When To Use Is Or Are Examples | Fix Agreement In Minutes

A sentence can look fine until spellcheck flags it. “The list are…” “There’s two…” “A bunch of people is…” These slips happen because English subjects don’t always look singular or plural at first glance.

Below you’ll get clear rules, quick tests, and plenty of practice lines so you can choose “is” or “are” without second-guessing.

What “Is” And “Are” Do In A Sentence

“Is” and “are” are forms of the verb to be. They link the subject to a state, identity, or description.

• Singular subject → “is”
• Plural subject → “are”

The twist: the subject is not always a single short word, and it is not always placed before the verb.

When To Use “Is” With Singular Subjects

Use “is” when the subject points to one person, one thing, or one idea.

Singular nouns and names

• The laptop is on the desk.
• My sister is in class.
• Dhaka is busy at night.

Singular pronouns

• It is raining.
• This is the final draft.

Uncountable nouns

Some nouns name a mass, not separate countable items, so they take “is.”

• Homework is due tomorrow.
• News is on at six.
• Furniture is delivered on Friday.

Amounts as one total

• Ten minutes is enough.
• Five hundred taka is the fee.
• Two kilometers is a short walk.

When To Use “Are” With Plural Subjects

Use “are” when the subject points to more than one person or thing.

Plural nouns and pronouns

• The laptops are charging.
• They are ready.
• We are on our way.

Two subjects linked with “and”

When you join two subjects with “and,” you usually create a plural subject.

• Tea and coffee are available.
• My brother and I are late.

Fast Tests When You’re Not Sure

When a sentence feels slippery, run one of these checks. They work even in long academic lines.

Test 1: Replace the subject with “it” or “they”

Swap the full subject for a pronoun. If “it is” fits, use “is.” If “they are” fits, use “are.”

• The set of instructions (it)is clear.
• The instructions (they)are clear.

Test 2: Find the head noun

Long subjects often include an “of” phrase. The head noun is the word doing the real work.

• The list of items is on the table. (Head noun: list)
• The items on the list are on sale. (Head noun: items)

Test 3: Flip the word order

If the sentence starts with “there” or is a question, rewrite it in plain subject-verb order and choose the matching verb.

• There are two answers. → Two answers are there.
• Is the results page loading? → The results page is loading.

When To Use Is Or Are Examples In Tricky Real Sentences

These are the cases that trip up writers on exams, in cover letters, and in everyday messages.

“There is” and “there are”

In “there is/are” sentences, the real subject comes after the verb. Match the verb to what follows. Purdue’s writing handout names this pattern and shows sample lines. Purdue OWL subject–verb agreement notes are a solid reference.

• There is a problem with the file.
• There are three problems with the file.

Collective nouns

Words like team, family, and committee often act singular when the group moves as one unit.

• The team is practicing today.
• My family is traveling in July.

You may also see “are” when the writer stresses the members as separate people. Pick one style for a document and stick with it.

Subjects joined by “or” and “nor”

With “or” and “nor,” the verb usually matches the noun closest to it.

• Either the teacher or the students are on duty.
• Either the students or the teacher is on duty.

“Each,” “every,” and “one of”

These words push the idea of “one at a time,” so “is” often fits even when you see a plural noun later.

• Each of the students is ready.
• Every book on the shelf is labeled.
• One of my friends is calling.

“A number of” vs. “the number of”

• A number of students are absent. (Meaning: several students)
• The number of students is rising. (Meaning: the total count)

Titles and quoted phrases

Titles and phrases used as names usually take “is,” even if they include plural words.

• “The Chronicles of Narnia” is on my reading list.
• “Seven Habits” is a common course text.

Extra phrases in the middle

Phrases like “along with” and “as well as” do not make the subject plural.

• The captain, along with the players, is ready.
• The report, together with the charts, is attached.

Rule Patterns You Can Copy While Writing

Use this table as a quick lookup while drafting.

Subject pattern	Use	Example sentence
Single noun (a student, the phone)	is	The phone is on silent.
Plural noun (students, phones)	are	The phones are on silent.
Two nouns joined by “and”	are	My notes and slides are in the folder.
Either/or, neither/nor (match the closer noun)	is / are	Neither the teachers nor the student is outside.
“There is/are” (match what follows)	is / are	There are two links in the email.
Collective noun as one unit (team, family)	is	The team is wearing blue.
“Each,” “every,” “one of”	is	Each of the answers is on the board.
“A number of” (meaning several)	are	A number of students are waiting.
“The number of” (meaning the total)	is	The number of pages is high.
Uncountable noun (information, advice)	is	Advice is free, but time is not.
Amounts as one total (time, money, distance)	is	Twenty minutes is enough time.
Titles and names that look plural	is	“Physics Basics” is my next class.

Common Traps And Clean Fixes

Most mistakes come from grabbing the closest noun, trusting a plural-looking word that acts singular, or forgetting that the subject can come after the verb.

Trap: The subject is far from the verb

• Wrong: The list of tasks are attached.
• Right: The list of tasks is attached.

Fix: find the head noun and match the verb to it.

Trap: Words that end in -s but act singular

• Mathematics is hard for me.
• News is spreading.

Trap: “None”

“None” can be singular or plural based on meaning.

• None of the water is left.
• None of the students are late.

Trap: Nonbinary singular “they”

When “they” refers to one person, standard usage still pairs it with a plural verb form.

• Alex said they are free at 3.

Trap: Plural-looking words like “data” and “media”

Some nouns can be treated as singular or plural based on the style you’re writing in. In many classes, “data” is treated as plural in formal writing, while “data” is often treated as singular in casual writing. “Media” often behaves like a plural in news writing.

• These data are from last year’s survey. (formal)
• The data is stored on the server. (casual)
• Social media is part of the course unit.

If your teacher or editor prefers one style, follow that rule inside the same document.

Editing Checklist For “Is” Or “Are”

1. Find the subject. Ask: “Who or what is the sentence about?”
2. Decide if the subject is one unit or more than one.
3. If the sentence starts with “there,” match the verb to what comes after it.
4. If you see “and,” expect “are,” unless the phrase is one fixed name.
5. If you see “each,” “every,” or “one of,” expect “is.”
6. If “or/nor” links subjects, match the noun closest to the verb.
7. Swap in “it” or “they” to confirm your choice.

Cambridge’s grammar page explains subject-verb agreement with clean examples and grammar terms. If you want a second explanation with more patterns, read Cambridge Dictionary subject–verb agreement.

Practice Set With Answers

Fill each blank with “is” or “are,” then check the answers right below.

Choose “is” or “are”

• The set of rules ____ clear.
• There ____ two emails in my inbox.
• Every student in the class ____ ready.
• A number of pages ____ missing.
• The number of pages ____ printed on the cover.
• My friends ____ waiting outside.
• Either the lights or the fan ____ making that sound.
• Either the fan or the lights ____ making that sound.

Answers

• The set of rules is clear.
• There are two emails in my inbox.
• Every student in the class is ready.
• A number of pages are missing.
• The number of pages is printed on the cover.
• My friends are waiting outside.
• Either the lights or the fan is making that sound.
• Either the fan or the lights are making that sound.

Fix These Lines

Use the “better” column as a model for your own emails and assignments.

Wrong	Better	Why it changes
There is two reasons for the delay.	There are two reasons for the delay.	The subject is “two reasons.”
The list of steps are clear.	The list of steps is clear.	Head noun “list” is singular.
A number of files is missing.	A number of files are missing.	“A number of” means several items.
The number of files are missing.	The number of files is missing.	“The number” points to one total.
Either my parents or my brother are picking me up.	Either my parents or my brother is picking me up.	Closer noun “brother” controls the verb.
My research, along with my notes, are in the folder.	My research, along with my notes, is in the folder.	Extra phrase does not change the subject.
Every phone and tablet are charged.	Every phone and tablet is charged.	“Every” treats items one by one.
None of the advice are useful.	None of the advice is useful.	“Advice” is uncountable.

Final Pass Before You Submit

Scan your page for “is” and “are.” Read each sentence and point to the subject. If you can swap the subject with “it” or “they” and the sentence still sounds natural, you’re set.