If you have ever paused while writing a sentence starting with all, unsure whether to say all is or all are, you are dealing with one of English’s trickier subject verb agreement questions. The word all is unusual because it can function as either singular or plural depending entirely on what it refers to. Here is a complete breakdown of when to use each form correctly.
What Determines Whether to Use Is or Are
The choice between all is and all are depends on whether all refers to an uncountable, singular concept or a countable, plural group of items or people.
Quick Definition
| Phrase | Used With |
|---|---|
| All is | Singular or uncountable nouns and concepts |
| All are | Plural, countable nouns |
Example
All is: “All is well”
All are: “All are welcome to attend”
Understanding All as a Flexible Word
Unlike most subjects in English, all does not have a fixed singular or plural identity on its own. Its grammatical number depends entirely on the noun or concept it refers to within the sentence.
| Context | Grammatical Number | Correct Verb |
|---|---|---|
| Referring to a general state, idea, or uncountable concept | Singular | Is |
| Referring to multiple people, items, or countable things | Plural | Are |
When to Use All Is
All is should be used when all refers to a general, abstract, or uncountable concept, treating the sentence as expressing a singular idea rather than multiple countable items.
Example Sentences
- “All is well in the household”
- “All is not lost, despite the setback”
- “All is quiet on the campus tonight”
- “All is fair in love and war”
In each of these examples, all refers to an overall state or condition, rather than a specific group of countable items, which is why the singular verb is fits correctly.
When to Use All Are
All are should be used when all clearly refers to multiple specific people, items, or countable elements.
Example Sentences
- “All are welcome to join the celebration”
- “All are required to submit their applications by Friday”
- “The students are excited, and all are ready for the trip”
- “All are invited to the meeting”
In these examples, all refers to a group of individual people, which requires the plural verb are for correct subject verb agreement.
All Is vs All Are Side by Side
Seeing these two forms compared directly clarifies the distinction further.
| All Is (Singular/Abstract) | All Are (Plural/Countable) |
|---|---|
| “All is calm before the storm” | “All are calm during the meeting” |
| “All is forgiven” | “All are forgiven for their mistakes” |
| “All is not as it seems” | “All are not present today” |
Notice how all is often pairs with abstract states or overall conditions, while all are pairs with specific groups of people or items.
The Role of What Follows All Of
In many cases, the correct verb depends on what noun follows all of, rather than all by itself.
| Structure | Correct Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| All of + uncountable noun | Is | “All of the information is accurate” |
| All of + plural countable noun | Are | “All of the students are ready” |
Example Sentences
Uncountable noun: “All of the water is contaminated”
Plural countable noun: “All of the bottles are empty”
This structure highlights that the verb choice depends on the noun following all of, rather than being fixed to the word all itself.
Common Uncountable Nouns That Pair With All Is
Certain nouns are grammatically treated as singular, even though they may represent large quantities or general categories.
| Uncountable Noun | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Information | “All of the information is correct” |
| Water | “All of the water is gone” |
| Advice | “All of the advice is helpful” |
| Furniture | “All of the furniture is new” |
Common Countable Nouns That Pair With All Are
Countable nouns, which can be individually counted as separate units, require the plural form are.
| Countable Noun | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| Students | “All of the students are present” |
| Books | “All of the books are on the shelf” |
| Employees | “All of the employees are trained” |
| Cars | “All of the cars are parked outside” |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake One: Using All Are With Uncountable Nouns
Incorrect: “All of the information are correct” Correct: “All of the information is correct”
Mistake Two: Using All Is With Plural Countable Nouns
Incorrect: “All of the students is ready” Correct: “All of the students are ready”
Mistake Three: Ignoring Context When All Stands Alone
Incorrect: “All are well” (when referring to a general state rather than specific people) Correct: “All is well”
Since well being here refers to an overall condition rather than individual countable items, is remains the correct choice.
All Is Well vs All Are Well
This specific phrase often causes confusion, since well can describe both general conditions and individual people, depending on context.
| Sentence | Meaning | Correct Verb |
|---|---|---|
| “All is well” | Referring to an overall situation or state | Is |
| “All are well” | Referring specifically to multiple people’s health or condition | Are |
Example Sentences
General state: “After the storm passed, all is well”
Referring to people: “I checked on the patients, and all are well”
All As a Pronoun Referring to People
When all functions as a pronoun specifically referring to a group of people already mentioned or implied, are is typically the correct choice.
Example Sentences
- “The team finished the project, and all are proud of the results”
- “Everyone submitted their work, and all are eligible for the bonus”
All As a Pronoun Referring to a Concept or Idea
When all refers to an abstract idea, situation, or everything in general, is remains the correct choice.
Example Sentences
- “All is forgiven between them”
- “In the end, all is fair”
- “All is not what it appears to be”
Quick Reference Table
| Context | Correct Phrase | Example |
|---|---|---|
| General state or condition | All is | “All is quiet tonight” |
| Uncountable noun | All is | “All of the water is clean” |
| Plural countable noun | All are | “All of the guests are here” |
| Group of people | All are | “All are welcome” |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know whether to use all is or all are? Check whether all refers to a general, abstract, or uncountable concept, which requires is, or a specific group of countable people or items, which requires are.
Is all is well always correct? Yes, when referring to a general state or condition. However, all are well is also correct when specifically referring to multiple people’s health or wellbeing.
Does the noun following all of determine the correct verb? Yes, the verb should agree with whether that noun is singular/uncountable or plural/countable.
Can all ever be used with singular countable nouns? Typically, all pairs with plural countable nouns or uncountable nouns, rather than singular countable nouns like all of the book is, which would sound unnatural.
Is this grammar rule the same in both American and British English? Yes, this subject verb agreement rule remains consistent across both American and British English.
Final Thoughts
Choosing between all is and all are comes down to identifying whether all refers to a general, abstract, or uncountable concept, which requires is, or a specific group of countable people or items, which requires are. Paying close attention to context, and to the noun that follows all of, will help you apply this subject verb agreement rule correctly and confidently in both everyday conversation and formal writing.
