are: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1Universal (used in all registers from highly formal to highly informal)
Quick answer
What does “are” mean?
The second person singular and plural, and first and third person plural present tense form of the verb 'be', used to indicate existence, identity, quality, or state.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The second person singular and plural, and first and third person plural present tense form of the verb 'be', used to indicate existence, identity, quality, or state.
Used to form the present continuous tense (e.g., 'They are running'), the passive voice (e.g., 'The doors are locked'), and to express states, conditions, or relationships.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic differences. Minor potential differences in contracted forms in informal speech (e.g., 'You're' vs. 'Y'all're' in some Southern US dialects). The negative contraction 'aren't' is standard in both, though 'are not' is preferred in formal writing.
Connotations
Identical. The verb 'be' and its forms are core grammatical items without regional connotation.
Frequency
Extremely high and identical in frequency. It is one of the most common words in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “are” in a Sentence
SVC (Subject + 'are' + Complement): 'You are tall.'SVA (Subject + 'are' + Adverbial): 'The keys are here.'Auxiliary for Continuous: 'are' + present participle: 'They are working.'Auxiliary for Passive: 'are' + past participle: 'The reports are filed.'Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “are” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- You are brilliant at maths.
- The trains are frequently delayed.
- Aren't you coming to the pub?
American English
- You are awesome at math.
- The reports are due Friday.
- Are y'all ready to order?
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in descriptions of company status, team activities, and project states: 'The figures are accurate.' 'We are reviewing the proposal.'
Academic
Used in definitions, classifications, and descriptions of states: 'These cells are eukaryotic.' 'The results are significant.'
Everyday
Ubiquitous in describing states, locations, and actions: 'Where are my glasses?' 'We are late.'
Technical
Used in specifications and system states: 'All systems are operational.' 'The parameters are within tolerance.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “are”
- Omission in questions and statements (e.g., 'Where you going?' instead of 'Where are you going?').
- Incorrect subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'He are nice.').
- Using 'are' with uncountable nouns in existential constructions (e.g., 'There are some news' instead of 'There is some news.').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Use 'are' with the second person singular (you), first person plural (we), second person plural (you), and third person plural (they). Use 'is' with third person singular (he, she, it, or a singular noun).
No, in Standard English, 'you' always takes 'are', whether it is singular or plural. 'You is' is non-standard and found only in certain dialects or as a grammatical error.
This is the weak form /ə(r)/. In fluent, connected speech, 'are' is often unstressed and reduced to this shorter, central vowel sound, especially in the middle of sentences (e.g., 'What are you doing?' -> /ˈwɒt ə jə ˈduːɪŋ/).
Use 'there is' (or the contraction 'there's') when the following noun is singular or uncountable. Use 'there are' when the following noun is plural. This is called subject-verb agreement. Example: 'There is a problem.' vs. 'There are several problems.'
The second person singular and plural, and first and third person plural present tense form of the verb 'be', used to indicate existence, identity, quality, or state.
Are is usually universal (used in all registers from highly formal to highly informal) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “as they are”
- “here we are”
- “there you are”
- “how are you?”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ARE: All Real Existence. Links the subject to its state of being.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXISTENCE IS LOCATION (e.g., 'The idea is in my head' / 'The idea is here'), STATES ARE CONTAINERS (e.g., 'You are in trouble').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'are' used correctly?