The English language can be quite complex at times. Just when you think you’ve mastered a concept, something will come along that will throw doubt your way. One common source of confusion is what verb form to use after “everyone” — Is it “everyone is” or “everyone are”?
“Everyone is” will be the correct choice. “Everyone,” “someone,” “anyone,” etc., all belong to the group of indefinite pronouns that take a singular verb. Many people mistakenly assume that they are plural pronouns and use “are” in place of “is.” However, as singular indefinite pronouns, they take a singular verb because subject and verb must always agree.
This article will explore the difference between “everyone is” and “everyone are” and include a detailed discussion about indefinite pronouns and subject-verb agreement.
What Is “Everyone?”
“Everyone” is an indefinite pronoun we use to refer to a total number of people. Grammarians and lexicographers group it with “everything,” “everybody,” and “everywhere” as a cluster of indefinite pronouns that function to denote an unspecified number of people, places, or things (source).
Pronouns replace nouns in sentences, so we use “everyone” to talk about a non-specific group of people. Consider the following sentences, where “everyone” replaces a noun phrase.
I want to thank all my friends and family for supporting me through my illness.
I want to thank everyone for supporting me through my illness.
Did you check if Jack, Mike, Andy, and Sally are available for the meeting?
Did you check if everyone is available for the meeting?
So Is It Everyone Is or Are?
Many English learners will wonder, “Should ‘is’ or ‘are’ be used with everyone?” Since we use “everyone” to refer to more than one person, the majority of English learners’ first instinct is to think of “everyone” as plural. Following this reasoning, they’ll favor using “are” in place of “is.”
However, it’s important to remember that “everyone,” “everything,” “everybody,” and “everywhere” refer to a single group. The contents of the group are an unspecified number of people, things, or places, but the group is singular, so we always follow these pronouns with a singular verb.
All indefinite pronouns that end in -one will take a singular verb. These include “everyone,” “someone,” “anyone,” and “no one.”
Everyone are happy about their news. (Incorrect)
Everyone is happy about their news. (Correct)
Other indefinite pronouns denote countable numbers of people, things, or places — such as both or many — and logically, we always follow these with a plural verb.
Explaining Indefinite Pronouns
By definition, indefinite pronouns do not refer to any particular place, person, or thing. There is a group of indefinite pronouns in English that we form using a quantifier as a prefix, such as every-, any-, some-, and no- (source).
Place | Person | Thing | |
---|---|---|---|
All | Everywhere | Everywhere | Everything |
Part (positive) | Somewhere | Somewhere | Something |
Part (negative) | Anywhere | Anyone Anybody |
Anything |
None | Nowhere | No one Nobody |
Nothing |
Indefinite pronouns with any- and some- are useful for describing incomplete and indefinite quantities, similarly to when we apply “any” and “some” alone.
We can place indefinite pronouns in the place of nouns in a sentence, as evidenced below.
Noun | Indefinite Pronoun |
---|---|
I plan to go to Singapore this summer. | I plan to go somewhere this summer. |
Rob gifted me a pen. | Someone gifted me a pen. |
I bought my office supplies at the store. | I bought everything necessary at the store. |
I want all my friends and family to come to my party. | I want everyone to come to my party. |
Key Rules for Verbs Following Indefinite Pronouns
Some basic rules govern the use of singular or plural verbs following indefinite pronouns, which are very useful to master. Below, we’ve listed other indefinite pronouns that function similarly to “everyone” and others that don’t.
Ending -body, -one, -where, or -thing
All indefinite pronouns that end -body, -one, -where, or -thing take a singular verb. The ending -where indicates place, -thing indicates objects, and -one and -body indicate people.
Indefinite pronouns using the -body ending include “somebody,” “everybody,” “nobody,” and “anybody.”
Everybody are ready for today’s match. (Incorrect)
Everybody is ready for today’s match. (Correct)
Specific Plurals
Indefinite pronouns that specify an amount like “few,” “both,” “many,” and “several” take a plural verb.
Many of them is happy with the plan. (Incorrect)
Many of them are happy with the plan. (Correct)
Others Depend on Context
Some indefinite pronouns can accept singular or plural verbs, depending on their usage. These include “any,” “all,” “more,” “none,” and “some.”
All are welcome at my party.
All is forgiven.
More information is needed before I can decide.
More drinks are needed for this party.
What About Everybody?
Most people view “everyone” and “everybody” as synonyms of one another, but there are some subtle differences. Both are indefinite pronouns that refer to an indefinite number of people in a group, and we can often use them interchangeably.
However, most consider “everyone” more appropriate in formal use than “everybody.” It’s, therefore, more common to hear “everybody” in spoken, conversational English and to see “everyone” in written English.
Consider the sentences below. In all cases, you could use “everybody” or “everyone,” and the meaning would remain the same.
Everyone was in a very strange mood.
Her name is Katherine, but everybody calls her Katie.
Everyone will have an opportunity to taste the dessert.
I wish everybody would just leave me alone.
Difference Between “Everyone” and “Every One”
We can replace the pronoun “everyone” with “everybody,” referring to all the individuals in a group. Used as two words, “every one” lays stress on each individual who is part of a group, and it indicates each person.
“Everyone” and “every one” do not mean the same thing, and deciding which one is appropriate requires proper consideration. You need to think about the actual meaning of the term in its context (source).
Use “everyone” when you are trying to refer to all the people collectively as a group. A great way to remember this is to note that “everyone” and “everybody” are interchangeable.
The new rules will affect everyone in a positive way. (Correct)
The new rules will affect everybody in a positive way. (Correct)
You can use “every one” when referring to each member within a group and when there is an “of” in the sentence.
I want to invite every one of you to my birthday party. (Correct)
I want to invite everyone of you to my birthday party. (Incorrect)
For an article on the possessive form of “everyone” consider our article, “Everyone’s or Everyones: Differences, Proper Use, & Meaning,” which you can read by clicking the link.
What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?
As you’ve learned from our discussion so far, you must choose the correct verb to agree with the subject of a sentence. This concept of subject-verb agreement might sound easy, but it can also be confusing at times.
The basic rule of thumb is that you follow a singular subject with a singular verb and a plural subject with a plural verb, as shown in the sentences below.
Jerry drives his car to work every day.
The boys are running like wild animals.
Most importantly, your chosen verb should reflect the subject characteristics, whether it is singular or plural. Consider the examples below.
She see you. (Incorrect)
She sees you. (Correct)
I sees you. (Incorrect)
I see you. (Correct)
It’s easy to confuse many beginners when the subject is complicated and long, as shown in the example below.
The arrival of new stocks in the mall have excited all the female shoppers. (Incorrect)
The arrival of new stocks in the mall has excited all the female shoppers. (Correct)
Again, we use “everyone” as singular because it refers to one group, so you must follow it with a singular verb to ensure subject/verb agreement.
Subject/Verb Agreement Rules
Unlike other languages that need the subject and verb to agree in both gender and number, English verbs are never conjugated for gender and need only match all in number. There are some basic rules for subject-verb agreement, which we outline below with examples (source).
Join Using “and”
A subject composed of nouns and joined using “and” takes a plural subject if the intended sense of the subject is not singular.
He and I go for a run every day.
Jelly and peanut butter is my favorite sandwich spread. (Intended singular sense)
Joining Using “or”
For a subject composed of two or more nouns and joined using “or,” the verb will agree with the last noun.
Rice, potatoes, or pasta goes well with roasted chicken. (Last used noun: pasta)
Using Collective Nouns & Noun Phrases
Collective nouns always take a singular verb (couple, team, staff, etc.), as do collective noun phrases (a group of, a bunch of, etc.).
The cricket team is practicing very hard for the tournament.
The committee will decide what needs to be cut from the school budget.
A set of 10 cups is all you will need for the tea party.
Using Connectives
Connectives include phrases such as “combined with,” “accompanied by,” “along with,” “added to,” “as well as,” and “together with.” These don’t change the subject number, so verb agreement is with the first item. We generally use them with commas unless they denote a single unit.
Gas, as well as oil, is a famous heating medium.
Jelly combined with peanut butter and bread is a yummy snack.
In the second example, bread, jelly, and peanut butter are one unit — a sandwich — so there is no need to use commas, and we keep the singular form of the verb.
Using “Each”
“Each” always takes a singular verb.
Each boy is ready for the match; each is well prepared.
Using “None”
“None” works with a singular verb if what it is trying to refer to is singular. “None” works with a plural verb if what it is trying to refer to is plural.
None of you can go out without permission.
None of the carrots are left on Sandra’s plate. (“Carrots” is plural)
Using Fractions
In the case of fractions, the verb agrees with the whole.
One-fourth of the toffees are gone. (“Toffees” is a plural noun)
One-fourth of the book is already done. (“Book” is a singular noun)
Money as the Subject
If the amount mentioned is specific, you will need to use a singular verb. If the amount is vague, you will need to use a plural verb.
Within one year, $10 million was spent on building this stadium.
“$10 million” is specific, so the verb used is singular.
Funds are collected each year for the annual meet.
“Funds” are non-specific, so the verb used is plural.
Using “More than One”
The phrase “more than one” works with a singular verb.
More than one car has collided in the race.
More than one girl is singing in the troupe.
Using a Phrase In Between
Do not be misled when there is a phrase in between the subject and the verb. The verb will agree with the mentioned subject and not with a pronoun or noun in the phrase. This article is written for strategiesforparents.com.
One of the bags is open.
The team captain, along with the players, is anxious.
The buffet, including all the items in the starter, is boring.
Final Thoughts
Whenever you construct sentences, you have to pay attention to the subject-verb agreement along with the suitable indefinite pronouns. It’s important to know how to treat indefinite pronouns like “everyone” in sentences and when they are singular or plural.
Here we have learned that “everyone is” is always the correct choice because “everyone” is a singular indefinite pronoun. There are other similar pronouns that you will need to learn so that you can become proficient in English.
It’s never correct to say “everyone are” because it does not abide by the rules of subject-verb agreement and indefinite pronouns.
Мы уже рассматривали тему английских неопределенных местоимений. Сегодня мы снова вернуться к этой теме и открыть вам еще несколько секретов, в частности, выяснить, к какому числу сегодня причисляют слово everybody, является ли оно идентичным слову «everyone», и когда использовать somebody.
Everyone or Everybody
Надо сказать, что оба слова: everyone и everybody являются взаимозаменяемыми и означают “every person” (каждый человек), поэтому употребляйте любое, которое вам больше нравится.
Everyone or Every One
Иногда случается, что слово «everyone» пишется раздельно – это никак не ошибка, а абсолютно то же самое. Правда большинство предпочитают писать слитно, а означают оба местоимения «все, каждый».
Singular or Plural?
Когда дело касается неопределенных местоимений, эксперты начинают спорить о том, к какому числу относятся слова everyone и somebody и какой глагол должен за ними следовать.
Хотя мы рассматриваем местоимения everyone и everybody, аналогичные правила применяются и к неопределенным местоимениям no one, nobody, anyone, anybody, someone и somebody. Собственно, всех интересует только одно – какого все же числа эти местоимения? Некоторые утверждают, что слово everyone, например, звучит как «a lot of people», НО! в стране грамматики everyone, как и другие неопределенные местоимения, относятся к единственному числу и согласуются с глаголом в единственном числе, например,
- Everyone likes ice-cream – все любят мороженое (правильное предложение)
- Everyone are present – все присутствуют (неправильное предложение)
В Англии считается допустимым использовать everyone и everybody с глаголом в единственном числе и местоимением во множественном числе (например, “Everyone is here, I can see them!”).
В Америке, однако, все не так просто и американские ученые-лингвисты возражают против использования местоимений множественного числа their, them, they с неопределенными местоимениями everybody или everyone. Суть проблемы в том, что в английском языке нет слова, которое бы относилось к существительному в единственном числе нейтрального рода. В качестве решения грамматисты ранее предлагали использовать фразу «his or her», но не всем удобно произносить следующее предложение: “Everyone is putting a hat on his or her head.” Поэтому мы не рекомендовали бы использовать конструкции такого типа.
В одном мнения грамматистов совпадают – этой проблеме нет решения, а пока его нет, за неопределенными местоимениями будет следовать глагол в единственном числе.
“Everyone” might seem like a plural noun, but that isn’t always the case. Instead, it’s a collective noun, which means it follows certain rules related to using “is” rather than “are.” This article will explain all you need to know about using “everyone is.”
“Everyone is” is the only correct form. We have to use “is” with “everyone” because it’s a collective noun. Collective nouns refer to collections of people or objects, but we are only using them as part of the same singular group.
It’s important to remember this distinction because we do not use “everyone are.”
“Is” is the singular verb form that works best when referring to one person, object, or thing. In this case, the thing is a collective group of multiple people. As long as you can remember that, you’ll have a much easier time understanding how “everyone” interacts with a verb.
Is It Ever Correct To Use “Everyone Are”?
We’ve already established that “everyone is” is the correct choice. But, are there any exceptions that might make “everyone are” more suitable?
“Everyone are” is never correct. We cannot use “are” because it only relates to the plural form. “Everyone” is not a plural word. It does refer to multiple different people, but we do not use it as a plural form.
The problem with collective nouns is that we use them to group multiple people or objects together. While there are many things within the group, the group itself is only referred to as a singular entity. That’s why “everyone is” is the only correct form.
It might also help if you could take a quick look at some statistics. These might help you to understand more about it.
According to Google Ngram Viewer, “everyone are” is never used. This shows that it’s not grammatically correct. There are no instances where we can use it correctly in our writing. Only “everyone is” makes sense in every written case.
Examples Of How To Use “Everyone Is” And “Everyone Are” In A Sentence
Perhaps you’d benefit from checking out some of these examples to see which one works best:
- Correct: Everyone is going to be there. You really can’t miss it! I don’t think that would be smart.
- Incorrect: Everyone are talking to me again. I’m so glad that all of this is over, and I can get back to normal life.
- Correct: Everyone is uncertain about it. I wish there was some way to convince them about what’s going to happen.
- Incorrect: Everyone are here. I think it’s about time we began the talk because we’re wasting valuable time right now.
- Correct: Everyone is going. I don’t think you managed to capture their attention, which is a real shame.
- Incorrect: Everyone are planning on attending. I haven’t seen this many accepted invitations since my mother’s wedding.
- Correct: If everyone is going to be there, then I’m not going to come. I’m not very good with crowds, after all.
- Incorrect: Everyone are telling me something different. I don’t know what the truth is anymore, and I hate that!
“Everyone is” is the only correct form. We treat “everyone” as a singular collective noun. While it refers to a group of multiple people, we only use it to refer to one entity. That’s why “is” is the only acceptable verb form.
Is It “Is Everyone” Or “Are Everyone”?
“Is everyone” is the only correct form. It doesn’t matter where the verb form comes in the sentence; we still have to use “is” to show that it’s a collective noun (and a singular form). We use “is everyone” when asking a question, which allows the verb to come first.
- Correct: Is everyone okay out there? I haven’t heard from you in a while.
- Incorrect: Are everyone going to make it out tonight? Please let me know if you can’t!
Is It “Everyone Is Welcome” Or “Everyone Are Welcome”?
“Everyone is welcome” is the only correct form. Remember, “everyone” is a collective noun that refers to every single person as one large, collective entity. “Is” makes sense here because “everyone” is part of a group. “Are” is never correct.
- Correct: Everyone is welcome! Please, make yourselves at home!
- Incorrect: Everyone are welcome. I hope you enjoy the festivities we’ve got planned.
Is It “Everyone Is Equal” or “Everyone Are Equal”?
“Everyone is equal” is the only correct form. We use “everyone is” here because it’s a collective noun. Again, it refers to multiple different people, but they are all put into the same group, which is why “is” works best to explain it.
- Correct: Everyone is equal, and I want you to understand that before moving forward.
- Incorrect: Everyone are equal. I think that’s what we’re trying to teach the others.
Is It “Everyone Is Invited” Or “Everyone Are Invited”?
“Everyone is invited” is also the only correct form. We can never use “are” with “everyone” because of how plural verb forms interact with collective nouns. There is no way to separate the individual people in “everyone,” so “are” cannot work.
- Correct: Everyone is invited to my party tonight! I can’t wait to see all your happy faces there.
- Incorrect: Everyone are invited to come along. Bring your own drinks, though.
Is It “Everybody Is” Or “Everybody Are”?
“Everybody” works in the same way as “everyone.” It is a collective noun used to refer to multiple people within one group. Therefore, only “everybody is” makes sense because we need to use “is” with the collective noun form.
- Correct: Everybody is planning on coming! I’m actually surprised by how many said yes.
- Incorrect: Everybody are on their way. I’m sure they’ll only be a little while longer.
- Correct: Everybody is here right now! I’m so glad they could all come to see me.
- Incorrect: Everybody are going to make this difficult for me. I wish they could trust me a little more.
- Correct: Is everybody going to be around for this later today?
- Incorrect: Are everybody accounted for? I haven’t checked the register yet.
You may also like:
“Everyone Has” or “Everyone Have” – Correct Version
“Everyone Was” or “Everyone Were” – Correct Version
Everyones, Everyone’s, or Everyones’? (Possessive Explained)
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
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The debate over whether to use “is” or “are” when referring to a group of people called “everyone” is a long-standing question but can be answered fairly quickly with the knowledge I am about to share with you here!
When referring to everyone as a whole, it is more grammatically correct to use “is.”
Let’s discuss why we use “is” when talking about “everyone,” some helpful sentence examples, and some other cases where this applies.
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The main reason “everyone is” is used instead of “everyone are” is because when we use “everyone” as a single pronoun.
This means that “everyone” refers to one thing, and therefore we use the singular form of the verb with it. The verb and subject must agree.
Other singular indefinite pronoun examples include “someone is,” “anyone is,” or even “nobody is.”
Let’s discuss why we use “is” when talking about “everyone,” some helpful sentence examples, and some other cases where this applies.
Useful Links
- Everyone’s, Everyones’ or Everyones? Difference & Meaning
- Do Anyone or Does Anyone: Which is Correct?
- Anyone’s or Anyones? Which is Correct?
- Children “is” or Children “are”: Singular or Plural?
- What’s Their Name or What Are Their Names? Which is Correct?
Everyone Meaning
In some cases, people might mistake the meaning of “everyone” to be referring to multiple individuals.
However, the definition of “everyone” is actually quite simple- it refers to all people. You can think of it as meaning “all people are.”
Examples of Sentences with “Everyone”
To help drive this point home, let’s look at some example sentences using “everyone is.”
- “Everyone is happy with the new company policy.”
- Everyone is invited to my party next weekend.
- “Everyone is having a great time at the meal.”
- Everyone loves free stuff, don’t they?
- “Everyone is traveling to Marabella this summer.”
- “When is everyone leaving? I have work tomorrow morning.
- “Everyone in this country eats a Mediterranean diet.”
- “Everyone was tortured by the old boss.”
Similar Examples to “Everyone is”
- “We let the dog in the house, and now everything is ruined!”
- “Everybody is laughing at the teacher.”
- “Everywhere is grey.”
- “Every restaurant is full of people.”
- “Someone is at the door.”
- “Nobody is perfect.”
- “No one is in the dining room.”
- “Nothing is impossible.”
- “Is anyone taking a break?”
In Conclusion
So, to sum up, when you want to use ” everyone” in a sentence, you should use the pronoun with the singular form of the verb.
It’s important to remember that “everyone” is acting as one unit, not as an individual. This is why we use the singular pronoun and not the plural pronoun.
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I’m an Irish tutor and founder of TPR Teaching. I started teaching in 2016 and have since taught in the UK, Spain, and online.
I love learning new things about the English language and how to teach it better. I’m always trying to improve my knowledge, so I can better meet the needs of others!
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拡散と消滅
Мудрец
(11367)
1 год назад
С точки зрения английского everyone – это не “все”, а “каждый отельный”. В этом смысле everyone – безусловно единственное число. Ты не можешь сказать: “Каждый простоял в очереди несколько часов”, потому что подразумеваются все, но рассматривается каждый в отдельности. Т. е. предложение выше можно понимать как “и он, и она, и он тоже, и тот, и та – они все стояли”. Стояли все, но автор захотел подчеркнуть индивидуальность, а не рассматривать их как массу.
Второй перевод этого слова и есть “каждый”, поэтому можно было бы и самому догадаться.
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/337043/why-is-everybody-singular
Invader Zim
Мудрец
(16393)
1 год назад
А почему нет? В русском языке тоже так можно:
Каждый, право, имеет право
На то, что слева, и то, что справа,
На черное поле, на белое поле,
На вольную волю и на неволю…