"Is" for singular subjects:
* This cat is fluffy.
* The dog is barking.
* The sun is shining.
"Are" for plural subjects:
* The cats are fluffy.
* The dogs are barking.
* The stars are shining.
It gets trickier when:
* The subject is a pronoun:
* I am happy. (Pronoun "I" is singular)
* We are ready. (Pronoun "we" is plural)
* The subject is a collective noun:
* The team is playing well. (Team is acting as a single unit)
* The team are arguing. (Team members are acting individually)
* The subject is a phrase:
* Two plus two is four. (The phrase acts as a singular unit)
* Running and jumping are fun. (The phrase acts as a plural unit)
Remember these key points:
* Focus on the subject: Identify the subject of the sentence – the person, place, or thing doing the action.
* Singular vs. plural: Determine if the subject is singular (one) or plural (more than one).
* Choose the correct verb: Use "is" for singular subjects and "are" for plural subjects.
If you're still unsure, try replacing the subject with a pronoun like "he/she" (singular) or "they" (plural) and see what sounds right.