HomeBig KidLearning & Education'Is' Vs 'Are' - What's The Difference

‘Is’ Vs ‘Are’ – What’s The Difference

Learning English as a preschooler can be a fun and enjoyable experience. It is important for young children to be exposed to language at an early age, as it helps with their overall language development.

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There are many different ways that preschoolers can learn English, such as through songs, stories, games, and conversations with others. It is important for parents to be patient and supportive as the child is learning, and to provide a positive and encouraging environment for language learning. It is also important for parents and caregivers to speak to the child in English often, to provide a strong foundation for the child’s language skills.

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Why Your Child Needs To Learn Is vs Are?

It is good to know the difference between “is” and “are” for kindergarten kids and preschoolers because these words are used to express the verb “to be” in the present tense, and this can express the relationship between the subect and predicate of a sentence.

Using “is” and “are” in English correctly helps children to communicate their thoughts and ideas clearly and accurately, and it is a fundamental part of learning English grammar. By learning when to use “is” and “are,” children can express themselves more effectively and communicate more clearly with others. It also helps them to understand and comprehend written and spoken language better, as they will be able to correctly interpret the meaning of sentences that use “is” and “are.”

Why Your Child Needs To Learn The Difference Between ‘Is’ vs ‘Are’?

Here are four differences for the words ‘Is’ vs ‘Are’ for preschoolers-

  1. Proper grammar is important for effective communication. By learning the difference between “is” and “are,” your child will be able to express themselves more clearly and accurately convey their thoughts and ideas to others.
  2. Proper grammar helps with reading comprehension. Understanding the difference between “is” and “are” allows your child to accurately interpret written sentences and understand what it is that they are reading.
  3. Proper grammar is important in academic writing. In school, your child will be expected to write papers and complete assignments that require proper grammar. By learning the difference between “is” and “are,” your child will be better prepared to complete these tasks and achieve success in their academic pursuits.
  4. Proper grammar is important for professional success. In the workplace, good grammar is often seen as a sign of intelligence and professionalism. By teaching your child the difference between “is” and “are,” you are helping to set them up for success in their future career.

When To Use ‘Is’

Here are four reasons to use the word ‘Is’:

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1. To describe the identity of something or someone

  • Example: “The cat is black.”

2. To describe a location

  • Example: “The museum is downtown.”

3. To describe a current state or condition

  • Example: “The weather is cold today.”

4. To describe a singular subject

  • Example: “The apple is red.”

“Is” is a singular verb and should only be used when the subject of the sentence is singular. If the subject is plural, you should use the verb “are.”

Examples Of ‘Is’ Used In A Sentence

Here are some examples of “is” used in a sentence:

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  1. “The cat is black.” (describing the identity of the cat)
  2. “The museum is downtown.” (describing the location of the museum)
  3. “The weather is cold today.” (describing the current state or condition of the weather)
  4. “The apple is red.” (describing the colour of the apple)
  5. “The book is on the table.” (describing the location of the book)
  6. “She is my sister.” (describing the relationship between the two people)
  7. “He is tall.” (describing a characteristic of the person)
  8. “The test is easy.” (describing the difficulty of the test)
  9. “The movie is two hours long.” (describing the duration of the movie)
  10. “The solution is simple.” (describing the nature of the solution)

When To Use ‘Are’

Here are four reasons to use the word ‘Are” –

1. To describe a plural subject

  • Example: “The cats are black.”

2. To describe a current state or condition

  • Example: “The children are happy.”

3. To describe a possession

  • Example: “The books are mine.”

4. To describe a characteristic of a group of people or things

  • Example: “The flowers are beautiful.”

Examples Of ‘Are’ Used In A Sentence

Here are some examples of “are” used in a sentence:

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  1. “The cats are black.” (describing the colour of the cats)
  2. “The children are happy.” (describing the current state or condition of the children)
  3. “The books are mine.” (describing possession)
  4. “The flowers are beautiful.” (describing a characteristic of the flowers)
  5. “We are going to the store.” (describing the future plans of a group of people)
  6. “They are late.” (describing the current state or condition of a group of people)
  7. “The dogs are barking.” (describing the current action of the dogs)
  8. “The shoes are too small.” (describing a characteristic of the shoes)
  9. “The students are tired.” (describing the current state or condition of a group of people)
  10. “The cookies are delicious.” (describing a characteristic of the cookies)

What Is The Difference Between Is And Are?

In English Grammar, is vs are should be understood thoroughly to learn the concept of subject-verb agreement. Let us look at some of the similarities and differences between us and are:

IsAre
Singular verbPlural verb
Used with singular subjectsUsed with plural subjects
Used in present tenseUsed in present tense
Describes identity, location, current state or condition, or characteristics of a singular subjectDescribes identity, location, current state or condition, or characteristics of a plural subject
Written as “is” in all formsWritten as “are” in all forms, but has different forms depending on the subject it is used with (e.g. “you are,” “they are,” “he is,” “she is”)

Easy Tips And Tricks To Remember The Difference

  1. Try using a mnemonic device, such as “I am singular, we are plural,” to help you remember that “is” is used with singular subjects and “are” is used with plural subjects.
  2. Pay attention to the subject of the sentence. If it is singular (e.g. “the cat,” “she,” “it”), you should use “is.” If it is plural (e.g. “the cats,” “they,” “we”), you should use “are.”
  3. In cases where the subject doesn’t come before the verb, it can be confusing. For instance, “There is vs There are” might be confusing because the word “There” does not signify singular or plural subject. In such situations, carefully identify the subject and then proceed with the use of the singular form is, vs are, plural form.
  4. Practice identifying and using “is” and “are” in sentences. The more you practice, the easier it will become to automatically choose the correct verb.
  5. If you are unsure which verb to use, try substituting “is” and “are” into the sentence and see which one sounds more natural. For example, “The cat is sleeping” sounds correct, while “The cat are sleeping” does not.

The use of Is vs Are might sound tricky at first but with clear knowledge of grammatical concepts and lots of reading and writing practice, your child will understand the use of the singular and plural forms of the verb perfectly.

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Also Read:

Know the Difference Between This Vs That
Difference Between These vs Those with Examples
Teach Your Child About the Difference Between Was Vs Were

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Author
About the Expert
About the Author
Angela Naik
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