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 という単語の扱いについて深く掘り下げていきましょう。people is と people are のどちらが正しいか迷ったことはありませんか？ 結論から言うと、標準的な英語では常に people are が正解です。しかし、なぜ多くの日本人学習者が people is と間違えてしまうのでしょうか。そこには、日本語と英語の決定的な「数の捉え方」の違いがあります。people を「人々」という一つの「グループ（塊）」として捉えてしまい、単数扱いの is を使いたくなる傾向があります。people は person（人）の「不規則複数形」です。つまり、単語の中にすでに「複数の個人の集まり」という意味が組み込まれています。この感覚をマスターすることは、単なる文法テストの対策ではなく、英語のネイティブスピーカーが世界をどう見ているか（個の集合体として見ているのか、一つの概念として見ているのか）を理解することに繋がります。この記事を通じて、people の正しい使い方を完璧にマスターし、より自然で洗練された英語を身につけましょう。person と people の関係person を使い、二人以上の人間を指すときは people を使います。One person is...（一人の人が〜）Two people are...（二人の人が〜）
people は cats や books のように語尾に -s がつかない「不規則複数形」であるという点です。日本人学習者は「-s がついていない＝単数形」と思い込んでしまう癖がありますが、children（子供たち）や men（男たち）と同様に、people もその形自体で複数を表します。people は they（彼ら）に置き換えることができます。皆さんは they is とは言いませんよね？ 必ず they are と言うはずです。これと同じ理屈で、people の後には必ず are（または過去形なら were）が続きます。family（家族）や team（チーム）のような「集合名詞」があります。これらは一つのまとまりとして is で受けることもあれば、構成員一人ひとりに注目して are で受けることもあります。しかし、people はこれらとは異なり、常に「個々の人間の集まり」として認識されるため、例外なく複数扱いとなります。日本語の「人々」という言葉が持つ「個々の人がたくさんいる」というニュアンスを、英語では動詞の are で表現していると考えてください。One person | is | was | One person is waiting at the reception. |Every person | is | was | Every person has the right to vote. |People | are | were | People are generally kind in this town. |Many people | are | were | Many people were surprised by the news. |A lot of people | are | were | A lot of people are working from home now. |A group of people（人々のグループ）のような表現です。この場合、主語の核となるのは people ではなく group です。group は単数形なので、動詞は is になります。A group of people is approaching.（人々のグループが近づいてきている。）
of の前の単語が何であるかを見極めるのが、英語の語順を正しく理解するコツです。people are を使う場面は多岐にわたります。日常会話からビジネス、SNSまで、具体的なシチュエーションで考えてみましょう。The train is so crowded; people are standing very close to each other.
Nowadays, more people are using SNS to get information.
People are talking about the new cafe in front of the station.
Our customers are satisfied, and people are buying our products again.
Many people were involved in this project.
people are を使って表現するのが最も自然です。People are often afraid of change.
People is... というミスpeople に -s がついていないことも原因の一つです。- 間違い:
People is very busy in Tokyo. - 正解:
People are very busy in Tokyo. - アドバイス: 頭の中で
peopleを見た瞬間に、複数の人間がバラバラと動いているイメージを持ってください。そうすれば自然とareが出てくるようになります。
Persons を日常会話で使ってしまうミスperson の複数形として persons も載っています。しかし、これは非常に硬い、あるいは公的な場面（法律文書、警察の報告書、エレベーターの定員表示など）でしか使われません。- 不自然:
I met three persons at the party. - 自然:
I met three people at the party. - 理由: 日常会話で
personsを使うと、まるで警察官が事情聴取をしているような、非常に事務的で冷たい印象を与えてしまいます。基本的にはpeopleを使うのが正解です。
Everyone are... と混同してしまうミスeveryone（みんな）は意味としては複数ですが、文法的には「単数扱い」です。一方、people は「複数扱い」です。日本語ではどちらも「みんな」と訳せてしまうため、混乱が生じます。- 間違い:
Everyone are happy. - 正解:
Everyone is happy./People are happy. - 解説:
everyoneは「一人ひとり（every single person）」を指すため単数扱い、peopleは「人々全体」を個人の集まりとして指すため複数扱いです。この使い分けは就活（Job hunting）の面接や英語の試験でもよく狙われるポイントです。
Person | 一人の人 | 単数 (is/was) | 個人の特定 |People | 人々 | 複数 (are/were) | 最も一般的な複数形 |Persons | 人々（個々人） | 複数 (are/were) | 法律、公的文書、看板 |Peoples | 民族、国民 | 複数 (are/were) | 歴史、文化、人類学 |Peoples って何？peoples という形も存在します。しかし、これは people の複数形ではなく、a people（一つの民族・国民）という単位が複数ある場合に使われます。例えば、「アジアの諸民族」と言いたいときは The peoples of Asia となります。B1レベルの日常会話ではまず使うことはありませんが、読解問題などで出てきたときに「あ、これは『人々』ではなく『民族』という意味なんだな」と気づけるようになると素晴らしいですね。Everyone vs People の違いEveryone / Everybody | People |is) | 複数扱い (are) |Everyone is drinking. と言うと「（その場にいる）全員がそれぞれ飲んでいる」というニュアンスになり、People are drinking. と言うと「（周りを見ると）あちこちで人々が飲んでいる」という光景を描写するニュアンスになります。Someone や Anyone も people と同じように複数扱いですか？-one や -body で終わる単語（someone, anybody, nobody など）は、すべて「単数扱い」です。たとえ意味が「誰もいない」であっても、文法上は is を使います。Nobody is here.（誰もここにいない）が正しい形です。The people has spoken. という表現を見たことがありますが、これは間違いですか？people are を使うのが最も安全で正しい選択です。three people と three persons どちらがいいですか？three people です。先ほども触れた通り、persons は非常にフォーマルな響きがあります。例えば、ホテルの予約やレストランの受付で「3名です」と言う場合も、Three people, please. または A table for three, please. と言うのが一般的です。people というお馴染みの単語も、英語の「数」の論理で見直してみると、新しい発見があったのではないでしょうか。日本語の「人」という曖昧な概念から一歩踏み出し、英語の「個の集合体」としての people are を意識して使えるようになると、あなたの英語の精度は格段に上がります。次に英語を話すとき、あるいはメールを書くときは、ぜひ頭の中で「彼らは（they are）...」と置き換えて確認してみてくださいね。頑張りましょう！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
| 主語（Subject） | 正しい動詞の形 | 例文 |
|---|---|---|
|
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.
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
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)
単数 vs 複数: Person と People
「is」か「are」の選び方
メインの主語は `people` ですか？
主語は `person` ですか？
主語は `a group of people` ですか？
主語と動詞のペア
`is` / `was` を使う
- • A person
- • The man
- • She
- • A team of people
`are` / `were` を使う
- • People
- • The women
- • They
- • A lot of people
「People」を理解しよう
複数名詞 (Plural Noun)
- `are` / `were` を使う 例: 'People are here.'
- 「2人以上の人」を意味する 'they'と同じ働き
単数形 (Singular Form)
- Person 例: 'One person is here.'
- `is` / `was` を使う 単数の主語には単数動詞
レベル別の例文
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.
間違えやすい
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'.
よくある間違い
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.
文型パターン
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.
「They Are」に置き換えてみて
They are happy, so people are happy.
「Group of...」という言葉に注意
A group of people is waiting.
「Persons」は法律の書類専用
The elevator holds six persons.
親しみやすい「Folks」という呼び方
Are you folks ready to order?
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.
発音
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.
暗記しよう
記憶術
People are plural, like a party. You wouldn't have a party with just one 'is'!
視覚的連想
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
チャレンジ
Look around you in a public place. Write 5 sentences starting with 'The people here are...' (e.g., 'The people here are drinking coffee.')
文化メモ
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'.
会話のきっかけ
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?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
Peopleは複数名詞なので、複数形の動詞であるareが必要です。a lot of people（複数）なので、isではなくareを使うのが正解です。crowd（集合名詞の単数）なので、動詞は単数形のisになります。ちょっと難しいね！Score: /3
練習問題
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.
正しい文章を選んでね：
「人々は幸せでした」を英語にしてね。
単語を並べ替えて文章を作ってね：
主語と正しい動詞を組み合わせてね：
A team of ___ is working on the project.
The peoples of the village was angry.
一番自然に聞こえる文章はどれかな？
「人々のグループが待っています」を英語にしてね。
単語を並べて文章を完成させてね：
単数形と複数形を正しく組み合わせてね：
Score: /13
よくある質問 (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
関連動画
Related Grammar Rules
方言 vs. 言語：違いは何ですか？
### Overview 言語（language）と方言（dialect）の区別は、言語学において最も有名で、かつ最も難しい問題の一つです。「言語...
Nowadays vs. Now-a-days: 違いは何ですか？
### Overview 英語を学習していると、似たような意味を持つ単語や、スペリングが紛らわしい表現に遭遇することが多々あります。...
Let them vs. Let they: 違いは何ですか？
### Overview 英語を学習する際、多くの日本人が最初に直面する壁の一つが「代名詞の格（Case）」の変化です。日本語では「彼」...
Quite vs. Quiet: 違いは何ですか？
### 概要 (Overview) 英語を学習する上で、多くの日本人学習者が頭を悩ませるのが「スペルが似ているけれど意味が全く異なる単...
Said vs. Told: 違いは何ですか？
### Overview 英語を学習している皆さんにとって、`say` と `tell` の使い分けは、中級レベル（B1）に到達する際に必ずと言って...
