Unsure When to Use 'Is' or 'Are' With Words Like 'Mathematics' and 'Problems'
I'm a bit confused about when to use 'is' or 'are' with certain words in English. For example, I know we say 'mathematics is interesting,' but then we say 'math problems are difficult.' Why does the verb change?
I often second-guess myself when writing sentences like these:
- Mathematics is a challenging subject.
- Math problems are sometimes confusing.
Could someone explain the rule behind this? I'd really appreciate any help!
Context:
Writing for academic English, intermediate learner.
What to Know
| What to Know | Why It Matters | Example | Quick Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| If the subject talks about a single area or concept, use 'is'. | This choice prevents ambiguity and keeps your writing precise. | This machine is used to print documents. | Does this wording match my intended meaning in this sentence? |
| Re-read your sentence and ask: Am I talking about one thing (a field, a subject) or many things (problems, questions)? | This choice prevents ambiguity and keeps your writing precise. | This machine is used to print documents. | Does this wording match my intended meaning in this sentence? |
3 Answers
In English, subject-verb agreement depends on whether the subject is singular or plural, even if the words can look confusing.
Pattern:
- Use 'is' for singular subjects (uncountable nouns, or a single thing).
- Use 'are' for plural subjects (more than one thing).
Examples:
- "Geometry is fascinating." (Singular subject: 'geometry' is considered a whole field)
- "Geometry questions are challenging." (Plural subject: 'questions' is more than one)
Practice Step:
Try writing your own two sentences:
- Use a subject that's a whole subject or field.
- Change it to talk about many things in that field (making it plural).
Self-Check:
If the subject talks about a single area or concept, use 'is'. If it talks about pieces or items that can be counted, use 'are'. Re-read your sentence and ask: Am I talking about one thing (a field, a subject) or many things (problems, questions)?
Let's compare how the verb changes with similar words based on whether the subject is singular (one thing) or plural (more than one):
Examples for Comparison:
- "Physics is complicated." (Here, 'Physics' is a single subject/field – so we use 'is')
- "Physics experiments are interesting." ('Experiments' is plural – so we use 'are')
Explanation:
Academic subject names like 'mathematics', 'physics', 'economics', etc., look plural but are treated as singular, so they always take 'is'. But if you are talking about specific elements within the subject (like 'problems', 'questions', 'tests'), those are countable and usually plural, so they take 'are'.
Practice Suggestion:
Write two new sentences. One with another academic subject (like 'Biology' or 'History'), and one with plural items from that subject (like 'Biology facts', 'History events'). Then check which verb you used.
Corrective Feedback:
If you're unsure, replace the subject with 'it' (for singular) or 'they' (for plural) to test. "Biology is..." becomes "It is..."; "Biology facts are..." becomes "They are...".
You'll know whether to use 'is' or 'are' by checking if your subject is a single area of study or if it's many separate things.
Example with Single Concept:
- "Statistics is often confusing for beginners." ('Statistics' is the field, so use 'is')
Example with Many Items:
- "Statistics formulas are sometimes difficult to remember." ('Formulas' are multiple, so use 'are')
Correction Practice:
Look at your own draft. Highlight the subject. Is it a whole field (like 'statistics', 'mathematics', 'literature'), or does it refer to individual parts (like 'formulas', 'essays', 'lessons')? Correct the verb if needed.
Self-Edit Tip:
If the subject is a subject name, even if it ends in -s, use 'is'. For lists of items in that subject, use 'are'.
Practice by rewriting one of your sentences, swapping 'mathematics' for another subject, and checking your verb!
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