B1 Confusable-words 12 min read Fácil

'News' é singular ou plural: Qual é a diferença?

Pense na palavra 'news' como 'informação' — parece plural, mas é sempre singular. Use is, was ou has.
Marcar como aprendido
Pratique

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Even though 'news' ends in -s, it is always singular and takes the verb 'is', never 'are'.

  • Always use singular verbs: 'The news is good' (not 'are').
  • Use 'this' or 'that', never 'these' or 'those' with news.
  • Count news using 'a piece of' or 'some', never 'a news'.
📰 News + ☝️ Is / Was / Has (Singular Verb)

Overview

### Overview
No inglês, a palavra news (notícias) é um daqueles casos que costumam pregar peças em quem está aprendendo. Como ela termina em -s, nosso cérebro, acostumado com a lógica do plural em português, tende a tratá-la como se fosse algo contável. No entanto, em inglês, news é um substantivo incontável (uncountable noun) e, por isso, deve ser sempre acompanhado por verbos no singular.
Em português, nós dizemos
as notícias são boas
, usando o plural tanto no artigo quanto no verbo. Em inglês, essa estrutura é proibida. Você deve dizer The news is good.
Essa distinção é fundamental porque o inglês diferencia rigidamente substantivos contáveis de incontáveis. Enquanto em português podemos dizer uma notícia, duas notícias ou
três notícias
, em inglês o conceito de news funciona como uma massa de informação, algo semelhante a information, furniture ou advice. Você nunca verá um falante nativo dizendo *one news* ou *two news*.
Se você tentar usar o plural, soará estranho, como se estivesse dizendo três águas ou
três músicas
em um contexto onde apenas o conceito abstrato cabe. Dominar isso é o que separa um aluno de nível básico de um estudante de nível intermediário que já tem um ouvido mais apurado para a naturalidade da língua. Vamos mergulhar nessa lógica para que você nunca mais erre na hora de contar algo novo para um amigo ou colega de trabalho.
### How This Grammar Works
A natureza singular de news reside na categoria de substantivos que chamamos de *uncountable*. Em português, temos o conceito de substantivos contáveis e incontáveis, mas a aplicação é diferente. Por exemplo, notícia é perfeitamente contável em português (singular: notícia / plural: notícias).
Em inglês, a palavra news não possui uma forma de plural. O -s que você vê no final não é um marcador de plural, mas sim parte integrante da palavra, herdada do francês antigo nouvelles. É como se o -s estivesse colado na palavra, mas não tivesse função gramatical de multiplicidade.
Para entender melhor, compare com a nossa gramática:
| Característica | Português (BR) | Inglês
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Pluralização | Notícias (plural) | News (sempre singular)
| Concordância | Verbo no plural | Verbo no singular
| Artigo | Uma notícia (possível) | A news (incorreto)
Essa regra se estende a outras palavras em inglês que terminam em -s mas funcionam como um bloco único. Por exemplo, campos de estudo como Mathematics, Physics ou Economics também pedem verbo no singular (Mathematics is difficult). Isso acontece porque, para o falante de inglês, essas palavras representam um único corpo de conhecimento ou uma única entidade.
O mesmo vale para news. Quando você diz The news is on TV, você está tratando o conjunto de informações como um todo singular. Se você quiser se referir a unidades de informação, precisa usar um quantificador, como piece of.
Em português, a gente simplesmente coloca no plural, mas em inglês, precisamos desse suporte estrutural. Entender que news é um conceito abstrato, e não uma contagem de itens, é o segredo para soar natural.
### Formation Pattern
A regra de ouro é: news + verbo no singular. Não importa o tempo verbal, a concordância deve ser sempre com a terceira pessoa do singular (is, was, has, seems).
| Tense (Tempo Verbal) | Estrutura (Exemplo) |
| :--- | :--- |
| Present Simple | The news is shocking. |
| Past Simple | The news was on the radio. |
| Present Perfect | The news has arrived. |
| Future Simple | The news will be updated soon. |
Para contar, usamos partitivos (partitive expressions):
  • A piece of news (uma notícia)
  • Two pieces of news (duas notícias)
Note que, ao usar two pieces of news, o verbo vai para o plural porque ele concorda com pieces, e não com news.
### When To Use It
Você usará essa estrutura em qualquer situação do dia a dia. Seja contando uma fofoca para um amigo no WhatsApp, passando um update de projeto no trabalho ou assistindo ao jornal.
  1. 1Ambiente de Trabalho: Se você está no escritório e precisa avisar a equipe sobre uma atualização, você dirá: The news from the manager is that we have a deadline. Note o is.
  2. 2Conversa Informal: Ao encontrar um amigo e perguntar sobre a vida, você pode dizer: What's the news? (O que há de novo?). Lembre-se que What's é a contração de What is.
  3. 3Expressões Idiomáticas: A famosa frase No news is good news (sem notícias, boas notícias) é um exemplo clássico onde o verbo is mantém a regra do singular intacta.
Sempre que quiser enfatizar que algo é recente, evite o erro de criar um plural inexistente. O foco deve ser na informação como um todo.
### Common Mistakes
  1. 1Concordância Plural (L1 Interference): O erro mais comum é dizer *The news are*. Como em português dizemos
    As notícias são
    , o cérebro do brasileiro transfere a estrutura automaticamente. O motivo é a L1 (Língua Materna) nos forçando a buscar uma correspondência de plural onde ela não existe no inglês.
  2. 2Uso de Artigo Indefinido: Muitos alunos dizem *a news*. Isso acontece porque, em português, uma notícia é comum. Como news é incontável, não podemos usar a/an. O correto é some news ou a piece of news.
  3. 3Confundir News com New: É comum ouvir *What is the new?*. O aluno tenta usar o adjetivo como substantivo. O correto é usar o substantivo news ou uma estrutura como What's new? (O que há de novo?), mas sem o artigo the antes de new quando ele funciona como adjetivo.
### Contrast With Similar Patterns
Comparar news com substantivos contáveis ajuda a fixar a regra.
| Substantivo | Tipo | Exemplo |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Report | Contável | The reports are ready. |
| News | Incontável | The news is ready. |
| Information | Incontável | The information is helpful. |
Enquanto report permite plural (reports), news e information são estáticos. Se você quer ser preciso, use report para algo específico e news para o conjunto de informações.
### Quick FAQ
  1. 1Posso dizer 'news' no plural? Não, news nunca muda. A forma de plural é inexistente.
  2. 2Como digo 'muitas notícias'? Use a lot of news ou much news. Nunca use many news, pois many é para contáveis.
  3. 3Por que o verbo é sempre singular? Porque news é tratado gramaticalmente como um substantivo incontável, similar a water ou money.

Verb Agreement with 'News'

Tense Affirmative Negative Question
Present Simple
The news is
The news isn't
Is the news...?
Past Simple
The news was
The news wasn't
Was the news...?
Present Perfect
The news has been
The news hasn't been
Has the news been...?
Future (Will)
The news will be
The news won't be
Will the news be...?
Modals
The news might be
The news can't be
Could the news be...?

Contractions with 'News'

Full Form Contraction Usage Note
News is
News's
Common in spoken English (e.g., 'The news's good')
News has
News's
Used for present perfect (e.g., 'The news's been leaked')
News was
None
We do not contract 'news' and 'was'

Meanings

Information about recent events or happenings, reported by media or shared between people.

1

Media Reports

Information provided by newspapers, television, or digital platforms regarding current affairs.

“The news is full of reports about the election.”

“I don't watch the news because it is too depressing.”

2

Personal Updates

New information about someone's life or a specific situation shared privately.

“I have some great news for you!”

“The news of her promotion was a surprise.”

3

Gossip/Rumors

Informal or unofficial information circulating within a community.

“The news travels fast in this small town.”

“That news is just a rumor; don't believe it.”

Reference Table

Reference table for 'News' é singular ou plural: Qual é a diferença?
Substantivo Singular com 's' Área Exemplo
News
Informação Geral
The evening news `is` on at 7 PM.
Mathematics
Matéria Acadêmica
Mathematics `is` a required course.
Physics
Matéria Acadêmica
Physics `explains` how the universe works.
Gymnastics
Esporte/Atividade
Gymnastics `requires` incredible strength.
Billiards
Esporte/Atividade
Billiards `is` a game of precision.
Economics
Matéria Acadêmica
Economics `is` often called 'the dismal science'.
Measles
Doença
Measles `causes` a fever and a red rash.
Politics
Área de Estudo/Conceito
Politics `is` a complicated business.

Espectro de formalidade

Formal
The news is favorable.

The news is favorable. (General update)

Neutro
The news is good.

The news is good. (General update)

Informal
The news is great!

The news is great! (General update)

Gíria
The news is fire!

The news is fire! (General update)

'News': Um Conceito Singular

NEWS

Verbo para usar

  • IS / WAS Sempre singular
  • HAS ex: The news has spread.

Como contar

  • a piece of news para um item
  • some news para uma quantidade

Erro Comum

  • The news ARE... Incorreto!

Singular vs. Plural Real

Incontável (parece plural)
The news IS good. Verbo no singular
a piece of news Não conta diretamente
Contável (é plural)
The cats ARE cute. Verbo no plural
two cats Pode contar diretamente

Escolhendo o Verbo para 'News'

1

O sujeito da frase é 'news'?

YES
Use um verbo no singular (is, was, has).
NO
Siga as regras padrão de concordância.

Substantivos Singulares 'Traiçoeiros'

☝️

Sempre Singular

  • • News
  • • Advice
  • • Information
  • • Luggage
🤔

Parecem Plural

  • • Mathematics
  • • Physics
  • • Billiards
  • • Measles
Cadastre-se grátis para ler a explicação completa

Exemplos por nível

1

The news is good.

The news is good.

2

I have some news.

I have some news.

3

Is the news on TV?

Is the news on TV?

4

This news is sad.

This news is sad.

1

That was a great piece of news!

That was a great piece of news!

2

There isn't much news today.

There isn't much news today.

3

The news wasn't very interesting.

The news wasn't very interesting.

4

Do you have any news about the cat?

Do you have any news about the cat?

1

The news about the new taxes is quite worrying.

The news about the new taxes is quite worrying.

2

I'm afraid the news isn't what we expected.

I'm afraid the news isn't what we expected.

3

How much news has been reported so far?

How much news has been reported so far?

4

This piece of news is going to change everything.

This piece of news is going to change everything.

1

The news, despite being unconfirmed, is spreading rapidly.

The news, despite being unconfirmed, is spreading rapidly.

2

Whatever the news is, we must remain calm.

Whatever the news is, we must remain calm.

3

The news that he had resigned was a shock to everyone.

The news that he had resigned was a shock to everyone.

4

Is there any further news regarding the contract?

Is there any further news regarding the contract?

1

The news concerning the environmental crisis is increasingly dire.

The news concerning the environmental crisis is increasingly dire.

2

Seldom is the news as objective as we would like it to be.

Seldom is the news as objective as we would like it to be.

3

The news of the discovery was met with widespread acclaim.

The news of the discovery was met with widespread acclaim.

4

Such news is rarely welcomed by the shareholders.

Such news is rarely welcomed by the shareholders.

1

The news, as it stands, is merely a collection of unsubstantiated rumors.

The news, as it stands, is merely a collection of unsubstantiated rumors.

2

Notwithstanding the gravity of the situation, the news is being handled with discretion.

Notwithstanding the gravity of the situation, the news is being handled with discretion.

3

The news that the treaty had been signed resonated throughout the continent.

The news that the treaty had been signed resonated throughout the continent.

4

Rarely has news of such magnitude been delivered so nonchalantly.

Rarely has news of such magnitude been delivered so nonchalantly.

Fácil de confundir

Is-news-singular vs. Plural: What's the Difference? vs News vs. Information

Both are uncountable, but news ends in 's' while information does not.

Is-news-singular vs. Plural: What's the Difference? vs News vs. New

Learners often use the adjective 'new' when they mean the noun 'news'.

Is-news-singular vs. Plural: What's the Difference? vs News vs. Reports

Reports is a countable plural noun, while news is uncountable singular.

Erros comuns

✗

The news are good.

✓

The news is good.

News is singular, so use 'is'.
✗

I have a news.

✓

I have some news.

You cannot use 'a' with uncountable nouns.
✗

These news are sad.

✓

This news is sad.

Use 'this' for singular uncountable nouns.
✗

Many news today.

✓

A lot of news today.

Use 'a lot of' or 'much' for uncountable nouns.
✗

The news were on TV.

✓

The news was on TV.

Past tense must also be singular.
✗

I heard two news.

✓

I heard two pieces of news.

Use 'pieces of' to count news.
✗

Is there many news?

✓

Is there much news?

Use 'much' for uncountable questions.
✗

The news about the results are out.

✓

The news about the results is out.

Don't let the plural word 'results' confuse you; the subject is 'news'.
✗

The news have been leaked.

✓

The news has been leaked.

Present perfect must use 'has'.
✗

Those news you told me...

✓

That news you told me...

Use 'that' for singular distance.
✗

The news, which were broadcasted, were false.

✓

The news, which was broadcast, was false.

Relative clauses must also maintain singular agreement.
✗

A news item were reported.

✓

A news item was reported.

Even with 'item', the phrase is singular.
✗

The news are a vital part of democracy.

✓

The news is a vital part of democracy.

Abstract usage still requires singular agreement.

Padrões de frases

The news about ___ is ___.

I have some ___ news to ___ you.

Is there any news regarding ___?

That piece of news was ___ by ___.

Real World Usage

Watching TV very common

The news is on at 8 PM.

Texting a friend very common

I have some news! Call me.

Job Interview occasional

The news about your company's growth is impressive.

Social Media constant

This news is breaking my heart. 💔

Newspaper Headline common

No news is good news.

Office Meeting common

Is there any news on the budget?

Cadastre-se grátis para ver todos os exemplos
💡

Pense em 'Informação'

Se bater a dúvida na hora de falar, tente trocar news por information. Você diria 'The information is...', certo?
The news is very helpful.
⚠️

Não tire o 'S'

Imagine que você quer contar uma novidade, mas acaba dizendo new. New é o adjetivo 'novo'.
I heard some interesting news.
🎯

Soe como um Pro

Se você quer ser bem específico sobre um único fato em uma conversa formal, use 'a piece of news'.
I have a piece of news for you.
🌍

Papo de Elevador

Naquela conversa de elevador ou no começo de uma reunião, perguntar Any good news? é super simpático.
Do you have any good news?

Smart Tips

Immediately think of the word 'Information'. If 'Information is' sounds right, then 'News is' is also right.

The news are starting. → The news is starting.

Use the 'Piece' trick. Always put 'piece of' in front of 'news' if you want to count it.

I have a news. → I have a piece of news.

Ignore any plural words that come after 'news'. The verb only cares about the word 'news' itself.

The news about the players are bad. → The news about the players is bad.

Remember: News is a 'This', never a 'These'.

These news are great. → This news is great.

Pronúncia

/njuːz/

The 's' sound

The 's' in news is pronounced like a /z/.

/njuːzɪz/

Linking 'news' and 'is'

In natural speech, the /z/ at the end of 'news' links to the 'i' in 'is'.

Statement Intonation

The news is GOOD. ↘

Conveying a fact clearly.

Memorize

Mnemônico

NEWS stands for North, East, West, South—four directions, but only ONE world of information.

Associação visual

Imagine a giant newspaper (News) being squeezed into a single, small bucket (Singular). The 's' at the end is just a tail, not a sign of many things.

Rhyme

Though it ends with an S, it's a singular mess; use 'is' for the news, and you'll surely impress!

Story

A reporter named Sam always brought 'some news' to the office. He never brought 'a news' because his boss, Mr. Singular, would get angry. Sam always said, 'The news is ready!' because he knew the news was just one big story.

Word Web

InformationReportUpdateBroadcastBulletinHeadlineUncountable

Desafio

Write three sentences about today's events using 'The news is...', 'This news...', and 'A piece of news...'. Check that you didn't use 'are'!

Notas culturais

In the UK, the BBC is often referred to as 'The News'. While collective nouns like 'team' can be plural in the UK (The team are playing), 'news' remains strictly singular.

Americans often use 'the news' to refer to the local TV broadcast. It is always singular.

Journalists use 'hard news' for serious topics and 'soft news' for entertainment. Both are uncountable and singular.

The word 'news' developed in the 14th century as a special use of the plural of the adjective 'new'. It is a translation of the Old French 'nouvelles'.

Iniciadores de conversa

“

What is the most interesting news you heard today?

“

Is the news in your country usually positive or negative?

“

If you had some great news to share, who would you call first?

“

Do you think the news is becoming too sensationalist?

Temas para diário

Write about a piece of news that changed your life.
Describe the current news cycle in your city.
Argue for or against the statement: 'No news is good news.'
Reflect on how the news is consumed differently by different generations.

Erros comuns

Incorrect

Correto

Incorrect

Correto

Incorrect

Correto

Incorrect

Correto

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Escolha a forma correta do verbo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
Embora 'news' termine em 's', é um substantivo singular e pede o verbo 'is'.
Encontre e corrija o erro na frase.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
Para se referir à 'news' (notícia), usamos o pronome singular 'it' e o verbo 'is'.
Qual frase está gramaticalmente correta?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
'News' é incontável e singular, então deve ser usada com 'is' e sem o artigo 'a'.

Score: /3

Exercicios praticos

8 exercises
Choose the correct verb form. Múltipla escolha

The news about the holidays ___ very exciting.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is
'News' is singular, so 'is' is the correct present tense form.
Fill in the blank with 'this' or 'these'.

___ news is going to surprise everyone.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: this
'News' is uncountable and takes the singular determiner 'this'.
Correct the error in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

I heard a news today about the strike.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: All of the above
You cannot say 'a news'. You must use 'some', 'a piece of', or just 'news'.
Change the sentence to use 'news'. Sentence Transformation

The reports were very helpful. -> The news ___ very helpful.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was
Since 'were' is past tense plural, the singular past tense 'was' must be used with 'news'.
Is the following statement true or false? True False Rule

'News' can be plural if there are many different stories.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
'News' is always grammatically singular, regardless of the number of stories.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Did you hear the news? B: No, what ___ it?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is
The question refers to the news in the present/recent past, requiring 'is'.
Which verb goes with 'News'? Grammar Sorting

Select all that apply.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is, has, was
'Are' is the only plural verb and cannot be used with 'news'.
Match the quantifier with the noun. Match Pairs

1. A piece of... 2. Many...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-news, 2-books
'News' uses 'piece of', while 'books' uses 'many'.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

11 exercises
Escolha a palavra correta para completar a frase. Preencher as lacunas

I have a ___ of good news for you.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: piece
Escolha a forma correta do verbo. Preencher as lacunas

All the news from the conference ___ positive so far.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: has been
Encontre e corrija o erro na frase. Error Correction

The news about the layoffs weren't handled well.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The news about the layoffs wasn't handled well.
Qual frase está correta? Múltipla escolha

Escolha a frase correta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: That's good news.
Digite a frase correta em inglês. Tradução

Traduza para o inglês: 'As notícias são boas.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["The news is good.","The news is good"]
Coloque as palavras na ordem correta. Sentence Reorder

Organize as palavras para formar uma frase:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: That is terrible news
Combine os pares corretamente. Match Pairs

Combine o substantivo singular 'pegadinha' com sua categoria:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer:
Escolha a forma verbal correta. Preencher as lacunas

Not all news ___ worth reading.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is
Encontre e corrija o erro na frase. Error Correction

I have many news to tell you from my trip.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I have a lot of news to tell you from my trip.
Qual pergunta é gramaticalmente correta? Múltipla escolha

Escolha a pergunta correta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: What is the news?
Coloque as palavras na ordem correta. Sentence Reorder

Organize as palavras para formar uma frase:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The news from the meeting wasn't good

Score: /11

Perguntas frequentes (8)

It's a historical remnant. It comes from the plural of 'new' (new things), but over time, English speakers began to treat it as a single mass of information.

In standard modern English, no. It is always 'the news is'. Even in British English, where some collective nouns take plural verbs, 'news' stays singular.

Use the phrase 'pieces of news' or 'items of news'. For example, 'I have three pieces of news to tell you.'

They are both uncountable, but 'news' specifically refers to recent events, while 'information' can be any kind of data.

No, this is a common mistake. You should say 'some news' or 'a piece of news'.

Yes. You say 'Good news is hard to find,' not 'Good news are hard to find.'

It is still singular. 'The evening news starts at 6:00.'

Yes, in all modern contexts, 'news' is treated as an uncountable mass noun.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Cadastre-se grátis para praticar

In Other Languages

Spanish low

Las noticias

Spanish uses plural verbs and articles; English uses singular.

French low

Les nouvelles

French is plural; English is singular.

German low

Die Nachrichten

German uses plural agreement.

Japanese moderate

ニュース (Nyūsu)

Japanese lacks the singular/plural verb distinction.

Arabic low

أخبار (Akhbar)

Arabic treats it as a countable plural.

Chinese moderate

新闻 (Xīnwén)

Chinese has no morphological plural for 'news'.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Indirect Questions: Could You Tell Me Where...?
Next
It has vs. It have: Qual é a diferença?

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