Everybody is or are: Which Is Correct?

‘Everybody is looking forward to the weekend‘ or ‘Everybody are looking forward to the weekend.’ Which one of the sentences is correct? “Everybody” is considered a singular pronoun, so the appropriate verb form is also singular. The correct verb to use in this case is “is.” Therefore, you should say, “Everybody is,” not “Everybody are.”

For example:

• Everybody is looking forward to the weekend. (Correct)
• Everybody are looking forward to the weekend. (Wrong)
• Everybody is invited to the party. (Correct)
• Everybody are invited to the party. (Wrong)
• Everybody is excited about the upcoming holiday. (Correct)
• Everybody are excited about the upcoming holiday. (Wrong)
• Everybody is attending the meeting at 3 p.m. (Correct)
• Everybody are attending the meeting at 3 p.m. (Wrong)
• Everybody is required to complete the assignment by Friday. (Correct)
• Everybody is responsible for cleaning up after the event. (Correct)
• Everybody is welcome to join the club. (Correct)
• Everybody is looking forward to the weekend. (Correct)
• Everybody is expected to contribute to the charity drive. (Correct)
• Everybody is participating in the team-building exercises. (Correct)
• Everybody is encouraged to share their thoughts during the discussion. (Correct)

Explanation

The word “everybody” is what’s known as a singular indefinite pronoun. It refers to an unspecified group of people, but it is treated as a singular entity. Other similar pronouns include “everyone,” “somebody,” “nobody,” and “anybody.”

When using singular indefinite pronouns, it’s essential to match the verb form accordingly. The verb used with these pronouns should also be singular. For instance:

• Everybody is invited to the party.
• Someone is knocking at the door.
• Nobody is perfect.

In each of these sentences, the verb used is “is,” which is singular, to agree with the singular indefinite pronouns “everybody,” “someone,” and “nobody.”