People : is ou are ? Quelle est la différence ?
people are. Le mot people est un nom pluriel, et il a besoin d'un verbe pluriel.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In English, 'people' is the plural of 'person,' so it almost always takes the plural verb 'are'.
- Use 'are' for groups of individuals: 'People are waiting.' (max 20 words)
- Never say 'people is' when talking about a crowd or group. (max 20 words)
- Use 'is' only when 'people' means a single nation or ethnic group. (max 20 words)
Overview
people is ou people are, rassure-toi : tu n'es pas seul. C'est l'un des pièges les plus classiques pour nous, les francophones. Pourquoi ?le monde pour désigner un groupe d'individus. Par exemple, on dit : Le monde est petitou
Il y a du monde. Dans ces phrases, le sujet est au singulier.
is derrière people. Pourtant, en anglais, people est le pluriel de person. C'est ce qu'on appelle un pluriel irrégulier.cat qui devient cats, person ne devient pas persons dans le langage courant, mais people.people is lors d'une réunion ou dans un e-mail professionnel, ton interlocuteur comprendra, mais cela sonnera immédiatement faux à ses oreilles, un peu comme si un anglophone disait les gens est en français. Maîtriser le passage à people are, c'est faire un grand pas vers un niveau B1 solide et une expression plus naturelle.subject-verb agreement). En anglais, comme en français, le verbe doit s'accorder en nombre avec son sujet. Si le sujet est singulier, le verbe est singulier. S'il est pluriel, le verbe est pluriel. Jusqu'ici, tout va bien.people n'a pas de -s à la fin. Pour un œil francophone habitué à chercher les marques du pluriel (comme le -s ou le -x), people ressemble à un mot singulier. Mais en réalité, c'est un nom collectif qui fonctionne exclusivement comme un pluriel lorsqu'il désigne des individus.One person is...(Une personne est...) -> Singulier.Two people are...(Deux personnes sont...) -> Pluriel.Many people are...(Beaucoup de gens sont...) -> Pluriel.
people par le pronom they (ils/elles). Est-ce que tu dirais they is ? Bien sûr que non, tu dirais they are. Si they fonctionne, alors people are est la seule option correcte.- 1Les gens : Ici, l'accord est pluriel en français aussi (
Les gens sont gentils
). Dans ce cas, la transition verspeople areest facile. - 2Tout le monde / Le monde : C'est là que le piège se referme. En français, on dit
Tout le monde est là
(singulier). En anglais, on diraEveryone is here(singulier) MAISPeople are here(pluriel).
people est l'équivalent de les gens. Même si tu penses à une foule ou à un groupe uni, l'anglais voit les individus qui composent ce groupe, et donc, utilise le pluriel. C'est une différence de perception culturelle et linguistique : là où le français voit parfois une masse unique (le monde), l'anglais voit une collection d'unités (people).people demandera toujours la forme plurielle du verbe. Voici comment cela se décline concrètement avec les verbes les plus fréquents :A person | Present Simple | is | A person is waiting. | Une personne attend. |People | Present Simple | are | People are waiting. | Des gens attendent. |One person | Past Simple | was | One person was late. | Une personne était en retard. |Many people | Past Simple | were | Many people were late. | Beaucoup de gens étaient en retard. |The person | Present Perfect | has | The person has arrived. | La personne est arrivée. |The people | Present Perfect | have | The people have arrived. | Les gens sont arrivés. |people est accompagné de mots qui précisent la quantité. Ces mots renforcent l'idée de pluralité :A lot of people are...(Beaucoup de gens sont...)Few people know...(Peu de gens savent...)Some people think...(Certaines personnes pensent...)
a group, a team ou a crowd, c'est ce mot-là qui commande l'accord, pas people.A group of people is coming.(C'est le groupe qui est le sujet principal, et il y a UN groupe).The team of people is ready.(L'équipe est prête).
of people n'est qu'un complément. C'est une nuance importante pour le niveau B1 : identifie toujours le chef de la phrase (le nom principal) pour faire ton accord.people are dans 99 % des situations quotidiennes et professionnelles. C'est la forme standard, polyvalente et naturelle. Voici quelques contextes concrets pour t'aider à visualiser son usage :People are generally happy with the new update.(Les gens sont généralement satisfaits de la nouvelle mise à jour).How many people are coming to the meeting?(Combien de personnes viennent à la réunion ?).
People are obsessed with this new trend.(Les gens sont obsédés par cette nouvelle tendance).I can't believe what people are saying in the comments.(Je n'arrive pas à croire ce que les gens disent dans les commentaires).
People are so friendly in this city!(Les gens sont si amicaux dans cette ville !).There were so many people at the market today.(Il y avait tellement de monde au marché aujourd'hui).
People are capable of amazing things.(Les êtres humains sont capables de choses incroyables).Why are people so stressed these days?(Pourquoi les gens sont-ils si stressés de nos jours ?).
Persons: On le trouve uniquement dans un contexte juridique très formel (ex:Maximum capacity: 10 persons). Dans la vie de tous les jours, ça sonne très bizarre.Peoples(avec un S) : Ce mot existe, mais il signifieles peuples(des nations ou des groupes ethniques distincts). Par exemple :The indigenous peoples of the Amazon. Ce n'est pas le pluriel depersondans le sens d'individus, mais le pluriel deun peuple.
Tout le monde- L'erreur :
Everybody are happy. - Pourquoi ça arrive : Tu penses à
tout le monde, donc à plusieurs personnes, et tu veux mettre un pluriel. - La réalité : En anglais,
everybodyeteveryonesont grammaticalement singuliers, exactement comme en français (Tout le monde est
). - La règle d'or :
Everybody is...MAISPeople are.... - *Correction :*
Everybody is happy.ouPeople are happy.
Le monde- L'erreur :
The people is waiting. - Pourquoi ça arrive : Ton cerveau traduit littéralement
Le monde attend. Commele mondeest singulier, tu metsis. - La règle d'or : Oublie le mot
mondequand tu utilisespeople. Pense àgens. - *Correction :*
The people are waiting.
persons pour faire plus sérieux- L'erreur :
There are five persons in the room. - Pourquoi ça arrive : En français,
personnesest le pluriel normal. On se dit quepersonsest la traduction logique. - La réalité :
Personsest extrêmement rigide et administratif. Si tu veux avoir l'air naturel et fluide, utilisepeople. - *Correction :*
There are five people in the room.
There is / There are- L'erreur :
There is a lot of people. - Pourquoi ça arrive : On utilise souvent
Il y aen français, qui est invariable. On a tendance à utiliserThere ispar défaut. - La règle d'or : Si ce qui suit est pluriel, on doit utiliser
There are. - *Correction :*
There are a lot of people.
noms collectifs est un peu un champ de mines pour nous.People | Pluriel irrégulier | Pluriel | People are... | Pas de -s, mais pluriel quand même. |Police | Nom collectif | Pluriel | The police are coming. | En français, La police est singulier. |Staff | Nom collectif | Singulier/Pluriel | The staff is/are... | On peut voir l'équipe comme une unité ou des individus. |News | Nom indénombrable | Singulier | The news is bad. | Il y a un -s, mais c'est singulier ! |Everybody | Pronom indéfini | Singulier | Everybody is... | On pense à plusieurs personnes, mais le mot est singulier. |Family et Team :My family are... si on pense aux membres individuellement, ou My family is... si on parle de la cellule familiale comme un bloc. Cependant, pour people, il n'y a pas de débat : c'est toujours pluriel.People fonctionne comme children, men, women, mice, ou teeth. Aucun de ces mots ne finit par -s, mais ils exigent tous un verbe au pluriel.The children are playing.(Les enfants jouent).The men were tired.(Les hommes étaient fatigués).
people dans cette liste de mots spéciaux, tu feras beaucoup moins d'erreurs.A people ?A people signifie un peuple (une nation). Par exemple : The French are a proud people. Ici, c'est singulier car on parle d'une entité nationale unique. Mais si tu veux dire Il y a une personne, c'est
A person.persons ?Persons existe dans le dictionnaire, mais l'utiliser dans une conversation amicale ou un email standard est une erreur de style. C'est comme si tu utilisais le mot nonobstant en allant acheter ton pain : c'est correct, mais personne ne fait ça !Il y a trop de monde?
There are too many people. On utilise many (pour ce qu'on peut compter) et are (car people est pluriel). Évite There is too much people, qui est une double erreur (accord + quantificateur).people est toujours pluriel ?person. C'est ta règle de sécurité. Si tu vois people, mets un verbe au pluriel. C'est le meilleur moyen de ne jamais te tromper et de sonner comme un pro.Subject-Verb Agreement with 'People'
| Tense | Subject | Verb Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
People
|
are / do / have
|
People are kind.
|
|
Past Simple
|
People
|
were / did / had
|
People were there.
|
|
Present Continuous
|
People
|
are + -ing
|
People are shouting.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
People
|
have + past participle
|
People have arrived.
|
|
Future
|
People
|
will + verb
|
People will see.
|
|
Modal
|
People
|
can / should / must
|
People must wait.
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Usage |
|---|---|---|
|
People are
|
People're
|
Informal speech only
|
|
People have
|
People've
|
Informal speech only
|
|
People will
|
People'll
|
Informal speech only
|
Meanings
The word 'people' functions as the plural form of 'person'. Because it represents multiple individuals, it requires a plural verb form like 'are', 'were', or 'have'.
Plural of Person
Referring to multiple human beings in a general or specific sense.
“The people in this room are very quiet.”
“How many people were at the party?”
Ethnic/National Group
Referring to a specific nation, tribe, or ethnic community as a single unit.
“The Icelandic people is a resilient one.”
“A people is defined by its shared history.”
The Public
Referring to the general population of a country or the world.
“The people are tired of high taxes.”
“Power to the people!”
Reference Table
| Sujet | Forme verbale correcte | Exemple de phrase |
|---|---|---|
|
A person
|
`is` / `was`
|
A person is at the door.
|
|
People
|
`are` / `were`
|
People are at the door.
|
|
The people
|
`are` / `were`
|
The people are cheering loudly.
|
|
Some people
|
`are` / `were`
|
Some people are already leaving.
|
|
They
|
`are` / `were`
|
They are my friends.
|
|
A group of people
|
`is` / `was`
|
A group of people is waiting outside.
|
|
A team of people
|
`is` / `was`
|
Our team of people is the best.
|
Spectre de formalité
The individuals present are numerous. (Social gathering)
There are many people here. (Social gathering)
Lots of people are here. (Social gathering)
Mad people up in here. (Social gathering)
Singulier vs. Pluriel : Person / People
Choisir 'is' ou 'are'
Le sujet principal est-il 'people' ?
Le sujet est-il 'person' ?
Le sujet est-il 'a group of people' ?
Paires Sujet & Verbe
Utilise 'is' / 'was'
- • A person
- • The man
- • She
- • A team of people
Utilise 'are' / 'were'
- • People
- • The women
- • They
- • A lot of people
Comprendre 'People'
Nom Pluriel
- Utilise 'are' / 'were' ex: 'People are here.'
- Signifie 'plus d'une personne' Fonctionne comme 'they'
Forme Singulière
- Person ex: 'One person is here.'
- Utilise 'is' / 'was' Verbe singulier pour sujet singulier
Exemples par niveau
The people are nice.
Las personas son amables.
Many people are in the park.
Muchas personas están en el parque.
People are happy today.
La gente está feliz hoy.
Are the people here?
¿Están las personas aquí?
People were waiting for a long time.
La gente estuvo esperando mucho tiempo.
Do people like this movie?
¿A la gente le gusta esta película?
Some people don't have cars.
Algunas personas no tienen coches.
The people in my class are friendly.
Las personas de mi clase son amigables.
People are becoming more aware of health issues.
La gente se está volviendo más consciente de los problemas de salud.
Most people have experienced this at least once.
La mayoría de las personas han experimentado esto al menos una vez.
Why are people so angry about the news?
¿Por qué la gente está tan enojada por las noticias?
People who live in cities are often stressed.
Las personas que viven en ciudades suelen estar estresadas.
The people are entitled to their own opinions.
El pueblo tiene derecho a sus propias opiniones.
Rarely do people realize the impact of their actions.
Rara vez la gente se da cuenta del impacto de sus acciones.
A people is not defined solely by its geography.
Un pueblo no se define únicamente por su geografía.
The local people were divided on the new law.
La gente local estaba dividida sobre la nueva ley.
The indigenous peoples of the Amazon have unique cultures.
Los pueblos indígenas del Amazonas tienen culturas únicas.
Seldom have the people been so united in their cause.
Rara vez el pueblo ha estado tan unido en su causa.
The people are the ultimate arbiters of justice.
El pueblo es el árbitro final de la justicia.
Such people are often misunderstood by society.
Tales personas suelen ser incomprendidas por la sociedad.
The various peoples of the Balkans have a complex history.
Los diversos pueblos de los Balcanes tienen una historia compleja.
It is argued that a people is only as strong as its institutions.
Se argumenta que un pueblo es tan fuerte como sus instituciones.
The people, having been misled, were slow to react.
El pueblo, habiendo sido engañado, tardó en reaccionar.
Were the people to revolt, the regime would crumble.
Si el pueblo se rebelara, el régimen se derrumbaría.
Facile à confondre
Learners think that because 'everyone' refers to many people, it should be plural.
Like 'people', 'the public' refers to a group, but it is often singular.
Learners see 'peoples' in books and think it's the plural of 'people'.
Erreurs courantes
People is happy.
People are happy.
One people is here.
One person is here.
The peoples are nice.
The people are nice.
He is a people.
He is a person.
How many people is there?
How many people are there?
People has problems.
People have problems.
Every people is here.
Everyone is here.
The people is a nation.
The people are a nation. (Or: The people is a nation - context dependent)
The people who is waiting...
The people who are waiting...
A lot of people was there.
A lot of people were there.
The peoples of the world is united.
The peoples of the world are united.
Structures de phrases
People are ___ because ___.
Most people have ___ but some people don't.
Why are people so ___ these days?
The people who ___ are usually ___.
Real World Usage
People are loving this new filter!
I enjoy working in environments where people are collaborative.
People are being evacuated from the flood zone.
Are people allowed to take photos here?
The people have a right to know the truth.
People have been complaining about the wait times.
Pense à 'They Are'
people par they. Tu ne dirais jamais they is, n'est-ce pas ? Alors ne dis pas people is non plus. C'est une astuce simple et rapide ! "If you're ever unsure, mentally replace people with they. You wouldn't say they is, so you shouldn't say people is. It's a quick and easy check!"Attention aux expressions comme 'Group Of...'
a group of peopleou
a team of people. Le vrai sujet ici, c'est
group ou team, qui sont singuliers. Donc, tu diras A group is..., et non A group are.... "Don't get tricked by phrases like a group of people or a team of people. The real subject is group or team, which is singular. So, A group is..., not A group are...."Utilise 'Persons' pour le jargon juridique
persons. Mais pour toutes les autres situations, people est ton mot amical et quotidien pour le pluriel. Want to sound like a lawyer or a sign in an elevator? Use persons. For all other situations, people is your friendly, everyday choice for plurals.
'Folks' : une alternative sympa
folks comme un synonyme chaleureux et amical de people. Par exemple, Are you folks ready to order?Il est traité de la même manière : comme un pluriel. "In casual American English, you'll often hear folks used as a warm, friendly synonym for people. For example,
Are you folks ready to order? It's treated the same way: as a plural."Smart Tips
Stop and think: 'Would I say they is?' No. So say 'people are'.
Remember: Everyone = IS, People = ARE. Don't mix them up!
You can use 'a people' as a singular noun to sound more academic.
The verb after 'who' must also be plural.
Prononciation
The 'L' in People
The 'L' is a 'dark L'. Your tongue should be near the roof of your mouth, but the back of the tongue is raised.
Emphasis on 'Are'
People ARE listening!
Used to correct someone who thinks people aren't listening.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
People are plural, like a party. You wouldn't have a party with just one 'is'!
Association visuelle
Imagine a crowd of people all holding up signs that say 'ARE'. One person alone holds a sign that says 'IS'.
Rhyme
One person is, but people are. Follow this rule and you'll go far!
Story
Once there was a lonely 'is' who tried to join a crowd of people. The people shouted, 'No! We are many, we need an ARE!' The 'is' went back to the single person.
Word Web
Défi
Look around you in a public place. Write 5 sentences starting with 'The people here are...' (e.g., 'The people here are drinking coffee.')
Notes culturelles
Americans are very strict about 'people are'. Using 'people is' is seen as a sign of being uneducated or a non-native speaker.
In the UK, collective nouns like 'team' or 'government' can be plural ('The team are playing'), which makes 'people are' feel even more natural.
In legal documents, you will see 'persons' instead of 'people'. This is to emphasize individuals as separate legal entities.
From the Old French 'pueple' and Latin 'populus', meaning 'a people, nation, or crowd'.
Amorces de conversation
Why do you think people are so obsessed with social media?
Are people in your country generally friendly to tourists?
How many people are in your family?
In your opinion, are people born good or do they learn to be good?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
Most people in my city ___ very friendly.
People est un nom pluriel, donc il nécessite le verbe pluriel are.Find and fix the mistake:
There is a lot of people at the beach today.
a lot of people, qui est pluriel. Par conséquent, tu dois utiliser le verbe pluriel are, pas is.Choose the correct sentence:
crowd, qui est un nom collectif singulier, donc il prend le verbe singulier is.Score: /3
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesMany people ___ coming to the party tonight.
Find and fix the mistake:
The people in this city is very helpful.
Why ___ people so loud in the hallway?
That person has a dog. -> Those ___ ___ dogs.
The word 'people' can never be used with the verb 'is'.
Sort: People, Everyone, A person, They
A: Where are the guests? B: The people ___ already in the garden.
1. One person, 2. Two people, 3. Everyone
Score: /8
Practice Bank
13 exercisesThe people I work with ___ from all over the world.
Many people ___ surprised by the news yesterday.
That person are my teacher.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Las personas estaban felices.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the subjects with the correct verb form:
A team of ___ is working on the project.
The peoples of the village was angry.
Select the most natural-sounding sentence:
Translate into English: 'Un groupe de personnes attend.'
Arrange the words to make a sentence:
Match the singulars and plurals:
Score: /13
FAQ (8)
Yes, but only when referring to multiple ethnic groups or nations. For example: 'The peoples of Africa have diverse cultures.'
In some dialects (like African American Vernacular English) or for artistic rhyme, 'people is' might be used, but it is not considered correct in standard English.
Technically, it's a plural count noun. Unlike 'team' (which can be singular), 'people' is almost always plural.
'People' is for general use. 'Persons' is for legal or very formal contexts, like 'Maximum capacity: 10 persons'.
Like 'people', 'the police' is always plural: 'The police are coming.'
They mean the same thing, but 'everyone' is grammatically singular ('Everyone is') and 'people' is plural ('People are').
If you mean one person, say 'one person'. If you mean one nation, you can say 'a people'.
Yes, 'people are' is the standard in all major varieties of English.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
la gente
Spanish is singular; English is plural.
les gens / le monde
French has both singular and plural options; English 'people' is only plural.
die Leute
Very similar to English.
人々 (hitobito)
No subject-verb agreement in Japanese.
الناس (an-nas)
Generally matches English plural usage.
人们 (renmen)
No verb conjugation for number.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Vidéos associées
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