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Antoo108 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Grammar - is/are
Hello! 
I now the subject might sound pretty simple. I know I have to use "is" for singular subjects and "are" for plural ones but I've heard the following sentence structures quite a few times using plural words.
e.g. "All they ever talk about is animals."
or,.. "It's the americans!"
or... "All you have to worry about is your studies."
Why use "is" and not "are"?
Thank you for reading my message.
I now the subject might sound pretty simple. I know I have to use "is" for singular subjects and "are" for plural ones but I've heard the following sentence structures quite a few times using plural words.e.g. "All they ever talk about is animals."
or,.. "It's the americans!"
or... "All you have to worry about is your studies."
Why use "is" and not "are"?
Thank you for reading my message.
Top answer
All is the subject of the sentence. When all does not refer to people, it's usually singular, as in: All is well that ends well. But: All are present.
- All is the subject of the sentence.
- When all does not refer to people, it's usually singular, as in: All is well that ends well.
- But: All are present.
- ) It is always singular: It's me.
- It's those people who know it.
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3 Answers
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All is the subject of the sentence. When all does not refer to people, it's usually singular, as in: All is well that ends well.
But: All are present. (All people are present.)
It is always singular:
It's me.
It's those people who know it.
It's the Americans, not us!
CB
But: All are present. (All people are present.)
It is always singular:
It's me.
It's those people who know it.
It's the Americans, not us!
CB
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Antoo108Why use "is" and not "are"?Noun clause subjects usually, if not always, take a singular verb.
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