Academic Writing

Is Or Are

The choice between 'is' and 'are' often trips up even experienced writers. This guide demystifies subject-verb agreement, explaining the core rules with clear examples. We'll cover singular and plural subjects, collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and tricky cases like compound subjects. By understanding these principles, you can ensure your writing is grammatically sound and professional, avoiding common errors that can undermine your credibility.

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The Foundation: Subject-Verb Agreement

At its heart, the 'is' versus 'are' dilemma boils down to a fundamental principle of English grammar: subject-verb agreement. Simply put, the verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject. If the subject is singular, the verb should be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb should be plural. The verbs 'is' and 'are' are both forms of the verb 'to be' in the present tense, with 'is' serving as the singular form and 'are' as the plural form. While this sounds straightforward, the complexity arises from identifying the true subject of a sentence, especially when phrases or clauses intervene between the subject and the verb.

Singular Subjects and the Verb 'Is'

A singular subject refers to one person, place, thing, or idea. When you encounter a singular subject, you will use the singular verb form, 'is'. This applies to most common singular nouns and pronouns.

Nouns: The dog barks. The car is red. The idea seems plausible.
Pronouns: He is here. She is late. It is raining. This is my book. That is your concern.
Gerunds (acting as subjects): Swimming is good exercise. Reading helps expand vocabulary.

Consider the sentence 'The book on the table is mine.' The subject is 'book,' which is singular. The phrase 'on the table' modifies 'book' but does not change its number. Therefore, the singular verb 'is' is correct. Similarly, in 'Running is my favorite sport,' the gerund 'running' acts as a singular subject.

Plural Subjects and the Verb 'Are'

Plural subjects refer to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. With plural subjects, you use the plural verb form, 'are'.

Plural Nouns: The dogs bark. The cars are fast. The ideas are interesting.
Plural Pronouns: They are coming. We are ready. These are my friends. Those are your concerns.
Compound Subjects joined by 'and': John and Mary are here. The cat and the dog are playing.

In the sentence 'The students in the classroom are studying,' the subject is 'students,' which is plural. The prepositional phrase 'in the classroom' does not affect the verb. Thus, 'are' is the correct choice. For compound subjects joined by 'and,' such as 'The laptop and the charger are essential for my trip,' the subjects are treated as a unit and require the plural verb.

Navigating Tricky Cases

The waters can get a bit murkier when dealing with certain types of subjects. Understanding these exceptions and nuances is crucial for accurate grammar.

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns represent a group of individuals or things. Depending on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as individuals, you might use 'is' or 'are.' In American English, collective nouns are typically treated as singular unless the context clearly emphasizes the individual members.

Acting as a unit (singular): The team is celebrating its victory. The committee is meeting tomorrow. The audience is captivated by the performance.
Acting as individuals (plural, less common in AmE): The family are arguing about the vacation plans. (More common in British English, where 'family' might be treated as plural.)

The key is to consider the intended meaning. If the focus is on the group's unified action, use 'is.' If the focus is on the actions of the individual members, 'are' might be appropriate, though this usage can sometimes sound awkward to American ears.

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns, such as 'each,' 'every,' 'either,' 'neither,' 'anyone,' 'anybody,' 'someone,' 'somebody,' 'everyone,' 'everybody,' 'no one,' and 'nobody,' are almost always singular and therefore take the verb 'is'.

Each of the students is responsible for their own work.
Everyone is invited to the party.
Neither of the options is satisfactory.
Somebody is at the door.

However, some indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural depending on the context. These include 'all,' 'any,' 'more,' 'most,' 'none,' and 'some.' If the pronoun refers to a singular noun, use 'is.' If it refers to a plural noun, use 'are'.

Singular: Some of the water is spilled. (Referring to 'water,' a singular mass noun.)
Plural: Some of the apples are bruised. (Referring to 'apples,' a plural noun.)
Singular: None of the information is correct. (Often treated as singular when referring to abstract concepts or uncountable nouns.)
Plural: None of the students are present. (Can be plural when referring to countable nouns.)

Compound Subjects Joined by 'or' or 'nor'

When two subjects are joined by 'or' or 'nor,' the verb agrees with the subject that is closer to it. This rule can sometimes lead to slightly awkward phrasing, but it is grammatically correct.

Neither the manager nor the employees are aware of the change.
Either the report or the presentation is due by Friday.
Neither the students nor the teacher is happy with the outcome.

Notice how in the last example, 'teacher' is closer to the verb, and since 'teacher' is singular, the verb 'is' is used. If the order were reversed ('Neither the teacher nor the students...'), the verb would be 'are'.

Sentences Starting with 'There Is' or 'There Are'

Sentences that begin with 'There is' or 'There are' can be particularly confusing. In these constructions, 'there' is not the subject. The true subject follows the verb. You must determine the number of the noun that comes after 'is' or 'are'.

There is a cat on the roof. ('cat' is singular)
There are two cats on the roof. ('cats' is plural)
There is a lot of work to be done. ('work' is singular/uncountable)
There are many reasons why this happened. ('reasons' is plural)

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Even with a solid understanding of the rules, mistakes can happen. Awareness of common traps is the first step to avoiding them.

Misidentifying the Subject: Always find the true subject. Ignore intervening phrases (prepositional, participial, etc.).
Confusing Singular and Plural: Double-check the number of your subject, especially with irregular plurals or collective nouns.
Ignoring Indefinite Pronouns: Remember that most indefinite pronouns are singular.
Incorrectly Handling Compound Subjects: Pay close attention to whether subjects are joined by 'and,' 'or,' or 'nor.'
Errors with 'There is/are': Ensure the verb agrees with the noun that follows it.

Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to solidify your understanding of 'is' and 'are' is through practice. Try constructing sentences using different types of subjects and review them carefully. Reading widely also helps, as you naturally absorb correct grammatical patterns.

Sentence Analysis Practice

Let's analyze a few sentences: 1. The collection of rare stamps is valuable. * Subject: 'collection' (singular) * Verb: 'is' (singular) * Correct. 2. My sister and her friends are planning a trip. * Subject: 'sister and friends' (compound, plural) * Verb: 'are' (plural) * Correct. 3. Either the dog or the cats are responsible for the mess. * Subject: 'cats' (closer to the verb, plural) * Verb: 'are' (plural) * Correct. 4. There is a new policy regarding remote work. * Subject: 'policy' (singular, follows the verb) * Verb: 'is' (singular) * Correct. 5. Each of the participants is required to sign in. * Subject: 'Each' (singular indefinite pronoun) * Verb: 'is' (singular) * Correct.

Conclusion: Clarity Through Correctness

Mastering the use of 'is' and 'are' is a cornerstone of clear and professional writing. By diligently applying the principles of subject-verb agreement, paying attention to the nuances of collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and compound subjects, and practicing regularly, you can ensure your sentences are grammatically sound. This attention to detail not only enhances the readability of your work but also reflects positively on your credibility as a communicator.

FAQs

When do I use 'is' versus 'are'?

You use 'is' when the subject of the sentence is singular (one person, place, thing, or idea). You use 'are' when the subject is plural (more than one person, place, thing, or idea). The key is to correctly identify the subject and its number.

What if there's a phrase between the subject and the verb?

Phrases, especially prepositional phrases (like 'of the students,' 'on the table'), do not change the number of the subject. You should ignore these phrases when determining whether to use 'is' or 'are.' For example, in 'The box of chocolates is heavy,' the subject is 'box' (singular), not 'chocolates' (plural).

How do I handle sentences starting with 'There'?

Sentences beginning with 'There is' or 'There are' use the noun that follows the verb as the subject. If that noun is singular, use 'is.' If it's plural, use 'are.' For example, 'There is a car' (car is singular), but 'There are cars' (cars is plural).

Are there exceptions for collective nouns like 'team' or 'family'?

Yes, collective nouns can be tricky. In American English, they are usually treated as singular when the group acts as a single unit (e.g., 'The team is winning'). They can be treated as plural if the context emphasizes the individual members acting separately, though this is less common and can sometimes sound awkward.