Is vs Are — The Complete Guide 

This guide opens with real work moments where Is vs Are shapes clear writing and speech; knowing is, are, and verb usage builds confidence fast.

From my experience, grammar, English grammar, and subject-verb agreement form the cornerstone of clear communication. The verb be follows rules, including tricky rules, that explain singular nouns, plural nouns, and how each pairs with a singular verb or plural verb. 

When you focus on correct usage, proper usage, and correctness, your writing and speaking gain clarity, professional credibility, and real impact.I explain and highlight the difference between is and are using examples, real sentences, questions, and statements you meet daily. 

Why Knowing When to Use Is vs Are Matters

You might not notice is and are every day. Yet these tiny verbs do big work. In English they help match the subject and keep sentences grammatically sound. Wrong usage sounds awkward slow or unclear. Correct usage, especially in essays, emails or reports, makes your writing crisp and authoritative.

Here’s a quick contrast:

There is many reasons to learn grammar
There are many reasons to learn grammar

The first sentence feels off even if you understand it. The second one feels smooth. That’s the power of matching your verb properly.

The Core Rule — Base of All Is vs Are Decisions

At the heart of using is vs are is one simple principle:

Match the verb to the subject — not the nearest word.

Subject Type	Correct Verb
Singular	is
Plural	are

Examples

• The cat is sleeping.
• The cats are eating.

Simple right? Yet writing gets messy when other words show up. Let’s break down how to find the real subject.

How to Find the Real Subject in a Sentence

Many errors happen because writers pick the wrong subject. Extra words like phrases or clauses in the middle can distract you.

Ignore Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional phrases don’t control the verb. They describe location time or relationship.

Examples

Sentence	Real Subject	Correct Verb
The box of tools is heavy	box	is
The students in the class are ready	students	are
The team with the coach is here	team	is

Here, words like of tools or in the class don’t affect whether you use is or are. Focus on the subject before the phrase.

There Is vs There Are — Most Common Usage Case

One of the biggest stumbling blocks for many writers is choosing between there is and there are.

Rule

• There is → use with singular noun
• There are → use with plural noun

Examples

• There is a book on the table.
• There are three books on the table.

The verb agrees with the noun after it.

Table of Common Cases

Sentence	Correct Form
There ___ a new idea	is
There ___ several ideas	are
There ___ a problem and solutions	are

Even when the grammar rule is clear people often get distracted by the proximity of and solutions in the last example. Always match the verb to the main noun.

Tricky Singular and Plural Nouns

Some nouns look plural but are treated as singular and vice versa.

Singular Nouns That Look Plural

• news
• mathematics
• physics
• economics
• linguistics

These nouns end in s but refer to a single subject or idea.

Example

The news is on at 6.

Plural Nouns That Look Singular

• police
• people
• cattle
• children

These nouns are always plural.

Example

The police are investigating.

Compound Subjects — When Two Things Act as One or Separate

In compound subjects two nouns combine. How they act determines is vs are.

Joined by “and”

When two subjects are connected with and the sentence is usually plural.

Example

• Tom and Jerry are friends.

However if the two items are seen as a single unit, use is.

Example

• Macaroni and cheese is tasty.

Joined by “or / nor / either…or / neither…nor”

Here the verb agrees with the noun closest to it.

Examples

Sentence	Correct Verb
Either the teacher or the students ?	are
Either the students or the teacher ?	is
Neither the cake nor the cookies ?	are
Neither the cookies nor the cake ?	is

Indefinite Pronouns — Choose Carefully

Indefinite pronouns are words like everyone someone few and many. They can be tricky.

Always Singular (Use Is)

• everyone
• someone
• anybody
• each
• either
• neither

Everyone is invited.

Always Plural (Use Are)

• few
• many
• several

Several are interested.

Can Be Singular or Plural

These depend on whether the noun they refer to is countable.

• some
• all
• most
• none

Sentence	Meaning	Correct Verb
Some of the cake ___ gone	uncountable	is
Some of the cookies ___ gone	countable	are

Collective Nouns — United vs Individual Meaning

Collective nouns refer to a group acting as one. They can behave like singular or plural.

Acting as One Unit (Use Is)

• The team is winning.
• The family is eating dinner.

Acting as Individuals (Use Are — More Common in British English)

• The team are discussing their jobs.
• The jury are arguing among themselves.

Mass (Uncountable) Nouns — Always Singular

Mass nouns represent a whole or substance. They don’t have a plural form in standard usage.

Examples include:

• water
• furniture
• information
• advice

The information is useful.

Even if the word ends in s like news, treat it as singular.

Tricky Quantity Expressions

Certain phrases change the meaning and the verb that follows.

Expression	Correct Verb	Example
a number of	are	A number of people are gone
the number of	is	The number of errors is high
a group of	is	A group of tourists is here
a pair of	is	A pair of shoes is missing

These phrases look similar but the meaning changes the verb. Pay attention to what the phrase refers to.

Forming Questions With Is vs Are

To turn a statement into a question swap the subject and the verb.

Statement	Question
He is ready	Is he ready?
They are here	Are they here?

Notice how the verb moves to the front.

Common Mistakes You Should Stop Making

Even confident writers slip up. Here are frequent errors and the corrected versions.

Incorrect → Correct

•  There is many reasons. → There are many reasons.
•  Everyone are here. → Everyone is here.
•  A number of people is waiting. → A number of people are waiting.
•  The list of items are long. → The list of items is long.

Each of these mistakes stems from matching the verb to the wrong subject.

Read More: Choose vs. Select — The Real Difference 

Mini Case Study: Business Email Example

Imagine you’re writing an email at work. You type:

There is several updates on the project.

A reader might pause. They may know instantly what you mean but the tension created by is with several creates a small jolt.

Better:

There are several updates on the project.

This sentence feels clear crisp and professional. Small fixes like this build trust with your reader.

Mini Practice Section

Try filling in the blanks:

1. There ___ two solutions that work best.
2. Each of the players ___ ready to perform.
3. The group of students ___ excited about the trip.
4. None of the cake ___ left.
5. Either the manager or the team leaders ___ coming.

Answers

1. are
2. is
3. is
4. is
5. are

Practicing like this trains your eye to spot the subject fast.

Quick Decision Checklist for When to Use Is vs Are

Before you choose is vs are ask yourself:

• What is the real subject of the sentence?
• Is that subject singular or plural?
• Are there distracting phrases that don’t affect the verb?
• Does the subject follow a tricky expression or pronoun?

If you answer those questions the rule becomes natural.

Helpful Reference Table — Is vs Are at a Glance

Structure	Correct Verb
Singular subject	is
Plural subject	are
There + singular noun	is
There + plural noun	are
Indefinite pronoun (singular)	is
Indefinite pronoun (plural)	are
Collective noun as one	is
Collective noun as individuals	are
Compound with and	are
Compound with or/nor (closest subject)	matches closest subject

Keep this table handy when writing or editing.

FAQs

1. What is the basic difference between is and are?

The basic difference is number. Is is used with singular nouns and pronouns, while are is used with plural nouns and pronouns. This rule comes from subject-verb agreement.

2. Can is and are be used in questions?

Yes. Both is and are are commonly used in questions. For example, “Is the report ready?” and “Are the reports ready?” The verb still agrees with the subject.

3. Why do people get confused with is vs are?

Confusion often comes from collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and long sentence structures. These tricky cases make it harder to identify the real subject that controls the verb.

4. Are native speakers ever wrong with is and are?

Yes, even native speakers make mistakes. Fast writing, casual speech, or complex sentences can lead to small slips that affect clarity and sound awkward.

5. How can I improve my accuracy with is and are?

Focus on the subject, not the words in between. Practice with real sentences, read your writing aloud, and apply grammar rules consistently to build confidence and fluency.

Conclusion

Mastering is vs are may seem like a small grammar detail, but it has a big impact on clarity and professionalism. When you understand subject-verb agreement and apply it carefully, your writing sounds confident, clear, and natural in every situation.