{"id":284,"date":"2026-08-06T07:18:04","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T07:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/blog\/?p=284"},"modified":"2026-08-06T07:18:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T07:18:07","slug":"when-to-use-is-and-are-in-a-sentence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/blog\/when-to-use-is-and-are-in-a-sentence\/","title":{"rendered":"When to Use Is and Are in a Sentence: Complete Grammar Guide with Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Master subject-verb agreement effortlessly by learning essential grammar rules. Use &#8220;is&#8221; when describing single items, singular pronouns, or collective groups, but select &#8220;are&#8221; whenever referencing multiple people, places, or things instead.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"617\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/IS-VS-ARE.jpg\" alt=\"is vs are\" class=\"wp-image-286\" style=\"width:787px;height:auto\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Build Stronger Sentences With Simple Agreement<\/em><\/strong><strong><em><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ever ended up with a sentence and then, after reading and thinking it through, wondered: should it be is or are? You are not alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These two little words can produce some pretty big problems, particularly if your sentences get longer or your sentences have additional phrases between the subject and the verb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The principle appears straightforward: Singular subjects typically go with the verb \u201cis\u201d; plural subjects go with the verb \u201care\u201d. Collective nouns, compound subjects, indefinite pronouns, questions, and phrases like \u201cseveral\u201d can make real sentences more difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Knowing what exactly the subject is doing will make their choice a lot easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Start With Subject Agreement For Accuracy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Find the subject of the sentence before deciding on the form of the verb \u201cis\u201d or \u201care\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The subject names the person or thing that the sentence is about. The word that follows the verb should then agree with that subject in number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The student is ready.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The students are ready.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pronoun \u201cstudent\u201d (singular) is used. More than one student is meant, so \u201care\u201d is appropriate. The best rule to follow is not to select the verb just because another noun is close by. Look for the main subject first, and then determine if it is singular or plural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make Academic Writing Sound Clear and Natural<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Agreement is especially important in academic writing since any minor grammatical mistake may distract the reader from the main point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A sentence such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The findings are significant as it demonstrates a clear shift in behaviour.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">is easy to understand, because the plural noun \u201cfindings\u201d is paired with the plural verb \u201care\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Long sentences in the academic text should be given special attention. If there are a few phrases between the subjects and verbs, temporarily delete the phrases and test the basic structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thesiswritingservice.co.uk\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.thesiswritingservice.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Professional thesis writers<\/a> can contribute significantly to academic writing by perfecting the subject-verb agreement, sentence structure, and enhancing clarity in writing. They will ensure that complicated concepts in research are easily comprehended while helping the student to articulate their argument effectively and professionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use \u201cIs\u201d When One Subject Acts Alone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use &#8220;is&#8221; with a third-person singular subject, which is one person, place, thing, or idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consider these examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The teacher is creating a lesson.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The laptop is on the desk.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The study is beneficial.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>She is prepared to present.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The assignment is almost finished.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The subject in each sentence is singular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This also applies if the subject comes after a longer opening phrase. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>It is a good habit to practice writing every day in the morning.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One activity is described by the phrase, \u201cwriting every morning\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a useful hint, you can temporarily disregard certain words and find the main topic to select the appropriate verb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Choose \u201cAre\u201d When Multiple Subjects Act Together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Always use \u201care\u201d for plural subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The pupils are engaged in their work.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The books are on the table.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The teachers are having a meeting today.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They are working on tests.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The results are encouraging.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The subjects refer to more than one person or thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes the verb comes a long way from a plural subject, causing the sentence to be harder to follow. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The students from three different departments are attending the workshop.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The phrase \u2018from three different departments&#8217; provides additional information, but the subject is the same, \u2018students&#8217;. Are is necessary since the noun \u201cstudents\u201d is in the plural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Always find the main noun, and do not get distracted by the words close to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Improve Research Clarity With Precise Grammar Choices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good grammar isn&#8217;t all about using complicated sentences! Indeed, a direct presentation of ideas can sometimes enhance clear academic writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The study is valuable because it clearly explains the issue.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Simple sentence structure but very clear message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now compare it with a sentence with some unessential clauses. The greater the distance between the subject and the verb, the better the chance of losing track of the agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When composing a research proposal, report, dissertation, or academic essay, search for a clear subject and the corresponding verb in each large sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thesiswritingservice.co.uk\/thesis-proposal\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.thesiswritingservice.co.uk\/thesis-proposal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PhD research proposal writing service<\/a> can offer help in the proper structuring of research objectives, sharpening of questions, improvement of academic writing skills, and crafting of methodology so that researchers can present their work with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Match Everyday Pronouns With Is And Are<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the patterns of pronouns are known, agreement will be much easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use verbs in the present tense:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He is<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>She is<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We are<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You are<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>She is studying.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They are studying.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The important thing to remember is that you will always say \u201care\u201d for the word \u201cyou\u201d, even when talking to one person. The report will be your responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Likewise, the word \u201cwe\u201d is always preceded by the word \u201care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep Multiple Subjects And Verbs Clearly Aligned<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"354\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/multiple-subjects.jpg\" alt=\"Multiple Subjects \" class=\"wp-image-287\" style=\"width:787px;height:auto\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When two subjects are joined by the word \u201cand\u201d, they are usually a plural subject and followed by the word \u201care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manager and Assistant are present.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Laptop and printer are connected.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tom and Sarah are working together.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The answer is simple: there are two topics discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, two words can also be joined together by the word \u201cand\u201d to describe one idea or one item. If so, then it may be appropriate to use \u201cis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Fish and chips is their favorite dish.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The &#8220;fish and chips&#8221; are being referred to together and not as two separate items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The secret of the trick is to imagine beyond the words!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Refine Dissertation Drafts Before Final Submission<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don&#8217;t use a grammar check at the end of the writing. After completing a part, read it slowly and carefully, checking for subject\u2013verb agreement. Don&#8217;t fix all the grammar problems in one go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Begin with the primary subject. Next, determine whether it is singular or plural. Then, search for a matching verb. Finally, read the entire sentence once again to ensure the sentence sounds natural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/\">custom dissertation writing service<\/a> may assist in organizing and structuring your dissertation as well as offering advice in editing and academically presenting your paper without losing your personal contribution to the assignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When to use &#8216;is&#8217; rather than &#8216;are&#8217;?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use &#8220;is&#8221; when the subject is one, e.g., &#8220;the student is ready&#8221; or &#8220;the book is useful&#8221;. It also follows singular pronouns like he, she, and it. Keep in mind that other plural nouns in the sentence will not alter the verb when the subject is singular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When is it appropriate to use \u201care\u201d instead of \u201cis\u201d?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Utilize \u201care\u201d with plural subjects: The books are useful. The students are ready. It will also be followed by we, you, and they. You need to select the right one. First determine the sentence&#8217;s main subject and then see if it is singular or plural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should it be \u201cthere is\u201d or \u201cthere are\u201d?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use &#8220;there is&#8221; for singular nouns, e.g., &#8220;there is a problem. Use \u201cthere are\u201d for plural nouns, such as \u201cthere are several problems.\u201d The noun after the verb is the subject, so always look at the noun after \u201cthere\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When do collective nouns use is and are?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Collective nouns like team, family, committee, or government can take either form, depending on what they represent. Use the word &#8220;is&#8221; when the group is considered a whole. Use \u201care\u201d when referring to individual members as one. The choice will sound best depending on the context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I use \u201cis\u201d or \u201care\u201d properly?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, note the general subject and disregard other phrases at this point. Then see if the subject is singular or plural and select the correct verb. Be sure to look for collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, compound subjects, and either\/or combinations. Awkward agreements can be detected by reading the sentence out loud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you start looking for the subject, it will be easier to determine whether to use is or are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use &#8220;is&#8221; with the third person singular subject and &#8220;are&#8221; with the third person plural subject. Collective nouns, uncountable nouns, indefinite pronouns, compound subjects, questions, \u201cthere is\/there are\u201d, and structures like \u201ceither\/or\u201d are the main difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The only way to get better is to practice repeatedly. Recognize the noun, determine its number, select the correct verb, and read the entire sentence for meaning. This basic habit is enough to help even longer sentences be written accurately.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Master subject-verb agreement effortlessly by learning essential grammar rules. Use &#8220;is&#8221; when describing single items, singular pronouns, or collective groups, but select &#8220;are&#8221; whenever referencing multiple people, places, or things instead. Build Stronger Sentences With Simple Agreement Ever ended up with a sentence and then, after reading and thinking it through, wondered: should it be&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":289,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[25,24,23,22],"class_list":["post-284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","tag-are","tag-is","tag-is-and-are","tag-is-vs-are"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=284"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":288,"href":"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/284\/revisions\/288"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dissertationboss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}