this sentence would be ‘are’.

To avoid such errors, it’s important to understand that plural subjects require plural verbs, while singular subjects require singular verbs. Therefore, when dealing with plural nouns or pronouns, always use the plural form of the verb, such as ‘are’ instead of ‘is’.

Here are some additional examples that illustrate the correct use of plural verbs with plural subjects:

The dogs are barking at the mailman.
The children are playing in the park.
The friends are going to the movies.

In conclusion, using ‘is’ with plural nouns or pronouns is a common error that can easily be avoided by matching the verb with its subject. Remember, plural subjects require plural verbs, so always use the correct form of the verb, such as ‘are’, to maintain proper subject-verb agreement.

Using ‘are’ with Singular Nouns or Pronouns

Using ‘are’ with singular nouns or pronouns is a common grammatical error that can detract from the clarity and professionalism of your writing. This type of mistake occurs when the subject of the sentence is singular, but the verb form chosen is plural.

For example, “The company are looking to hire a new manager” should be corrected to “The company is looking to hire a new manager.”

These errors with ‘are’ occur because many non-native speakers of English may assume that ‘are’ is always the correct verb form to use when referring to multiple things, even if there is only one subject present. However, in English grammar, it is essential to match the verb tense with its corresponding subject.

On the other hand, the correct use of ‘is’ as a singular verb is crucial. For instance, when talking about one person or thing, you need to use ‘is’ instead of ‘are.’

For example, “My brother is an engineer” rather than “My brother are an engineer.”

One way to avoid making mistakes with ‘are’ is to identify whether the subject is singular or plural before selecting the appropriate verb form. When the subject is singular, use ‘is’, and when it is plural, use ‘are.’ You can also try rephrasing the sentence to avoid using the problematic verb form.

In conclusion, ensuring that you correctly use ‘is’ and ‘are’ based on whether the subject is singular or plural is essential for effective communication in written and spoken English. By avoiding errors with ‘are,’ you can improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing, thereby enhancing your professional image.

Failing to Match Verbs with Their Subjects

One of the most common grammatical errors is subject-verb disagreement, which occurs when the verb does not match the number (singular or plural) of its subject. This mistake can make your writing sound unprofessional and confusing, and it’s important to avoid it at all costs.

Here are some common errors to avoid:

Using the Wrong Verb Tense

Matching verbs and subjects also means matching them in tense, whether present, past, or future. For instance, if you’re writing in the present tense, your subject and verb should be in the present tense too. However, many writers mistakenly switch tenses, resulting in a subject-verb disagreement.

Incorrect: The students enjoys playing soccer during recess.

Correct: The students enjoy playing soccer during recess.

Ignoring Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional phrases can throw off subject-verb agreement when they come between the subject and verb. To ensure correct agreement, identify the subject first, and then ignore any intervening phrases that come after it.

Incorrect: The book in the back of the room were missing pages.

Correct: The book in the back of the room was missing pages.

Confusing Collective Nouns

Collective nouns refer to groups of people or things, but they are singular in form and require singular verbs. However, because these nouns often refer to multiple individuals, writers can easily fall into subject-verb disagreement by using plural verbs instead of singular ones.

Incorrect: The team are doing well this season.

Correct: The team is doing well this season.

By paying attention to these common errors, you can avoid subject-verb disagreement and improve the clarity and professionalism of your writing. Remember, matching verbs and subjects is crucial for effective communication, so always double-check your work before publishing or submitting it.

Tips for Choosing the Right Verb

Identifying Singular and Plural Nouns

Singular and plural nouns are the building blocks of any sentence. They play a crucial role in determining the correct verb form to use, as well as the overall meaning of the sentence. As such, it’s important to be able to identify whether a noun is singular or plural. In this section, we’ll discuss how to differentiate between the two.

What are Singular Nouns?

A singular noun refers to one person, place, thing, or idea. Examples include “book,” “cat,” “tree,” and “idea.” One way that you can recognize a singular noun is by looking at the article that precedes it. Singular nouns are typically accompanied by “a” or “an” (indefinite articles) or “the” (definite article) in front of them.

For example:

A book
An apple
The tree

What are Plural Nouns?

On the other hand, a plural noun refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. Examples include “books,” “cats,” “trees,” and “ideas.” Plural nouns are usually formed by adding an -s or -es to the end of the singular noun.

For example:

Books
Cats
Trees

How to Differentiate between Singular and Plural Nouns

To differentiate between singular and plural nouns, look for the following:

Articles: As mentioned earlier, singular nouns are often accompanied by “a,” “an,” or “the.”
Suffixes: Plural nouns often end with -s or -es.
Context: Consider the context of the sentence to determine whether the noun is singular or plural. Look for other words that indicate quantity, such as “many,” “few,” or “several.”

Here are some examples of sentences using both singular and plural nouns:

The dog is barking. (singular)
The dogs are barking. (plural)
A book is on the table. (singular)
Many books are on the shelves. (plural)
The child is playing. (singular)
The children are playing. (plural)

In summary, identifying singular and plural nouns is essential to understanding the structure of a sentence and choosing the correct verb form. By paying attention to articles, suffixes, and context clues, you can easily differentiate between the two.

Using Context Clues to Determine the Subject Number

In English grammar, subject-verb agreement is a crucial element for constructing clear and coherent sentences. It refers to the correct matching of a verb with its subject in terms of number, whether singular or plural. One way to determine the number of the subject is by using context clues within the sentence.

Context clues are words or phrases that provide hints about the meaning of a particular word or phrase. They also help us identify the subject number by providing additional information within the sentence. For example, let’s consider the following sentence:

“The group of students is excited about the field trip.”

In this sentence, the subject is “group,” and the verb is “is.” The context clue here is “of students,” which indicates that “group” is a collective noun representing multiple individuals. Therefore, we need to use a singular verb, “is,” to match with the singular form of the collective noun.

Similarly, in the sentence “The books on the shelf are dusty,” the subject is “books,” and the verb is “are.” The context clue is “on the shelf,” which implies that there are multiple books. Therefore, we need to use a plural verb, “are,” to match with the plural form of the subject.

Context clues can also help us identify the subject number when dealing with indefinite pronouns, such as “anyone,” “everyone,” and “someone.” These pronouns can be either singular or plural, depending on the context. For example:

“Everyone in the room is quiet.”

In this sentence, the subject is “everyone,” which is considered a singular indefinite pronoun. Hence, we use the singular verb “is” to match with it.

On the other hand, in the sentence “Somebody left their phone on the table,” the subject is “somebody,” which is an indefinite pronoun that can be both singular or plural. The context clue is “their phone,” which indicates that there might be more than one person involved. Hence, we use the plural verb “left” to match with the plural form of the subject.

In conclusion, context clues play a vital role in determining the number of subjects and verbs in English sentences. By paying close attention to these clues, we can avoid errors in subject-verb agreement and construct clear and precise sentences.

Rephrasing Sentences to Avoid Errors

In writing, rephrasing is an effective technique to avoid errors and enhance the clarity of your sentence structure. This involves restructuring a sentence to convey the same meaning but in a different way. Rephrasing can help break down complex sentences, eliminate redundancies, and improve the flow of your writing.

Benefits of Rephrasing Sentences

By using rephrasing techniques, you can improve the readability of your writing and make it more engaging for your audience. Rephrasing can also help to clarify the message you are trying to convey and ensure that your point is properly understood. Some benefits of rephrasing include:

Enhancing the coherence and cohesion of your writing
Streamlining your ideas and making your points more concise
Eliminating unnecessary repetition and redundancy
Ensuring that your message is clear and easy to understand

Techniques for Rephrasing Sentences

There are several techniques that you can use when rephrasing sentences to avoid errors. Here are some of the most effective:

Use Synonyms: One of the simplest ways to rephrase a sentence is to replace certain words with synonyms. This can help to make the sentence more interesting and engaging.

Example: The dog barked loudly. -> The canine howled noisily.

Rearrange the Structure: Changing the order of the words in a sentence can help to convey the same message while creating a more effective structure.

Example: He jumped over the fence and ran away. -> After jumping over the fence, he ran away.

Combine Sentences: Combining two or more sentences into one sentence can be an effective way to simplify your writing and eliminate redundancy.

Example: The cake was delicious. It was chocolate flavored. -> The chocolate-flavored cake was delicious.

Use Active Voice: Using active rather than passive voice can help to make your writing more powerful and direct.

Example: The ball was thrown by John. -> John threw the ball.

Conclusion

Rephrasing is a valuable technique to help improve the clarity and readability of your writing. By using synonyms, rearranging the structure, combining sentences, and using active voice, you can create more engaging and effective sentences. Practice rephrasing your writing to eliminate errors, enhance the message you are trying to convey, and engage your audience more effectively.
It’s easy to get tripped up by the seemingly simple question of whether to use “is” or “are” in a sentence. However, understanding the basic rules of subject-verb agreement is essential for clear and effective communication. Remember that singular subjects require singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs. Be mindful of tricky cases such as collective nouns and compound subjects, and always double-check that your verb matches its subject in number. By following these guidelines and avoiding common mistakes, you can improve your writing and speak with confidence. So next time you’re faced with the question of “is or are,” remember to consider your subject carefully and choose your verb wisely.