Everyone is, the news is

  • B2 · Upper-intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • subject–verb agreement

The verb that goes with tricky subjects: Everyone is invited. The news is good, and the police are looking into it. A number of drivers have complained; the number of cyclists has doubled. The student reads a TV news bulletin, sorts and chooses the verbs, fixes agreement mistakes, and presents the news as an anchor.

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everyone isthe news isnobody has

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Reading: the news at sixReading comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find the subjects and their verbsGrammar exercise
  6. 6everyone is, the news is, the police areGrammar rule
  7. 7is or are?Grammar exercise
  8. 8Choose the verbGrammar exercise
  9. 9The news in briefGrammar exercise
  10. 10Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  11. 11Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  12. 12Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  13. 13The news anchorSpeaking practice
  14. 14About youGrammar exercise
  15. 15Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: which sentence is correct?Grammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: the school newsletterGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: the news from my townDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. Which local stories do people in your town talk about most?
  2. What was the last piece of good news you heard about your town?
  3. Who in your family follows the news most closely?

Grammar rule

everyone is, the news is, the police are

A singular verb (is, was, has, -s)

SubjectExample
everyone, everybody, someone, no one, nobody; each / every + nounEvery room has a TV. Nobody likes the new parking rules.
news; school subjects and sports in -ics: economics, physics, mathematics, gymnasticsNo news is good news. Gymnastics is my daughter's favorite sport.
the number of + plural noun (= one figure, the total)The number of visitors has fallen.
one of + plural nounOne of my keys is missing.
a group: family, team, staff, council, company, band, town (American English)The band is on tour this summer.

A plural verb (are, were, have, no -s)

SubjectExample
the police, peopleThe police were very helpful. People in this town walk everywhere.
pair nouns: jeans, pants, glasses, scissorsThese scissors are very sharp.
a number of + plural noun (= several)A number of stores have closed.

Notes

  • In a long subject, the main noun decides the verb, not the noun just before it: The price of the tickets is too high. The keys to the car are in my bag.
  • Later in the sentence, we use they / their for everyone and for groups: Everyone has their own locker. The team says they are ready.
  • British English often uses a plural verb with groups (the team are). In American English, it is singular (the team is). A team name with -s is plural: The Yankees are playing tonight.
  • One police officer: a police officer is. One piece of news: news has no plural and no a.

Watch out

Everyone are → Everyone is · The news are → The news is · The police is → The police are · A number of people is → A number of people are · The number of people are → The number of people is

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