People is or are | Is people singular or plural

Discover the proper usage of “People is or are” in English grammar. Learn when to use “people are” for plural nouns and understand why “people is” is rarely correct.
Understanding the rules of singular and plural nouns can be challenging, and this complexity can make learning the language even more difficult for many. There isn’t always a strict set of rules to follow. Sometimes you simply add an “s” to the end of a word; other times, the word changes form completely. In some cases, the word remains the same in both its singular and plural forms. It can indeed be quite confusing.

Is It People Is Or Are?

The correct phrase is “people are” when referring to the plural noun “people.” In English, “people” is the plural form of “person.” Therefore, when talking about more than one individual, “people” should be paired with the plural verb “are.”

Examples:

• The people are waiting for the bus.
• These people are my neighbors.

In both examples, “people” refers to multiple individuals, so the verb “are” is used to match the plural noun.

Why “People Is” is Incorrect

Using “people is” is grammatically incorrect because “people” is a plural noun. The verb “is” is singular and does not agree with the plural subject “people.” In English grammar, verbs must agree in number with their subjects. Since “people” is plural, the correct verb form is “are.”

Examples:

• People is coming to the event. (Incorrect)

• People are coming to the event. (Correct)
• The people is cheering loudly. (Incorrect)
• The people are cheering loudly. (Correct)
•  People is gathering in the park. (Incorrect)
• People are gathering in the park. (Correct)
• People is excited for the concert. (Incorrect)
• People are excited for the concert. (Correct)
• The people is working hard. (Incorrect)
• The people are working hard. (Correct)
• People is enjoying the festival. (Incorrect)
• People are enjoying the festival. (Correct)
• People is waiting in line. (Incorrect)
• People are waiting in line. (Correct)
• People is visiting the museum. (Incorrect)
• People are visiting the museum. (Correct)
• People is making noise in the hallway. (Incorrect)
• People are making noise in the hallway. (Correct)
• The people is discussing the new plan. (Incorrect)
• The people are discussing the new plan. (Correct)
• People is contributing to the charity. (Incorrect)
• People are contributing to the charity. (Correct)
• People is shopping for the holidays. (Incorrect)
• People are shopping for the holidays. (Correct)
• The people is moving towards the exit. (Incorrect)
• The people are moving towards the exit. (Correct)
• People is supporting the cause. (Incorrect)
• People are supporting the cause. (Correct)
• People is celebrating the victory. (Incorrect)
• People are celebrating the victory. (Correct)
• People is participating in the event. (Incorrect)
• People are participating in the event. (Correct)

Singular Contexts for “People”

While “people” is mainly used as a plural noun, it can be used in a singular sense to refer to a collective group, such as a nation or tribe. Even in these contexts, “people” is still considered plural, so “are” is the appropriate verb.

Example:

• The American people are known for their innovation.

Here, “the American people” refers to a collective group of individuals, but “are” is used because “people” is plural.

Common Usage and Mistakes

A frequent mistake is using “people is” due to confusion about the plural nature of “people.” To avoid this mistake:

• Remember: “People” is always plural.
• Use: “Are” with “people” to ensure proper subject-verb agreement.

Tip: Avoid using “people is” altogether. It is never correct. Always use “people are” to maintain grammatical accuracy.

People As The Plural Of “Person”

The pluralization of “person” to “people” is one of those tricky rules. Unlike some words where you simply add an “s” (e.g., “frog” to “frogs”), “person” changes completely to “people” in its plural form. This rule can be confusing, but it’s just something that you need to practice and become familiar with. The best way to master this is through regular use and practice until it becomes second nature.

People As A Singular Noun

At times, “people” can also be used as a singular noun, though this usage is less common. When “people” is used in a singular sense, it often refers to an entire group, such as a civilization or a tribe. For instance, you might refer to all individuals in a tribe or nation as “a great people.” Even though “people” is predominantly used in its plural form, understanding this singular usage can be useful, though it’s not something you will encounter frequently.

Examples Of How To Use “People Are”

When using “people” in its plural form, “are” is the correct verb to follow. Here are a few examples:

• These people are driving me crazy.
• The people are stronger than they look.
• Japanese people are really good at that event.
• Friendly people are the best people to be around.
• People are hopeless when left to their own devices.

In each of these examples, “people” is used in the plural form, and using “people is” would be incorrect.

Examples Of How To Use “People Is”

As previously mentioned, “people is” is grammatically incorrect. This is a common mistake where the plural noun “people” is mistakenly matched with the singular verb “is.” If you ever use “people is” in any context, simply replace “is” with “are” to correct it.

Which Other Words Are Both A Plural Noun And A Singular Noun?

There are other English words that can be both singular and plural depending on their context. For example, “The United States” can be singular when referring to the country as a whole:

• The United States is my home.

And it can be plural when referring to the states individually:

• The United States are all governed differently.

Similarly, with band names:

• The Bee Gees is my favorite band. (singular)
• The Bee Gees are all good friends. (plural)

How To Remember If I Should Use “People Is” Or “People Are”

The key to remembering this is straightforward: since “people is” is grammatically incorrect, you should eliminate it from your usage. Regardless of the context, “people” is always followed by “are” when used in a plural sense. Even when referring to a collective group (e.g., “American people”), use “people are”.

Quiz: Have You Mastered “People Are” Or “People Is”?

Test your understanding with this quiz:

• These (A. people are / B. people is) not my friends.
• When (A. people are / B. people is) unkind, I ignore them.
• British (A. people are / B. people is) fun.
• French (A. people are / B. people is) really proud of their heritage.
• Mean (A. people are / B. people is) not worth your time.

Quiz Answers

• A
• A
• A
• A
• A

FAQs

Is “people is” ever correct?

No, “people is” is never grammatically correct. “People” is a plural noun, meaning it always requires the verb “are” to agree with it. Even when talking about a group or community, you still say “people are.” Using “people is” would be incorrect and confusing.

What is the plural form of “person”?

The plural form of “person” is “people.” When you are referring to more than one individual, you use “people.” For example, instead of saying “two persons,” you should say “two people.” This is one of the unique rules in English where the word changes entirely in its plural form.

Can “people” be used as a singular noun?

Yes, “people” can sometimes be used as a singular noun when referring to an entire group, tribe, or nation. In these cases, “people” represents the collective group as a whole. However, even when used this way, it is still treated as plural in terms of verb agreement, so we use “are” instead of “is.”

What’s the difference between “people” and “persons”?

“People” is the common plural form of “person” used in everyday conversation. “Persons” is typically used in formal or legal contexts, like official documents or laws. While “people” is used more broadly in casual speech, “persons” is more technical and less commonly heard in regular conversations.

When should I use “are” with “people”?

You should always use “are” with “people” because it is a plural noun. Anytime you are referring to more than one person, the correct verb form is “are.” For example, “The people are ready to begin.” Using “is” in this context would be a mistake.

Why can’t I say “people is”?

You can’t say “people is” because “people” is plural, and “is” is a singular verb. In English, verbs must match the noun in number, meaning plural nouns take plural verbs. Since “people” always refers to more than one person, the correct pairing is “people are.”

Can “people” mean one person?

No, “people” always refers to multiple individuals. If you want to refer to a single individual, you should use the word “person.” The word “people” inherently means more than one person, so it cannot be used to describe just one.

How can I remember to use “people are”?

A simple way to remember is to think of “people” as always plural, like “they” or “we.” Since it represents a group of individuals, it should always be paired with the plural verb “are.” Keep in mind that “people” means more than one, so use “are” to keep your sentence correct.

Conclusion

In summary, the correct phrase is always “people are” because “people” is a plural noun. While English can be tricky with its rules, understanding the difference between singular and plural forms helps you avoid mistakes like saying “people is.” Even in rare cases when “people” refers to a singular group or tribe, it still follows the plural verb “are.” To ensure proper usage, just remember: “people” always takes “are,” never “is.” Keep practicing, and soon it will become second nature!