Parts of Speech & Usage

Subject-Verb Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns (e.g. everyone is)

1 min read

Some subjects in English may look plural, but they take a singular verb. This is especially true with indefinite pronouns — words like everyone, somebody, each, none. Understanding whether these pronouns are singular or plural helps you match them with the right verb form.

1. Indefinite pronouns that are always singular

These pronouns refer to people or things in general but always take a singular verb:

Everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, no one, nobody, anyone, anybody
Each, either, neither, everything, something, nothing, anything

Examples:

Everyone is welcome at the event.
Each student needs a notebook.
Nothing was missing from the report.

2. Indefinite pronouns that are always plural

These pronouns refer to multiple people or things and take a plural verb:

Few, many, several, both

Examples:

Many are interested in the topic.
Both were accepted into the program.

3. Indefinite pronouns that can be singular or plural

These depend on the noun they refer to:

All, some, most, none

Examples:

All of the water is clean. (uncountable → singular)
All of the students are here. (countable → plural)

💡 Tip

Everyone, somebody, each, nothing = singular → use verbs like is, has, was.
Many, few, both, several = plural → use verbs like are, have, were.
All, some, most, none → look at the noun that follows to decide.
Don’t be fooled by plural-sounding words — “everyone” always means one group = singular.

Test your knowledge 📝

Question 1 sur 8Score: 0/8

Everyone ___ waiting for the bus.

Discover the app: Shaky English

Join 100,000 people who are improving their English skills on the Shaky English app

Other similar rules

Agreement rules

Using “wish” + correct tense

We use wish to talk about situations that are unreal, impossible, or different from what we want. The verb after wish always shifts one step back in time, even if the meaning is present or future. Wi...

Common confusions

Then vs. Than

Mixing up then and than is super common — even for native speakers! But they have totally different meanings, and learning when to use each one will make your writing much clearer. Then Then is used...

Conjugation

Comparative vs. Superlative Mistakes

In English, we use comparatives to compare two things, and superlatives to show the highest or lowest degree among three or more. Mixing these up is a common mistake for English learners. 1. Comparat...

Vocabulary

Apostrophes

An apostrophe (’) is a small punctuation mark that makes a big difference in meaning. It’s used for contractions, showing possession, and sometimes time expressions. Let’s look at how to use it correc...

A bit of theory

Affect vs. Effect

Let’s make the difference between affect and effect easy to understand! Affect Affect is usually a verb. It means to influence or to make a change. Too much screen time can affect your sleep....

Conjugation

What is a Preposition?

A preposition is a small word that shows a relationship between other words in a sentence. It often describes direction, location, time, or introduces an object. Common Functions of Prepositions...

Conjugation

In / On / At for time

In, on, and at are prepositions of time. They are used to talk about when something happens. The difference depends on how specific the time is. At → exact time Use at for precise moments. At 3 p...

Common confusions

Win vs. Earn vs. Gain

Win, earn, and gain all relate to getting something, but the meaning depends on how you get it. The difference is about luck, effort, or gradual change. Win → competition, games, prizes Use win when...

Parts of Speech & Usage

Subject-Verb Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns (e.g. everyone is)

1 min read

1. Indefinite pronouns that are always singular

These pronouns refer to people or things in general but always take a singular verb:

Everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, no one, nobody, anyone, anybody
Each, either, neither, everything, something, nothing, anything

Examples:

Everyone is welcome at the event.
Each student needs a notebook.
Nothing was missing from the report.

2. Indefinite pronouns that are always plural

These pronouns refer to multiple people or things and take a plural verb:

Few, many, several, both

Examples:

Many are interested in the topic.
Both were accepted into the program.

3. Indefinite pronouns that can be singular or plural

These depend on the noun they refer to:

All, some, most, none

Examples:

All of the water is clean. (uncountable → singular)
All of the students are here. (countable → plural)

💡 Tip

Everyone, somebody, each, nothing = singular → use verbs like is, has, was.
Many, few, both, several = plural → use verbs like are, have, were.
All, some, most, none → look at the noun that follows to decide.
Don’t be fooled by plural-sounding words — “everyone” always means one group = singular.

Test your knowledge 📝

Question 1 sur 8Score: 0/8

Everyone ___ waiting for the bus.

Discover the app: Shaky English

Join 100,000 people who are improving their English skills on the Shaky English app

Other similar rules

Agreement rules

Using “wish” + correct tense

Common confusions

Then vs. Than

Conjugation

Comparative vs. Superlative Mistakes

Vocabulary

Apostrophes

A bit of theory

Affect vs. Effect

Let’s make the difference between affect and effect easy to understand! Affect Affect is usually a verb. It means to influence or to make a change. Too much screen time can affect your sleep....

Conjugation

What is a Preposition?

A preposition is a small word that shows a relationship between other words in a sentence. It often describes direction, location, time, or introduces an object. Common Functions of Prepositions...

Conjugation

In / On / At for time

In, on, and at are prepositions of time. They are used to talk about when something happens. The difference depends on how specific the time is. At → exact time Use at for precise moments. At 3 p...

Common confusions