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People Is” vs “People Are”

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  Teri Lapping  —  Grammar Tips
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People Is” vs “People Are”

Let’s begin with the most simplistic statement: “People are…” is correct. “People is…” is not correct.

Well, wait a minute!

Does that mean that the word “people” is a singular noun or a plural noun? 
And how is it used in a sentence? 
Are there variations and exceptions?

To answer these questions, we will look at the phrases “person is...,” “persons are...,” “people is...,” "people are..." and “peoples are...” 

And we will learn which phrase is correct, "People is" vs "People are."


Singular and Plural Nouns

Let’s start by taking a closer look at the accepted forms and at the inevitable exceptions.

In English, we often add an “s” to the end of a singular noun to change it into its plural form, as in “frog and frogs,” or “horse and horses.” 

At times, we change the singular noun completely to make it plural, as in “mouse and mice,” or “goose and geese.” 

There are also situations when the singular noun and its plural counterpart are exactly the same word, as in “moose and moose,” or “bison and bison.” 


So, is the Word "People" a Plural or a Singular Noun? 


1. The Most Common Usage and the Most Important to Remember:

“Person" can be a Singular Noun and is used in the phrase "The person is..." 

When the word “person” is a singular noun, we say that “The person is hungry.” This form is commonly accepted and widely used in formal as well as in informal speech.

“People” is the Plural Noun of "Person" and is used in the phrase "People are..."

When the word “people” is a plural noun, we say that “The people are hungry.” This form is the most accepted and most wide-used plural to the noun “person.” It is used in formal as well as in informal speech.

"Persons" is the Plural Noun of "Person" and is used in the phrase "Persons are..."

When the word “persons” is a plural noun, we say that “Persons who are under 21 will not be sold alcohol.” This form is generally used in formal speech or in legal documents.

Although both “people are” and “persons are” are the plural forms of “person is,” they are not necessarily equal and interchangeable. We might say, “We are going on a trip with six people.” But we probably would not say that “We are going on a trip with six persons.” 


2. The Least Used and Least Important Usage to Remember

When "People" is used as a singular noun, “People is” can be a Singular Noun Phrase and “Peoples are” can be a Plural Noun Phrase

The phrasepeople is” can be used as a singular noun phrase when it refers to everyone within a specific nation, civilization, ethnic group, or tribe as a single unit.

In these cases, we can say that “The Navaho people is known for its use of ancient ritual.” 

We can test this usage by putting the word “nation” or the word “group” in place of the word “people.” That is, “The Navaho nation is known for its use of ancient ritual.” We can hear that “people is,” “nation is,” and “group is” are all appropriate singular noun phrases. 


The phrasepeoples are” can be used as the plural noun phrase when it refers to nations, civilizations, or groups of people. 

In these cases, we can say that “The Native American peoples of the Southwest are known for their use of ancient ritual.” 

We can test this usage by putting the word “nations” or the word “groups” in place of the word “peoples.” That is, “The Navaho nations are known for their use of ancient ritual.” We can hear that “peoples are” “nations are,” and “groups are” are all appropriate plural noun phrases. 


Final Thoughts

What is the bottom line? Use the phrase “people are…”

If you forget the other nuances that are mentioned in this article, simply use “people are” and you will likely be safe. 

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