B1 Confusable-words 7 min read 简单

Everybody-is vs. Are:有什么区别?

如果一个词以“-body”或“-one”结尾,就把它当成一个人,用“单数动词”。

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Even though 'everybody' means many people, it is grammatically singular and always takes a singular verb like 'is'.

  • Treat 'everybody' as one single group: 'Everybody is here' (not are).
  • Use singular verbs for all -body and -one words: 'Someone has my keys'.
  • Use 'are' only when you use the word 'all' with plural nouns: 'All people are'.
Everybody/Everyone + ☝️ (Singular Verb) + ...

Overview

The rule is simple and absolute: indefinite pronouns ending in -body or -one are always grammatically singular. This includes everybody, everyone, somebody, someone, anybody, anyone, nobody, and no one. Even though these words refer to multiple people, they function as a single unit in a sentence and must take a singular verb.
This is a classic point of confusion because of a conflict between *notional agreement* (the idea in our heads) and *grammatical agreement* (the formal rules of the language). Notionally, everybody feels plural—you picture a crowd. Grammatically, however, the word itself is a singular entity.
English grammar prioritizes the grammatical form in this case. Therefore, you must always say Everybody is here, not Everybody are here.
Think of it as the difference between pointing to a group of people and saying They are here versus making a statement about the group as a single concept: The entire group is here. Words like everybody and everyone fall into that second category. Mastering this distinction is a critical step in moving from intermediate to advanced fluency, as it’s a non-negotiable rule in standard English.
This principle extends beyond the verb to be. It applies to all verbs in all tenses. For example, Everybody has a phone (not have), and Someone needs to help (not need).
This guide will explore the linguistic reasoning behind this rule, its formation patterns, and how to navigate its most common pitfalls, particularly the modern usage of the pronoun their.

How This Grammar Works

The reason everybody is singular lies in a linguistic concept called distributive reference. These pronouns don't refer to the group as a collective block; instead, they *distribute* the meaning to each individual member of the group, one by one. When you say Everybody is responsible, the underlying meaning is Every single person, individually, is responsible.
Because the grammatical focus is on that single, representative person, the verb remains singular.
These words are classified as indefinite pronouns. They are 'indefinite' because they do not refer to a specific, identifiable person. When you say Somebody took my pen, you are referring to a single but unknown individual.
This focus on a single, non-specific entity is what anchors the word to singular grammar. Compare this to a definite pronoun like they, which refers to a specific, already-mentioned group of people.
  • Definite Plural Pronoun: The students left. They are going home. (They refers to a specific group: the students.)
  • Indefinite Singular Pronoun: Everybody left. Everybody is going home. (Everybody refers to each person within a general, unspecified group.)
A helpful way to remember this is to look at the words themselves. Everybody is a compound of every and body. Everyone is every and one.
The root words, body and one, are inherently singular. English grammar treats the compound word the same way it treats its singular root. You wouldn't say One are here, so you don't say Everyone are here.
This is different from collective nouns like team, family, or committee. In American English, these are also typically treated as singular (The team is winning). However, in British English, collective nouns can sometimes take a plural verb if the focus is on the individual members acting independently (The committee are debating the issue).
Indefinite pronouns like everybody do not have this flexibility. They are singular in all varieties of standard English.

Formation Pattern

1
The formation is perfectly consistent across all contexts. You simply combine the indefinite pronoun with the third-person singular form of the verb. This is the same verb form you would use with he, she, or it.
2
The basic formula is: Indefinite Pronoun + Singular Verb
3
This table shows how the pattern works with different verbs and tenses. Notice how the verb form for the indefinite pronoun always matches the form for he/she/it.
4
| Subject | Present Simple (be) | Present Simple (action verb) | Past Simple (be) | Past Simple (action verb) | Present Perfect | Plural Contrast (They) |
5
|--------------------------|-----------------------|------------------------------|--------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------|
6
| Everybody / Everyone | is | goes | was | went | has gone | are / go / have gone |
7
| Somebody / Someone | is | knows | was | knew | has known | are / know / have known |
8
| Anybody / Anyone | is | seems | was | seemed | has seemed | are / seem / have seemed |
9
| Nobody / No one | is | cares | was | cared | has cared | are / care / have cared |
10
Examples in sentences:
11
Everybody is waiting for the meeting to start.
12
Someone seems to have left their wallet behind.
13
Nobody was prepared for the announcement.
14
The rule also applies strictly in questions and negative constructions. The auxiliary verb (like do or be) must be singular.
15
Questions:
16
Correct: Is everybody ready?
17
Incorrect: Are everybody ready?
18
Correct: Does anyone have a pen I can borrow?
19
Incorrect: Do anyone have a pen I can borrow?
20
Negative Questions:
21
Correct: Isn't someone going to answer the phone?
22
Incorrect: Aren't someone going to answer the phone?

When To Use It

This grammatical rule is universal across all levels of formality in English. Its application does not change between a formal academic paper and a casual text message to a friend. Adhering to it is a key sign of grammatical accuracy.
In Formal & Academic Writing:
Correct usage is mandatory here. In a university essay, a business report, or any professional publication, an error like Everybody are would be immediately flagged as incorrect and could undermine your credibility. The precision of formal language demands correct subject-verb agreement.
  • *Example from a report:* `“Following the merger, everybody in the department is required to attend the mandatory retraining session. Everyone who completes the course will receive a certificate.”*
In Professional Communication (Emails, Presentations, Meetings):
In the workplace, clarity is paramount. Using singular verbs with indefinite pronouns ensures your instructions and statements are unambiguous. It is the standard for all workplace communication.
  • *Example email:* “Hi Team, just a reminder that everybody needs to submit their quarterly report by EOD Friday. Please let me know if anyone has an issue with the deadline.”
In Everyday Social & Informal Contexts:
This is where many learners assume the rules might relax, but they don't. Native speakers naturally and consistently use the singular form even in the most casual conversations, social media posts, or text messages.
  • *Example social media post:* “Great concert last night! Everybody was singing along to every song.”
  • *Example text message:* “is everybody still okay for pizza at 7? somebody needs to bring drinks”
When Making Generalizations or Broad Statements:
These pronouns are frequently used to talk about people in general. The singular agreement holds firm, creating timeless or universal-sounding statements.
  • Nobody likes to feel left out.”
  • Everyone thinks they know what’s best.”
  • “Ultimately, somebody always has to make the final decision.”

Common Mistakes

Navigating indefinite pronouns involves a few predictable traps. Understanding why these errors occur is the best way to avoid them.
1. The Primary Error: Plural Verb Agreement
This is the most frequent mistake. Learners see a crowd in their mind and reach for a plural verb.
  • Incorrect: Everybody are excited about the trip.
  • Incorrect: Someone have left their lights on.
  • Why it happens: This is a classic case of *notional agreement* (the plural idea) overriding correct *grammatical agreement* (the singular word).
  • Correction: Always force yourself to connect everybody, someone, etc., to the same verb you would use for he or she. This mental check is foolproof.
  • Correct: Everybody is excited about the trip.
  • Correct: Someone has left their lights on.
2. The Pronoun Predicament: his or her vs. Singular their
This is the most complex issue related to indefinite pronouns. Since everybody is singular, what pronoun should you use to refer back to it later in a sentence?
  • The Old-Fashioned Way: Everybody must bring his or her own ticket.
  • Why it was used: For a long time, this was considered the only grammatically

Verb Agreement with Everybody/Everyone

Pronoun Verb 'To Be' (Present) Verb 'To Have' (Present) Action Verb (Present)
Everybody
is
has
works
Everyone
is
has
works
Somebody
is
has
works
Nobody
is
has
works
Anyone
is
has
works
He / She / It
is
has
works

Common Contractions

Full Form Contraction Usage Note
Everybody is
Everybody's
Very common in speech
Everyone is
Everyone's
Very common in speech
Everybody has
Everybody's
Only when 'has' is an auxiliary verb
Everyone has
Everyone's
Only when 'has' is an auxiliary verb

Meanings

The use of singular verb forms (is, was, has, does) with the indefinite pronouns 'everybody' and 'everyone' to indicate a collective group acting as a single grammatical unit.

1

Collective Singular

Referring to all people in a group as a single entity.

“Everybody is waiting for the announcement.”

“Everyone has a role to play in this project.”

2

Informal Contraction

Using 's as a contraction for 'is' with everybody.

“Everybody's going to be there.”

“Everyone's happy about the news.”

3

Singular Pronoun Reference

Using 'they/their' to refer back to 'everybody' while keeping the verb singular.

“Everybody is bringing their own lunch.”

“Everyone has their own opinion.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Everybody-is vs. Are:有什么区别?
不定代词 正确动词 (单数) 错误动词 (复数)
Everybody
is / has / wants
are / have / want
Everyone
is / has / wants
are / have / want
Somebody
is / has / needs
are / have / need
Someone
is / has / needs
are / have / need
Anybody
is / has / knows
are / have / know
Anyone
is / has / knows
are / have / know
Nobody
is / has / cares
are / have / care
No one
is / has / cares
are / have / care

正式程度

正式
Is everyone present and accounted for?

Is everyone present and accounted for? (Attendance check)

中性
Is everybody here?

Is everybody here? (Attendance check)

非正式
Everybody here?

Everybody here? (Attendance check)

俚语
Everyone's in?

Everyone's in? (Attendance check)

“一”的规则:单数不定代词

不定代词

以“-body”结尾的词

  • Everybody Everybody is...
  • Somebody Somebody has...
  • Nobody Nobody does...

以“-one”结尾的词

  • Everyone Everyone is...
  • Someone Someone has...
  • No one No one does...

单数主语 vs. 复数主语

单数集体词
Everybody is Correct
Everyone has Correct
Nobody wants Correct
复数集体词
They are Correct
The students have Correct
We want Correct

选择正确动词的流程图

1

主语是像“everybody”、“someone”或“nothing”这样的词吗?

YES
使用单数动词 (is, has, goes)
NO
遵循正常主谓一致规则 (they are, she is)

动词一致性检查

👤

总是单数

  • Everybody
  • Someone
  • Anything
  • Nobody
👥

总是复数

  • They
  • We
  • My parents
  • Both

按水平分级的例句

1

Everybody is here.

Todo el mundo está aquí.

2

Everyone is happy.

Todos están felices.

3

Is everybody ready?

¿Están todos listos?

4

Everybody has a name.

Cada uno tiene un nombre.

1

Everybody wants to go to the beach.

Todos quieren ir a la playa.

2

Everyone was at the meeting yesterday.

Todos estuvieron en la reunión ayer.

3

Does everybody have a ticket?

¿Todos tienen un boleto?

4

Everybody knows the answer.

Todo el mundo sabe la respuesta.

1

Everybody is looking forward to the holiday.

Todos están deseando que lleguen las vacaciones.

2

Everyone has their own way of learning.

Cada uno tiene su propia forma de aprender.

3

Not everyone is comfortable with public speaking.

No todo el mundo se siente cómodo hablando en público.

4

Everybody's invited, so it's going to be crowded.

Todos están invitados, así que va a estar lleno.

1

Everybody is expected to submit their report by Friday.

Se espera que todos entreguen su informe para el viernes.

2

Everyone who attended the seminar was impressed.

Todos los que asistieron al seminario quedaron impresionados.

3

Is everybody aware of the new policy changes?

¿Están todos al tanto de los nuevos cambios en la política?

4

Everybody thinks they have the best solution.

Todo el mundo cree que tiene la mejor solución.

1

Everybody in the surrounding neighborhoods is affected by the noise.

Todos en los vecindarios circundantes se ven afectados por el ruido.

2

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, however controversial it may be.

Todo el mundo tiene derecho a su opinión, por muy controvertida que sea.

3

Hardly everybody is capable of such dedication.

Casi nadie es capaz de tal dedicación.

4

Everybody is, in a sense, a product of their environment.

Todo el mundo es, en cierto sentido, un producto de su entorno.

1

Everybody is prone to occasional lapses in judgment, aren't they?

Todo el mundo es propenso a lapsos ocasionales de juicio, ¿verdad?

2

Should everybody be held accountable, the system would collapse.

Si todo el mundo fuera considerado responsable, el sistema colapsaría.

3

Everyone who has ever ventured into these woods is familiar with the legend.

Todos los que alguna vez se han aventurado en estos bosques conocen la leyenda.

4

Everybody is, by definition, an individual with unique perspectives.

Todo el mundo es, por definición, un individuo con perspectivas únicas.

容易混淆

Everybody-is vs. Are: What's the Difference? 对比 Everybody vs. All

Learners use 'are' with everybody because 'all' takes 'are'.

Everybody-is vs. Are: What's the Difference? 对比 Everyone vs. Every one

One is a pronoun for people; the other refers to individual items in a list.

Everybody-is vs. Are: What's the Difference? 对比 Each vs. Everybody

Both are singular, but 'each' focuses more on the individual.

常见错误

Everybody are here.

Everybody is here.

In A1, learners think 'everybody' = 'many people' = 'are'.

Everyone have a pen.

Everyone has a pen.

Using 'have' instead of 'has'.

Is everyone ready?

Is everyone ready?

Actually, learners often say 'Are everyone ready?'

Everybody like pizza.

Everybody likes pizza.

Forgetting the 's' on the verb.

Everybody were happy.

Everybody was happy.

Using plural past tense.

Do everyone know?

Does everyone know?

Using 'do' instead of 'does' for questions.

Everybody don't like it.

Everybody doesn't like it.

Using 'don't' instead of 'doesn't'.

Everybody are bringing their books.

Everybody is bringing their books.

The plural 'their' confuses the learner into using 'are'.

Everyone in the groups are ready.

Everyone in the groups is ready.

The plural word 'groups' makes the learner use 'are'.

Everybody have been told.

Everybody has been told.

Using 'have been' in present perfect.

Everybody are, in my opinion, mistaken.

Everybody is, in my opinion, mistaken.

Intervening phrases causing agreement errors.

句型

Everybody is ___.

Everyone has a ___.

Is everybody ___?

Not everyone ___.

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

Everybody's talking about the new movie!

Job Interviews common

Everyone on my previous team was very supportive.

Texting very common

Is everyone coming tonight?

Travel/Tourism common

Everybody needs to show their passport at the gate.

Food Delivery Apps occasional

Has everybody received their order?

Work Emails very common

Everyone is invited to the meeting at 3 PM.

💡

一个整体,一个动词

想象你正在点餐,想说“每个人都想要一份披萨”。把“everybody”看作一个整体,一个单数。
Everybody wants a pizza.
⚠️

别相信你的耳朵

你听到“everybody”时,大脑可能会觉得是很多人,就想用“are”。比如,你可能觉得说“每个人都在这里”是 Everybody are here. 但这是个陷阱!要记住,正确的应该是 Everybody is here.
🎯

大胆用单数“Their”

你告诉大家“每个人都应该为自己的工作感到骄傲”。以前可能会纠结用“his or her”,但现在用“their”更自然、更包容。
Everyone should be proud of their work.
🌍

学习者常犯的错误

你发现自己说“每个人都喜欢这个游戏”时用了
Everybody like this game.
别担心,这是很多英语学习者都会犯的错。母语者能理解你,但如果能用对,你的英语就更地道啦!正确的应该是
Everybody likes this game.

Smart Tips

Stop and think of the word 'He'. If you would say 'He is', then say 'Everybody is'.

Everybody are happy. Everybody is happy.

Use 'Everyone' instead of 'Everybody' for a more professional tone.

Everybody was informed of the change. Everyone was informed of the change.

Ignore the words between 'Everybody' and the verb. The verb always matches 'Everybody'.

Everybody in the rooms are waiting. Everybody in the rooms is waiting.

Switch to 'they' and 'are' in the tag to sound like a native speaker.

Everybody is here, isn't he? Everybody is here, aren't they?

发音

ev-ree-bod-eez

The 's' Contraction

In fast speech, 'Everybody is' sounds like 'Everybody's' /ˌevribɒdiz/.

EV-ry-bod-y

Stress Pattern

Stress the first syllable of 'EVerybody'.

Rising Question

Is everybody READY? ↗

Checking for group consensus.

记住它

记忆技巧

EveryBODY has only one BODY. One body = Singular verb.

视觉联想

Imagine a giant hula hoop circling a hundred people. Even though there are many people, there is only ONE hula hoop. The hoop is the word 'Everybody'.

Rhyme

Everybody is, never are; follow this and you'll go far!

Story

A teacher walks into a room of 30 students. She doesn't see 30 individuals; she sees one 'Class'. She says, 'Is everybody ready?' because she is talking to the group as one unit.

Word Web

ishaswantseveryoneeverybodysingularagreement

挑战

Look around you and describe a group using 'Everybody is...' or 'Everyone has...' five times in the next 5 minutes.

文化笔记

The use of 'they' to refer back to 'everybody' is now the most culturally sensitive and common way to speak, replacing 'he or she'.

Sometimes 'Everybody' is replaced by 'Everyone' in formal settings, but 'Everybody' is very common in daily life.

In very informal British English, you might occasionally hear 'Everybody are' in collective contexts, but it is still considered grammatically incorrect in standard speech.

From Old English 'æfre' (ever) + 'ælc' (each) + 'bodig' (body/person).

对话开场白

Is everybody in your family living in the same city?

Does everyone in your country like the same kind of food?

If everybody was given $1,000 today, what would happen to the economy?

Is everybody responsible for the environment, or just big companies?

日记主题

Write about a party where everybody is having a great time. Describe what everyone is doing.
Do you think everyone has a talent? Explain your opinion.
Describe a situation where everybody was confused. What happened?
Discuss the idea that 'Everybody is a genius in their own way.'

常见错误

Incorrect

正确


Incorrect

正确


Incorrect

正确


Incorrect

正确

Test Yourself

为句子选择正确的动词。

Everybody ___ excited about the holiday party.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is
“Everybody”是单数不定代词,所以需要单数动词“is”。
找出并改正句子中的错误。 Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

I'm not sure if anybody are listening to me.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I'm not sure if anybody is listening to me.
不定代词“anybody”是单数,所以必须与单数动词“is”搭配,而不是“are”。
哪个句子语法正确? 多项选择

选择正确的句子:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nobody knows the secret password.
“Nobody”是单数,所以在现在时动词需要加“-s”,就像“he/she/it”一样。

Score: /3

练习题

8 exercises
Choose the correct verb form. 多项选择

Everybody ___ a different opinion on the matter.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: has
'Everybody' is singular, so it takes 'has'.
Fill in the blank with 'is' or 'are'.

Everyone in the office ___ working hard today.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is
The subject is 'Everyone', which is singular.
Find the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Everybody are going to the concert tonight.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: are
It should be 'is' because 'everybody' is singular.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Building

ready / is / everybody / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Is everybody ready?
In questions, the verb 'is' comes before the subject 'everybody'.
Choose the correct verb for the present tense. 多项选择

Everyone ___ to be successful.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: wants
Third-person singular verbs end in -s.
Is the following sentence grammatically correct? True False Rule

Everybody has their own locker.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: True
This is correct. 'Has' is singular for 'Everybody', and 'their' is used as a gender-neutral pronoun.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Where is the team? B: Don't worry, everyone ___ on the way.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is
'Everyone' refers to the team members but takes a singular verb.
Which word takes a singular verb? Grammar Sorting

Select the singular pronoun.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Everybody
'All', 'Many', and 'Few' are plural when referring to people.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

13 exercises
为句子选择正确的动词。 填空

I think someone ___ left their wallet on the counter.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: has
为句子选择正确的动词。 填空

___ everybody ready for the next round?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Is
找出并改正句子中的错误。 Error Correction

Everyone have to bring their ID to the event.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Everyone has to bring their ID to the event.
哪个句子语法正确? 多项选择

选择正确的句子:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Not everybody likes the new design.
将以下句子翻译成英语。 翻译

翻译成英语:“Nadie quiere irse。”

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["Nobody wants to leave.","No one wants to leave."]
将词语排序以组成一个正确的句子。 Sentence Reorder

将这些词排列成一个句子:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Everybody is entitled to their own opinion.
将每个主语与其正确的动词短语匹配。 Match Pairs

将主语与正确的动词短语匹配:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
选择正确的词来完成句子。 填空

If anyone ___, tell them I'm in a meeting.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: calls
找出并改正句子中的错误。 Error Correction

Why are everybody looking at me?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Why is everybody looking at me?
将以下句子翻译成英语。 翻译

翻译成英语:“¿Alguien tiene una pregunta?”

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["Does anybody have a question?","Does anyone have a question?"]
哪个句子语法正确? 多项选择

选择正确的句子:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Everybody needs to remember their passport.
将词语排序以组成一个正确的句子。 Sentence Reorder

将这些词排列成一个句子:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: There was enough cake for everybody.
将句子的开头与其正确的结尾匹配。 Match Pairs

将句子的开头与其正确的结尾匹配:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched

Score: /13

常见问题 (8)

It is a collective pronoun. It treats the group as one single unit, similar to the word 'team' or 'family'.

In standard English, no. It is always `is`. However, in tag questions, we use plural: `Everybody is here, aren't they?`

There is no difference in meaning. `Everyone` is slightly more formal, while `everybody` is more common in speech.

In modern English, `their` is the most common and accepted way to be gender-neutral: `Everybody has their own seat.`

No, it can also mean `everybody has` (e.g., `Everybody's been told`) or be a possessive (e.g., `Everybody's opinion matters`).

Yes! `Nobody`, `somebody`, and `anybody` all follow the same singular verb rule.

You might hear this in some British dialects or very casual speech, but it is technically a mistake in Standard English.

Just remember: `EveryBODY` = `One body`. One body needs a singular verb like `is`.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Todo el mundo / Todos

English 'Everybody' is always singular, unlike 'Todos'.

French high

Tout le monde

Very similar; French speakers usually find this rule easy.

German low

Alle

German is plural; English is singular.

Japanese none

Minna (みんな)

Japanese has no subject-verb agreement.

Arabic partial

Al-jami' (الجميع)

English is strictly singular.

Chinese none

Dàjiā (大家)

No verb changes in Chinese.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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