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
people이라는 단어는 한국어의 '사람들'과 대응되지만, 형태상 -s가 붙지 않아 단수인지 복수인지 헷갈리기 쉽습니다. 우리가 중급(B1) 단계로 올라서면서 가장 먼저 교정해야 할 습관 중 하나가 바로 people is라고 말하는 습관입니다.people is가 아닌 people are가 되어야 할까요? 결론부터 말씀드리면, people은 형태는 단순해 보이지만 그 자체로 '복수 명사'이기 때문입니다. 영어에는 cat-cats, book-books처럼 -s를 붙여 복수를 만드는 규칙 명사도 있지만, child-children, man-men처럼 형태가 완전히 변하는 '불규칙 복수 명사'도 존재합니다. people은 바로 person(사람 한 명)의 불규칙 복수형입니다.people과 관련된 수 일치 규칙을 완벽하게 정리하고, 한국인 학습자들이 자주 저지르는 실수들을 집중적으로 분석해 보겠습니다.are를 사용해야 합니다.- 한국어: «사람이 있다.» (단수/복수 구분 없이 '있다' 사용)
- 영어:
A person is here.(단수) /People are here.(복수)
people은 태생적으로 '사람들'이라는 의미를 내포한 복수 명사입니다. 따라서 뒤에 오는 동사도 복수형인 are, were, have, do 등이 와야 합니다.people이라는 단어의 생김새 때문입니다. 보통 영어에서 복수형은 -s로 끝나기 마련인데, people은 -s가 없습니다. 그래서 뇌에서는 무의식적으로 이를 단수 취급하여 is를 내뱉게 되는 것이죠. 하지만 people은 they(그들)와 같다고 생각하시면 쉽습니다. 여러분은 they is라고 말하지 않죠? they are라고 하는 것처럼, people 뒤에도 항상 are를 붙여야 합니다.people은 '집합 명사'의 성격도 가지고 있지만, 영어에서는 기본적으로 '개별적인 사람들'의 집합으로 보아 복수 취급을 원칙으로 합니다. 이는 family나 team 같은 단어가 문맥에 따라 단수나 복수 모두로 쓰일 수 있는 것과는 대조적입니다. people은 언제나 복수라는 점을 명심하세요.person과 people의 수 일치 패턴을 표로 정리해 보았습니다. 이 패턴을 눈에 익히는 것이 중요합니다.One person | is | was | works | One person is waiting for you. |A person | is | was | needs | A person was asking about the menu. |People | are | were | work | People are very kind in this town. |Many people | are | were | like | Many people were at the concert. |The people | are | were | have | The people are waiting in line. |A group of people is...(O)A group of people are...(△/구어체에서는 허용되기도 함)
people이 아니라 A group(한 집단)입니다. of people은 그 집단을 꾸며주는 말일 뿐이죠. 따라서 문법적으로는 is를 쓰는 것이 원칙입니다. 한국어로 생각해도 사람들의 한 집단이 있다라고 할 때 '집단'이 주어인 것과 같습니다. 하지만 단순히
people만 주어로 쓰일 때는 무조건 are라는 점, 잊지 마세요!people are는 일상생활의 거의 모든 상황에서 사용됩니다. 우리가 카페에서, 회사에서, 혹은 SNS에서 사람들에 대해 이야기할 때 가장 기본이 되는 표현입니다.- 1일상적인 관찰 (Daily Observations):
There are so many people here! Let's go somewhere else.
- 1일반적인 사실이나 경향 (General Trends):
These days, people are more interested in healthy food.
- 1회사 및 비즈니스 상황 (Professional Context):
People are generally happy with the new office policy.
- 1SNS 및 인터넷 커뮤니티 (Social Media):
People are saying that this movie is life-changing.
people are는 '사람들이 ~한다', '사람들은 ~이다'라는 말을 하고 싶을 때 가장 안전하고 정확한 선택지입니다.People is - 형태에 속는 실수-s가 없는 people을 보고 무의식적으로 is를 씁니다.- 잘못된 예:
People is very busy these days. - 올바른 예:
People are very busy these days. - Tip:
people을 보는 순간 머릿속으로they로 치환하세요.They is가 어색하듯People is도 어색하게 느껴져야 합니다.
Everyone are - 의미에 속는 실수everyone이나 everybody는 의미상 '모든 사람' 즉, 여러 명을 뜻합니다. 그래서 한국인들은 당연히 복수라고 생각하고 are를 씁니다.- 잘못된 예:
Everyone are happy. - 올바른 예:
Everyone is happy. - Why? 영어에서
every가 붙은 단어는 '각각의 사람을 하나로 묶어 하나로 취급'하는 문법적 규칙이 있습니다. 따라서 의미는 복수일지라도 문법적으로는 단수 취급합니다.people은 복수,everyone은 단수! 이 차이를 꼭 기억하세요.
Persons의 남용person의 복수형을 만들 때 규칙대로 -s를 붙여 persons라고 하는 경우입니다. 틀린 단어는 아니지만, 현대 영어의 일상 대화에서는 거의 쓰이지 않습니다.- 상황: 친구와 밥을 먹으러 가서 «세 명이에요»라고 할 때
- 어색한 표현:
We are three persons. - 자연스러운 표현:
There are three people in our group. - 참고:
persons는 주로 법적 문서, 경찰 리포트, 혹은 엘리베이터의 '정원 10명(Capacity: 10 persons)' 같은 아주 격식 있는 공지문에서만 제한적으로 사용됩니다.
person과 관련된 여러 형태를 한눈에 비교해 보겠습니다. 상황에 맞는 단어 선택이 여러분의 영어를 더 세련되게 만듭니다.Person | 단수 | 사람 (한 명) | 특정 개인을 지칭할 때 |People | 복수 | 사람들 | 일상적인 모든 상황 (가장 권장) |Persons | 복수 (격식) | 인원, 개인들 | 법적 문서, 공식 공지, 기술적 문구 |Peoples | 복수 (특수) | 민족, 종족 | 인류학적, 역사적 맥락에서 여러 민족을 말할 때 |peoples라는 단어를 보고 놀라셨을 수도 있습니다. 네, 가능합니다. 하지만 이때의 의미는 '사람들'이 아니라 '민족(Ethnic groups)'이나 '국민(Nations)'을 뜻합니다.people이 이미 복수인데 또-s를 붙인다고?
The indigenous peoples of the Amazon. (아마존의 원주민 부족들)peoples를 쓰지 않도록 주의하세요.The police는 is인가요, are인가요?The police(경찰)도 people과 마찬가지로 집합적으로 복수 취급을 합니다. 따라서 The police are investigating the case.라고 해야 합니다. 경찰관 한 명을 말하고 싶다면 a police officer라고 해야 하며, 이때는 단수 동사를 씁니다.A lot of people 뒤에는 is를 써도 되나요?a lot of는 뒤에 오는 명사의 수에 따라 동사가 결정됩니다. people이 복수이므로 무조건 are를 써야 합니다. A lot of people are coming to the party.가 정답입니다.Every person은 복수인가요?person 앞에 every가 붙으면 단수 취급합니다. Every person has a dream. (O) / Every person have a dream. (X). every는 언제나 단수 동사와 짝꿍이라는 점을 잊지 마세요!people 뒤에 -s를 붙여서 peoples라고 쓰는 건 언제나 틀린 건가요?people are만 정확히 쓰셔도 충분합니다.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
| 주어 (Subject) | 올바른 동사 형태 | 예시 문장 |
|---|---|---|
|
A person
|
`is` / `was` (단수)
|
A person is at the door.
|
|
People
|
`are` / `were` (복수)
|
People are at the door.
|
|
The people
|
`are` / `were` (복수)
|
The people are cheering loudly.
|
|
Some people
|
`are` / `were` (복수)
|
Some people are already leaving.
|
|
They
|
`are` / `were` (복수)
|
They are my friends.
|
|
A group of people
|
`is` / `was` (단수)
|
A group of people is waiting outside.
|
|
A team of people
|
`is` / `was` (단수)
|
Our team of people is the best.
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
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)
수준별 예문
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.
혼동하기 쉬운
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'.
자주 하는 실수
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.
문장 패턴
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'를 떠올리세요
They is라고는 안 하니까 People is도 안 되겠죠? They are my best friends.
'Group Of...' 표현을 조심하세요
A group of people is coming.
법률 문서에선 'Persons'
Maximum capacity is ten persons.
친근한 표현 'Folks'
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.
발음
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.
암기하기
기억법
People are plural, like a party. You wouldn't have a party with just one 'is'!
시각적 연상
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
챌린지
Look around you in a public place. Write 5 sentences starting with 'The people here are...' (e.g., 'The people here are drinking coffee.')
문화 노트
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'.
대화 시작하기
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?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
Most people in my city ___ very friendly.
People은 복수 명사이기 때문에 복수 동사인 are가 필요해요.Find and fix the mistake:
There is a lot of people at the beach today.
a lot of people이므로 is가 아닌 are를 써야 합니다.Choose the correct sentence:
crowd(군중)라는 단수 집합 명사가 주어라서 is를 쓰는 게 맞아요.Score: /3
연습 문제
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:
영어로 번역해 보세요: '그 사람들은 행복했어요.'
단어를 순서대로 배열해 보세요:
주어와 알맞은 동사를 연결하세요:
A team of ___ is working on the project.
The peoples of the village was angry.
가장 자연스러운 문장을 고르세요:
영어로 번역해 보세요: '한 무리의 사람들이 기다리고 있어요.'
단어를 조합해 문장을 만드세요:
단수형과 복수형을 매칭하세요:
Score: /13
자주 묻는 질문 (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
관련 동영상
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Said vs. Told: 차이점이 무엇인가요?
### Overview 영어를 배우는 한국인 학습자들에게 `say`와 `tell`은 마치 '숙명적인 라이벌'과 같습니다. 우리말로는 둘 다 단...
