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One of the trickiest grammar questions I hear in my classroom is simple on its surface: “Should I write ‘is’ or ‘are’?” The confusion makes sense — both are forms of the verb “to be,” both appear in almost every sentence, and the rule changes depending on one tiny thing. Once you nail the subject-number rule, you’ll never have to think twice again.
The core principle is straightforward: singular subjects take “is,” plural subjects take “are.” You’ll see how it works with regular nouns, pronouns, compound subjects, and even the tricky collective nouns that break the rule. By the end, you’ll have the memory tricks and examples you need to feel confident.
Key Takeaways
- One-verb rule: singular subjects use “is,” plural subjects use “are”. Check the subject, not the object or anything else in the sentence.
- The subject is the “doer” or “be-er” — usually at the start of the sentence. “She is tired” (she = subject).
- Collective nouns (team, family, class) can take either “is” or “are” depending on British vs. American style, but “is” is the safe default.
- Compound subjects (A and B) always use “are” because “and” makes them plural — “He and she are friends.”
- Memory hook: “Is” has one syllable for singular, “are” has one syllable for plural — both are short words, but the sound guides you.
The Core Rule: Subject Number Determines the Verb
Here’s the foundation: the verb “to be” in the present tense must match the subject in number (singular or plural). When the subject is one person, one animal, one thing, or one idea, use is. When the subject is more than one, use are.
Singular subjects take “is”:
- The cat is sleeping.
- She is a doctor.
- The book is on the table.
- My brother is 25 years old.
- This idea is brilliant.
Plural subjects take “are”:
- The cats are sleeping.
- They are doctors.
- The books are on the shelf.
- My brothers are 25 and 28 years old.
- These ideas are brilliant.
The subject rule: To choose the right verb, always find the subject first. The subject is the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about — usually near the start. Ignore everything else. Even if the sentence is long, the subject-verb agreement stays the same.
Finding the Subject: Where to Look
Many learners pick the wrong form of “be” because they look at the wrong noun. Here’s how to find the real subject:
The subject is the noun or pronoun doing the action or being described. It usually comes before the verb.
Example: “The pile of books is heavy.”
Which noun is the subject — “pile” or “books”? → “Pile” is the subject (singular), so we use “is,” not “are.” The phrase “of books” is just extra description.
Example: “A group of students are waiting outside.”
The subject is “group” (singular), but in British English, when you emphasize that each member of the group is acting separately, “are” is acceptable. In American English, “group is waiting” is standard. For safety, learners should default to “is” with collective nouns.
| Sentence | Subject | Number | Verb |
|---|---|---|---|
| The dog is barking. | dog | Singular | is |
| The dogs are barking. | dogs | Plural | are |
| She is a teacher. | she | Singular | is |
| They are teachers. | they | Plural | are |
| The box of pens is on the desk. | box | Singular | is |
| The boxes of pens are on the desk. | boxes | Plural | are |
Pronoun Reference Guide
Pronouns are subjects too. Here’s which pronouns use “is” and which use “are”:
| Pronoun | Number | Form of “to be” | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Singular | am | I am happy. (Note: “I” uses “am,” not “is”) |
| You | Singular or Plural | are | You are a good friend. (singular or plural, always “are”) |
| He, She, It | Singular | is | He is tall. She is smart. It is broken. |
| We | Plural | are | We are ready. |
| They | Plural | are | They are arriving soon. |
Compound Subjects: When Two or More Subjects Join
When you connect two or more subjects with and, the result is plural — even if each subject is singular on its own.
✓ Correct: John and Jane are going to the party.
✓ Correct: The dog and the cat are playing in the yard.
✓ Correct: My mother, my father, and my sister are coming to dinner.
Important exception: Some compound subjects look like two things but function as one unit. These are called “idiomatic pairs” and take singular “is”:
Example: “Fish and chips is my favorite dish.” (It’s one meal, not two separate things.)
Example: “Tom and Jerry is a classic cartoon.” (It’s one show.)
Test for compound subjects: Ask yourself “Are these two separate things doing the action, or are they one unit?” If two people, animals, or objects are truly acting together as a group of two, use “are.” If they form a single unit or concept, use “is.”
Collective Nouns: Team, Family, Class, Audience, etc.
Collective nouns name a group of people or things as a single unit. The tricky part: should they take singular “is” or plural “are”?
American English rule: Collective nouns take singular “is.”
✓ Correct (USA): The team is practicing hard.
✓ Correct (USA): The family is going on vacation.
British English allows both, depending on emphasis:
If you stress that the group acts as one unit: “The team is winning the championship.”
If you stress that each member of the group acts separately: “The team are eating their lunches.”
For English learners: always use “is” with collective nouns. It’s safer and matches American English, which is the most widely taught form worldwide.
| Collective Noun | Example (Singular “is”) |
|---|---|
| Team | The team is strong. |
| Family | My family is large. |
| Class | The class is quiet. |
| Audience | The audience is applauding. |
| Committee | The committee is meeting tomorrow. |
| Government | The government is making new laws. |
| Company | The company is hiring new employees. |
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
✗ Incorrect: The students is studying for their exams.
✓ Correct: The students are studying for their exams.
Why: “Students” is plural, so it takes “are,” not “is.”
✗ Incorrect: She and her brother is coming to the event.
✓ Correct: She and her brother are coming to the event.
Why: “She and her brother” is a compound subject (two people), so it’s plural and takes “are.”
✗ Incorrect: The list of groceries are on the counter.
✓ Correct: The list of groceries is on the counter.
Why: The subject is “list” (singular), not “groceries.” The phrase “of groceries” is extra information. Ignore it and match the real subject.
✗ Incorrect: Neither Tom nor Maria are ready.
✓ Correct: Neither Tom nor Maria is ready.
Why: “Neither…nor” works like a singular construction. Use “is.” (In contrast, “Both…and” is always plural: “Both Tom and Maria are ready.”)
Sample Dialogue
Teacher: “The dogs is sleeping” — is that correct?
Student: No, it should be “are,” right? “Dogs” is plural.
Teacher: Exactly! What about this: “The group of friends is meeting tomorrow.” Is that right?
Student: Hmm… “group” is the subject, so it’s singular. That would be “is.”
Teacher: Perfect. You’ve got it. The trick is always finding the real subject first, then matching the verb number.
Quick Quiz
Choose “is” or “are”:
- The flowers ________ blooming in the garden. (is / are)
- She ________ a software engineer. (is / are)
- My friends and I ________ excited about the trip. (is / are)
- The committee ________ making a decision next week. (is / are)
- The book and the pen ________ on the table. (is / are)
Answers: 1. are · 2. is · 3. are · 4. is · 5. are.
Related Articles
- ↑ Master Pillar: English Grammar
- Affect vs. Effect
- Accept vs. Except
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Confused Words
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between “is” and “are”?
“Is” is used with singular subjects (one person, one thing, one idea), and “are” is used with plural subjects (more than one). For example: “The cat is sleeping” (singular) vs. “The cats are sleeping” (plural).
How do I know if the subject is singular or plural?
Look for the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about — usually near the beginning. Count it: if it’s one, use “is”; if it’s more than one, use “are.” Ignore descriptive phrases that come after the subject, like “of books” or “in the classroom.”
Do collective nouns like “team” use “is” or “are”?
In American English, collective nouns take “is”: “The team is winning.” In British English, both “is” and “are” are acceptable depending on whether you’re emphasizing the group as one unit or each member individually. For learners, default to “is.”
What about “you”? Does it use “is” or “are”?
Always use “are” with “you,” even when you’re speaking to one person. “You are a great friend.” This is true in both singular and plural contexts.
Can two subjects joined by “and” ever use “is”?
Rarely. Most compound subjects joined by “and” take “are” because they’re plural. The only exceptions are idiomatic pairs that function as a single unit, like “fish and chips is my favorite dish” or “rock and roll is timeless.”
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