"Is" and "are" are forms of the verb "to be" used for subject-verb agreement in English. "Is" pairs with singular subjects, while "are" pairs with plural subjects.
English requires verbs to match their subjects in number. This means singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. The verb "to be" changes form based on this rule.
The present tense forms of "to be" are:
| Subject | Verb Form |
|---|---|
| I | am |
| You, we, they | are |
| He, she, it | is |
For example: "She is happy" (singular) vs. "They are happy" (plural).
Many learners confuse "is" and "are" when subjects are collective nouns or compound subjects. For instance, "The team is playing well" (single unit) vs. "The team members are playing well" (individual players).
Some nouns that look plural take "is," such as "news" or "economics." For example: "The news is surprising.", some indefinite pronouns like "everyone" or "anyone" always take "is" because they refer to singular concepts.
According to the English Grammar Organization, these exceptions exist because they are treated as singular in meaning despite their plural forms. Always check the context to determine the correct verb form.