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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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“Everyone is” or “Everyone are”?
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?”
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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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Caitriona Maria is an education writer and founder of TPR Teaching, crafting inspiring pieces that promote the importance of developing new skills. For 7 years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.