Everyone is? or Everyone are? Indefinite pronouns like 'each', 'both', and 'none' are the ultimate grammar test. Our guide clarifies the rules with clear visuals and natural examples.
Subject–verb agreement is challenging enough, but it becomes even trickier when indefinite pronouns enter the picture. Words like everyone, somebody, or none may look plural or feel plural in meaning, but they follow very consistent grammar rules. The key is understanding that English grammar often prioritizes the *form* of the word over the *idea* of the group.
Mastering this area of grammar will help you write clearer sentences, avoid the "everyone are" trap, and communicate more naturally. Let’s break down the rules step by step so you can confidently use indefinite pronouns in any situation.
Many indefinite pronouns refer to a group, but grammatically, they focus on the individual components of that group. Even though "everyone" refers to a crowd, it treats that crowd as a collection of single units. These pronouns always require a singular verb.
Think of these as the "Body, One, and Thing" pronouns:
Example: "Everyone is watching." (Not 'are')
One common hurdle is Each and Every. Even when they describe a million things, the grammar focuses on one at a time. "Every tree in the forest is green." "Each of the students has a book."
On the other side of the fence, we have pronouns that inherently mean "two or more." These are much easier for most learners because the grammatical form matches the mental image of a group. These always take a plural verb.
The Plural Group:
A simple tip: if you can replace the pronoun with "They," it's plural. "Both are coming" → "They are coming."
This is where the real expertise happens. Five pronouns—Some, Any, None, All, and Most (SANAM)—can be either singular or plural. The secret is to look at the object of the prepositional phrase that follows.
Check the noun following "of":
| Pronoun | Context | Correct Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Most | Liquid (Uncountable) | Most of the water is spilled. |
| Most | People (Plural) | Most of the people are happy. |
| None | Money (Uncountable) | None of the money has been found. |
| None | Birds (Plural) | None of the birds were singing. |
One of the most frequent mistakes happens when a prepositional phrase comes between the subject and the verb. Many learners accidentally match the verb to the closest noun rather than the actual subject.
The Inspection Strategy:
Ignore the words starting with "of," "with," or "along with."
"Each of these boxes is heavy."
"One of the students was late."
Your brain sees "boxes" and wants to say "are," but the subject is "Each." Always look past the "of" phrase to find the true anchor of your sentence.
Subject–verb agreement is a muscle that gets stronger with use. Try these simple habits to build your linguistic intuition:
Fill in the blanks:
Answers: 1. is / 2. are / 3. is / 4. are / 5. has
Indefinite pronouns follow clear rules once you learn to categorize them. By distinguishing between the Singular Squad, the Plural Partners, and the Variable SANAM group, you can avoid the most common writing mistakes. Always remember the "Inspection Strategy"—ignore the prepositional phrases and look for the true subject. With regular practice, these agreements will become an instinctive part of your fluent English speech.