Difference Between Is and Are (With Table)

There are many words in the English language which are used very commonly by people in their day-to-day life. Two such words are ‘Is’ and ‘are.’ These two words are used in almost all the sentences at least once.

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It is almost impossible where one cannot find these two words in spoken or written form of communication while a person communicates. There are very few chances where these words are not put into use in a sentence.

Is vs Are

The main difference between ‘Is’ and ‘are’ is that the word ‘is’ is used in a sentence only when the subject is a noun or pronoun having a singular form in the sentence by a person and on the other hand, the word ‘are is used in a sentence Only when the subject is a noun or a pronoun in a plural form in the sentence by a person.

This word ‘is’ is used in a sentence with the subject or pronoun being singular. Besides this word being used in a place where a singular subject is seen, it is also used in many other contexts in a sentence. Although the word ‘everyone’ is plural, the word ‘is’ is supposed to be used after it by a person while talking or writing a sentence.

The word ‘are is used in a sentence when the subject or pronoun is plural. Even though they are used only after plural nouns or pronouns, some tricky words are not plural nut the word ‘are is used after it. These are called plural indefinite pronouns. The examples of such pronouns are some, many, few, etc.

Comparison Table Between Is and Are

Parameters of Comparison

Is

Are

Number of words

The word ‘is’ is two-lettered.

The word ‘are’ is three-lettered

Meaning

The word ‘is’ is used in a sentence when the noun or pronoun is in the singular form in a sentence.

The word ‘are’ is used in a sentence when the noun or pronoun is in plural form in a sentence.

Example of suffix

The word ‘is’ a part of many words as it suffixes such as hypothesis, paralysis, etc.

The word ‘are’ is part of many words as its suffix such as bare, glare, fare, care, etc.

Form

Used for the singular form

Used for the plural form

Example

She is off to the party.

They are off to the party.

What is Is?

This word is used in a sentence with the subject or pronoun being singular. Besides this word being used in a place where a singular subject is seen, it is also used in many other contexts in a sentence. Although the word ‘everyone’ is plural, the word ‘is’ is supposed to be used after it by a person while talking or writing a sentence.

When in a sentence, there is the usage of either or before a subject in a sentence, then at that time, the word ‘is’ used in a sentence. When in a sentence the noun is uncountable, then at that time, the word ‘is’ is used in a sentence instead of indefinite articles such as an or the.

Follow are some examples where the word ‘is’ is used in a sentence-

  1. What is your favorite hobby to do in your free time?
  2. Is this your handbag which is on that table?
  3. Everyone is going to the party tomorrow.
  4. She is so Beautifully dressed in that gown.
  5. This is the way to go to your village, I think.

What is Are?

The word ‘are is used in a sentence when the subject or pronoun is plural. Even though they are used only after plural nouns or pronouns, some tricky words are not plural nut the word ‘are is used after it. These are called plural indefinite pronouns. The examples of such pronouns are some, many, few, etc.

This word is also used in a sentence where a sentence is connected by a subject that is compounded and has two subjects together in One Sentence. This word is also used in a sentence after a subject when words like ‘a number of’, ‘a pair of’ or ‘a bundle of’ are used by people while talking or writing.

Following are some examples where the word ‘Are’ is used in a sentence-

  1. What are those blue-colored things over there?
  2. They are going to play football tomorrow.
  3. Julie and same are coming with us to the Hospital.
  4. What are the odds of them not going?
  5. Those couples are so cute to look at.

Main Differences Between Is and Are

  1. The word ‘is’ is two-lettered, and on the other hand, the word ‘are’ is three-lettered.
  2. The word ‘is’ is used in a sentence when the noun or pronoun is in the singular form in a sentence, and on the other hand, the word ‘are’ is used in a sentence when the noun or pronoun is in plural form in a sentence.
  3. The word ‘is’ a part of many words as it suffix such as hypothesis, paralysis, etc., and on the other hand, the word ‘are’ is part of many words as its suffix such as bare, glare, fare, care, etc.
  4. The word ‘is’ is for single forms. On the other hand, the word ‘are’ is for plural forms.
  5. ‘She is going to college’ is an example of the word ‘is’ in a sentence, and on the other hand, ‘they are going to college’ is an example of the word ‘are’ in a sentence.

Conclusion

The words ‘is’ and ‘Are’ are the most common words used by humans while communicating through spoken or written form today. Both these words are used in a different context. Their differences lie in how they are supposed to be used in a sentence and in what manner they are supposed to be used according to the context in which they are present.

One should know the difference between these two words to know how they should be used in sentences. If these words are replaced with each other in a sentence by a person, then the meaning of the sentence would change, which may lead to some Miscommunications among people.

References

  1. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01621459.1955.10501299
  2. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0146167293196003

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