Is or Are Grammar: Subject-Verb Agreement Rules and Examples

In is or are grammar, the correct verb depends on whether the subject is singular or plural. Use is with one person, place, thing, or idea; use are with more than one.

The most reliable method is to find the true subject first, then ignore nearby nouns that do not control the verb. This prevents errors in sentences with phrases, compound subjects, quantities, and either-or constructions.

Is or Are Grammar: The Basic Agreement Rule

Singular Subjects Take Is

A singular subject takes is in the present tense of the verb be.

• The book is on the desk.
• The student is ready.
• Her answer is correct.

These subjects refer to one thing, even when a modifier follows them:

• The book on the desks is required.
• The student with two notebooks is ready.

The pronoun it also takes is: It is raining. The first-person singular pronoun is the main exception in the present tense: I am, not I is.

Plural Subjects Take Are

A plural subject takes are.

• The books are on the desk.
• The students are ready.
• Her answers are correct.

The pronouns we, you, and they take are: We are prepared. You are early. They are outside. A subject does not become plural simply because another noun appears nearby. Agreement follows the subject that performs or receives the action described by the sentence.

Is Vs Are Grammar: Find the True Subject

Ignore Intervening Phrases

Prepositional phrases and other interruptions can place a plural noun next to the verb. That nearby noun may be misleading. Remove the interruption mentally and match the verb to the subject.

• The box of old files is in storage.
• The quality of the samples is consistent.
• The files in the box are organized.

In the first sentence, box is the subject; of old files is an intervening phrase. In the second, quality is singular, so it takes is. In the third, files is the subject and takes are.

Relative clauses can create the same problem:

• The report that contains three charts is complete.
• The reports that contain three charts are complete.

The relative clause describes the subject but does not change its number. A useful test is to temporarily remove the clause: The report is complete; The reports are complete.

Identify the Head Noun Before Choosing the Verb

The head noun is the central noun in the subject. Articles, adjectives, phrases, and clauses may add information, but the head noun controls agreement.

1. Locate the subject.
2. Cross out phrases beginning with words such as of, with, in, or that.
3. Identify the head noun that remains.
4. Choose is for a singular head noun and are for a plural head noun.

For example, in The collection of rare coins is valuable, collection is the head noun. The plural noun coins does not control the verb.

Is and Are Grammar in Compound and Tricky Constructions

Compound Subjects Joined by And

Two subjects joined by and usually form a plural subject and take are:

• Maya and Luis are presenting the report.
• The manager and the assistant are available.

Use is when the words joined by and describe one person, one item, or one combined idea:

• The manager and owner is attending the meeting. (one person)
• Peanut butter and jelly is a common sandwich filling. (one combination)

Either-Or and Neither-Nor Subjects

With either-or and neither-nor constructions, the verb generally agrees with the subject closest to it:

• Either the assistants or the manager is available.
• Either the manager or the assistants are available.
• Neither the director nor the actors are attending.

The nearest noun can mislead a writer who begins matching the verb to the first noun. Reading through the entire construction reveals which subject is closest to the verb. When the result sounds awkward, the sentence can be rewritten: The manager or the assistants are available.

Collective Nouns and Quantities

A collective noun names a group. In American English, it usually takes a singular verb when the group acts as one unit:

• The committee is reviewing the proposal.
• The team is traveling tomorrow.

A plural verb may be used when the members are emphasized as individuals, especially in British English: The team are disagreeing among themselves. The intended meaning and the variety of English determine the choice.

Quantities require attention to the noun or meaning:

• Ten dollars is enough. (one amount)
• Ten dollars bills are in the drawer. (multiple bills)
• A number of applicants are waiting.
• The number of applicants is increasing.
• Some of the water is cold, but some of the bottles are cold.

Practice Examples: Choose Is or Are and Explain Why

Practice Set

Choose is or are for each sentence.

1. The list of required documents (is / are) on the desk.
2. The documents in the folder (is / are) complete.
3. Either the trainers or the coordinator (is / are) available.
4. Either the coordinator or the trainers (is / are) available.
5. A number of applicants (is / are) waiting outside.
6. The number of applicants (is / are) growing.
7. The research team (is / are) meeting at noon.

Answers and Explanations

1. Is: List is the singular head noun. The phrase of required documents does not control the verb.
2. Are: Documents is the plural subject. The phrase in the folder only describes the documents.
3. Is: In an either-or construction, the nearest subject is coordinator, which is singular.
4. Are: Here, the nearest subject is trainers, which is plural.
5. Are: The expression a number of means “many,” so applicants takes the plural verb.
6. Is: The head noun is number. The number of refers to one total, making the subject singular.
7. Is: The team is presented as one unit meeting together. If the sentence emphasizes separate members, a plural verb may be appropriate in varieties of English that allow collective nouns to take plural agreement.