Do you ever hesitate between “is” and “are” in sentences like these:
- “Everyone ____ here.” (Is it “is” or “are”?)
- “Some of the equipment ____ heavy.” (Is it “is” or “are”?)
- “None of this information ____ correct.” (Is it “is” or “are”?)
If you’ve ever been unsure, you’re not alone! Even advanced English learners sometimes struggle with these choices.
The good news? Once you understand three simple rules, you’ll never make this mistake again.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn:
- ✅ Rule 1: How to handle indefinite pronouns (everyone, someone, no one)
- ✅ Rule 2: How to handle demonstratives (this, that, these, those)
- ✅ Rule 3: How to handle countable vs. uncountable nouns
- ✅ PLENTY of examples for each rule
- ✅ Past tense rules (was vs. were)
- ✅ A practice quiz to test yourself
Let’s dive in!
Part 1: The Core Concept
What Are We Talking About?
The verb “to be” has different forms depending on the subject:
| Present Tense | Past Tense |
|---|---|
| I am | I was |
| You are | You were |
| He/She/It is | He/She/It was |
| We are | We were |
| They are | They were |
The challenge comes when the subject is not a simple noun like “book” or “books.” In this lesson, we’ll look at three special categories that often cause confusion.
Part 2: Rule 1 – Indefinite Pronouns (Everyone, Someone, No One, etc.)
The Rule
Indefinite pronouns like everyone, someone, anybody, nobody, and everything are SINGULAR. Always use “is” (or “was” in the past tense).
Key Words:
- Everyone / Everybody
- Someone / Somebody
- Anyone / Anybody
- No one / Nobody
- Everything / Something / Anything / Nothing
- Each / Either / Neither
Why? Even though “everyone” sounds like many people, in English it refers to one group or one person at a time. Think of it as “every one person.”
Examples
Present Tense (is):
- “Everyone is here.”
- “Someone is in the car.”
- “No one is at home.”
- “Everything is ready.”
- “Something is wrong.”
- “Anybody is welcome to join.”
- “Each of the students is responsible.”
Past Tense (was):
- “Everyone was here.”
- “Someone was in the car.”
- “No one was at home.”
- “Everything was ready.”
- “Something was wrong.”
More Examples
With “Everyone”:
- “Everyone is excited about the trip.”
- “Everyone was happy with the results.”
- “Everyone is expected to attend the meeting.”
- “Everyone was surprised by the announcement.”
With “Someone”:
- “Someone is waiting for you outside.”
- “Someone was calling your name.”
- “Someone is going to help you with this.”
- “Someone was injured in the accident.”
With “No One”:
- “No one is available right now.”
- “No one was at the party.”
- “No one is going to believe this story.”
- “No one was injured in the fire.”
With “Everything”:
- “Everything is going according to plan.”
- “Everything was perfect.”
- “Everything is ready for the presentation.”
- “Everything was cleaned and organized.”
With “Each”:
- “Each of the students is required to attend.”
- “Each of the options is equally good.”
- “Each of the employees was given a bonus.”
- “Each of the candidates is well-qualified.”
With “Either/Neither”:
- “Either of the answers is correct.”
- “Neither of the solutions is acceptable.”
- “Either of the candidates was suitable.”
- “Neither of the options was available.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Incorrect: “Everyone are here.”
✅ Correct: “Everyone is here.”
❌ Incorrect: “Someone are waiting.”
✅ Correct: “Someone is waiting.”
❌ Incorrect: “No one are at home.”
✅ Correct: “No one is at home.”
❌ Incorrect: “Everything are ready.”
✅ Correct: “Everything is ready.”
❌ Incorrect: “Neither of the options are good.”
✅ Correct: “Neither of the options is good.”
Part 3: Rule 2 – Demonstratives (This, That, These, Those)
The Rule
The choice between “is” and “are” depends on whether the demonstrative is singular or plural.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| This (near) | These (near) |
| That (far) | Those (far) |
- This / That → Singular → Use is (or was)
- These / Those → Plural → Use are (or were)
Examples
Present Tense (is/are):
- “This cake is delicious.” (Singular → is)
- “That book is interesting.” (Singular → is)
- “These flowers are lovely.” (Plural → are)
- “Those laptops are expensive.” (Plural → are)
Past Tense (was/were):
- “This cake was delicious.” (Singular → was)
- “That book was interesting.” (Singular → was)
- “These flowers were lovely.” (Plural → were)
- “Those laptops were expensive.” (Plural → were)
More Examples
With “This” (Singular, Near):
- “This is my favorite restaurant.”
- “This was a great experience.”
- “This is the best movie I’ve seen.”
- “This was the moment I’d been waiting for.”
With “That” (Singular, Far):
- “That is a beautiful painting.”
- “That was a memorable trip.”
- “That is exactly what I needed.”
- “That was the worst day of my life.”
With “These” (Plural, Near):
- “These are my new shoes.”
- “These were the best years of my life.”
- “These are the documents you requested.”
- “These were the gifts I received.”
With “Those” (Plural, Far):
- “Those are the books I borrowed.”
- “Those were the days of our youth.”
- “Those are the people I was telling you about.”
- “Those were the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen.”
The Two Factors: Quantity & Distance
When choosing between this/that/these/those, consider two things:
1. Quantity:
- Singular → this / that
- Plural → these / those
2. Distance:
- Near → this / these
- Far → that / those
| Distance | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Near | This (book) | These (books) |
| Far | That (book) | Those (books) |
Examples:
- “This book on my desk is interesting.” (Near, singular)
- “That book on the shelf is interesting.” (Far, singular)
- “These books on my desk are interesting.” (Near, plural)
- “Those books on the shelf are interesting.” (Far, plural)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Incorrect: “These book is on the table.” (These + singular noun)
✅ Correct: “This book is on the table.” OR “These books are on the table.”
❌ Incorrect: “That books are on the shelf.” (That + plural noun)
✅ Correct: “That book is on the shelf.” OR “Those books are on the shelf.”
❌ Incorrect: “Those cake is delicious.” (Those + singular noun)
✅ Correct: “That cake is delicious.” OR “Those cakes are delicious.”
Part 4: Rule 3 – Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns (with All, Most, Some, None)
The Rule
When using words like “all,” “most,” “some,” or “none,” look at the noun that follows to decide if it’s singular or plural.
- Uncountable nouns → Always singular → Use is (or was)
- Countable nouns (plural) → Use are (or were)
What Are Uncountable Nouns?
Uncountable nouns are things that cannot be counted individually. They are always treated as singular.
Common Uncountable Nouns:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Information | information, advice, news, data |
| Substances | water, milk, coffee, sugar, rice |
| Abstract concepts | love, happiness, knowledge, research |
| Materials | equipment, furniture, luggage |
| Activities | homework, work, sleep |
| Academic subjects | mathematics, economics, physics |
Examples with “All”
Uncountable (is):
- “All of the information is correct.”
- “All of the luggage is here.”
- “All of the furniture is new.”
- “All of the advice was helpful.”
Countable Plural (are):
- “All of the reports are ready.”
- “All of the suitcases are here.”
- “All of the chairs are new.”
- “All of the suggestions were helpful.”
Examples with “Most”
Uncountable (is):
- “Most of his advice is useful.”
- “Most of the equipment is outdated.”
- “Most of the information was accurate.”
- “Most of the homework is finished.”
Countable Plural (are):
- “Most of his ideas are useful.”
- “Most of the machines are outdated.”
- “Most of the facts were accurate.”
- “Most of the assignments are finished.”
Examples with “Some”
Uncountable (is):
- “Some of the information is missing.”
- “Some of the furniture is broken.”
- “Some of the news was surprising.”
- “Some of the equipment is new.”
Countable Plural (are):
- “Some of the reports are missing.”
- “Some of the chairs are broken.”
- “Some of the stories were surprising.”
- “Some of the tools are new.”
Examples with “None”
Uncountable (is):
- “None of this information is correct.”
- “None of the equipment was working.”
- “None of the furniture is damaged.”
- “None of the news was good.”
Countable Plural (are):
- “None of the facts are correct.”
- “None of the machines were working.”
- “None of the chairs are damaged.”
- “None of the reports were good.”
Special Cases: Academic Subjects
Nouns ending in -s like “mathematics,” “economics,” “physics,” and “politics” are singular.
Examples:
- “Mathematics is difficult for some people.”
- “Economics is an interesting subject.”
- “Physics is the study of matter and energy.”
- “Politics is a complex field.”
- “Mathematics was my favorite subject.”
- “Economics was not my strongest subject.”
Compare with plural:
- “These mathematics problems are difficult.” (Now it’s countable!)
- “Economics classes are interesting.” (Now it’s plural!)
Languages
Languages are always treated as singular.
Examples:
- “English is a global language.”
- “French is spoken in many countries.”
- “Spanish is her first language.”
- “German was difficult to learn.”
Abstract Nouns
Abstract concepts like love, advice, education, and knowledge are uncountable and treated as singular.
Examples:
- “Education is valuable.”
- “Love is important.”
- “Advice is often helpful.”
- “Knowledge is power.”
Compare with countable:
- “These lessons are valuable.” (Lessons = countable)
- “These love letters are beautiful.” (Letters = countable)
- “Some pieces of advice are helpful.” (Pieces = countable)
Part 5: Summary Table
| Category | Rule | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Indefinite Pronouns | Always singular → is | Everyone is, Someone is, Nobody is |
| Demonstratives (This/That) | Singular → is | This cake is, That book is |
| Demonstratives (These/Those) | Plural → are | These flowers are, Those laptops are |
| Uncountable Nouns | Always singular → is | Information is, Equipment is |
| Countable Nouns (Plural) | Plural → are | Reports are, Chairs are |
| Academic Subjects | Always singular → is | Mathematics is, Economics is |
| Languages | Always singular → is | English is, French is |
| Abstract Nouns | Always singular → is | Education is, Love is |
Part 6: Past Tense Rules (Was vs. Were)
The exact same rules apply in the past tense:
| Category | Past Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Indefinite Pronouns | was | “Everyone was here.” |
| Singular Demonstratives (This/That) | was | “This cake was delicious.” |
| Plural Demonstratives (These/Those) | were | “Those laptops were expensive.” |
| Uncountable Nouns | was | “The information was correct.” |
| Countable Nouns (Plural) | were | “The reports were ready.” |
Examples in Past Tense
Indefinite Pronouns:
- “Everything was ready.”
- “Everyone was happy.”
- “Someone was in the car.”
- “No one was at home.”
Demonstratives:
- “This cake was delicious.”
- “That book was interesting.”
- “These flowers were lovely.”
- “Those laptops were expensive.”
Uncountable Nouns:
- “All of the information was correct.”
- “Most of his advice was useful.”
- “Some of the equipment was heavy.”
- “None of this information was correct.”
Countable Nouns (Plural):
- “All of the reports were ready.”
- “Most of his ideas were useful.”
- “Some of the chairs were broken.”
- “None of the facts were correct.”
Part 7: Practice Quiz – Test Yourself!
Choose the correct form (is/are) for each sentence.
1. “Everyone ____ here.”
Answer: is — “Everyone” is an indefinite pronoun (singular).
2. “Some of the equipment ____ heavy.”
Answer: is — “Equipment” is an uncountable noun (singular).
3. “These flowers ____ lovely.”
Answer: are — “These” is plural + “flowers” is plural.
4. “____ anybody home?”
Answer: Is — “Anybody” is an indefinite pronoun (singular).
5. “All the phone lines ____ busy.”
Answer: are — “Lines” is a plural countable noun.
6. “None of this information ____ correct.”
Answer: is — “Information” is an uncountable noun (singular).
7. “Everything ____ ready.”
Answer: is — “Everything” is an indefinite pronoun (singular).
8. “This cake ____ delicious.”
Answer: is — “This” is singular.
9. “Someone ____ in the car.”
Answer: is — “Someone” is an indefinite pronoun (singular).
10. “No one ____ at home.”
Answer: is — “No one” is an indefinite pronoun (singular).
11. “Most of his advice ____ useful.”
Answer: is — “Advice” is an uncountable noun (singular).
12. “Those laptops ____ expensive.”
Answer: are — “Those” is plural + “laptops” is plural.
13. “Mathematics ____ difficult for many students.”
Answer: is — Academic subjects ending in -s are singular.
14. “All of the reports ____ ready.”
Answer: are — “Reports” is a plural countable noun.
15. “None of the furniture ____ damaged.”
Answer: is — “Furniture” is an uncountable noun (singular).
Part 8: Real-Life Conversation Examples
Example 1: At Work
Manager: “Is everyone ready for the meeting?”
Employee: “Yes, everyone is ready.”
Manager: “What about the reports? All of the reports ____ ready?”
Employee: “All of the reports are ready.”
Example 2: At Home
Parent: “What ____ in the oven?” (is/are)
Child: “This cake is for your birthday.”
Parent: “These flowers ____ beautiful!” (is/are)
Child: “They’re from the garden.”
Example 3: At School
Teacher: “Mathematics is challenging for some students.”
Student: “I agree. Some of the homework ____ really hard.” (is/are)
Teacher: “Some of the equations ____ difficult.” (is/are)
Example 4: Customer Service
Customer: “Is anyone available to help me?”
Employee: “Someone is coming right away.”
Customer: “All of my orders ____ delayed.” (is/are)
Employee: “We apologize. None of the orders ____ on time.” (is/are)
Example 5: Travel
Tourist: “All of the luggage ____ here, right?” (is/are)
Guide: “Yes, all of the luggage is here.”
Tourist: “Everyone is on the bus?”
Guide: “Yes, everyone is here.”
Part 9: Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
| Rule | Use “is” | Use “are” |
|---|---|---|
| Indefinite Pronouns | Everyone, Someone, No one, Everybody, Everything | (Never — they are all singular) |
| Demonstratives | This, That | These, Those |
| Uncountable Nouns | Information, Equipment, Advice, Furniture | (Never — always singular) |
| Countable Nouns (Singular) | Chair, Book, Report | (Use is) |
| Countable Nouns (Plural) | (Use are) | Chairs, Books, Reports |
| Academic Subjects | Mathematics, Economics, Physics | (Never — always singular) |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish | (Never — always singular) |
| Abstract Nouns | Love, Education, Knowledge | (Never — always singular) |
Part 10: Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Using “Are” with Indefinite Pronouns
❌ Incorrect: “Everyone are here.”
✅ Correct: “Everyone is here.”
❌ Incorrect: “Somebody are waiting.”
✅ Correct: “Someone is waiting.”
Mistake 2: Using “Is” with “These” or “Those”
❌ Incorrect: “These cake is delicious.”
✅ Correct: “These cakes are delicious.” OR “This cake is delicious.”
Mistake 3: Using “Are” with Uncountable Nouns
❌ Incorrect: “The information are correct.”
✅ Correct: “The information is correct.”
❌ Incorrect: “His advice are useful.”
✅ Correct: “His advice is useful.”
Mistake 4: Confusing “None” as Plural
❌ Incorrect: “None of the information are correct.”
✅ Correct: “None of the information is correct.” (Information is uncountable)
❌ Incorrect: “None of the chairs is available.”
✅ Correct: “None of the chairs are available.” (Chairs are countable/plural)
Mistake 5: Using “Are” with Academic Subjects
❌ Incorrect: “Mathematics are difficult.”
✅ Correct: “Mathematics is difficult.” (Academic subject is singular)
Part 11: Memory Tricks
Memory Trick 1: “Everyone is ONE”
Remember that everyone, someone, anyone, no one all contain “one” and are therefore singular.
Memory Trick 2: “This/That = One” / “These/Those = More”
- This / That → One thing → Use “is”
- These / Those → More than one → Use “are”
Memory Trick 3: Uncountable = “It”
If you can replace the noun with “it,” use “is”:
- “The information is correct.” → “It is correct.” ✅
If you can replace the noun with “they,” use “are”:
- “The reports are ready.” → “They are ready.” ✅
Memory Trick 4: Academic Subjects are Singular
Subjects ending in -s (mathematics, physics, economics) are singular, just like “news.”
Part 12: Summary Table
| Category | Rule | Present | Past |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indefinite Pronouns | Always singular | Everyone is | Everyone was |
| This / That | Singular | This is | This was |
| These / Those | Plural | These are | These were |
| Uncountable Nouns | Always singular | Information is | Information was |
| Countable Nouns (Plural) | Plural | Reports are | Reports were |
| Academic Subjects | Always singular | Mathematics is | Mathematics was |
| Languages | Always singular | English is | English was |
| Abstract Nouns | Always singular | Love is | Love was |
Final Summary
| Concept | Rule |
|---|---|
| Indefinite Pronouns | Everyone, someone, no one, everything → Use IS |
| Demonstratives | This/That → IS / These/Those → ARE |
| Uncountable Nouns | Information, equipment, furniture → Use IS |
| Countable Nouns (Plural) | Reports, chairs, books → Use ARE |
| Academic Subjects | Mathematics, economics → Use IS |
| Languages | English, French → Use IS |
| Abstract Nouns | Love, education → Use IS |
Put Your Skills Into Practice
Now that you’ve mastered these rules, it’s time to practice!
Your Challenge: Write 10 sentences in the comments below using different categories:
- 2 with indefinite pronouns (everyone, someone, no one)
- 2 with demonstratives (this/that/these/those)
- 2 with uncountable nouns (information, equipment, advice)
- 2 with countable plural nouns (reports, chairs, books)
- 2 with academic subjects or languages
Example:
- “Everyone is excited about the trip.”
- “Some of the information is incorrect.”
- “These flowers are beautiful.”
- “Mathematics is my favorite subject.”
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Which of these rules was most helpful for you? Share in the comments below—I’d love to hear from you!
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