What is the correct form?
There is people
There are people?
Kindly, explain your answer.
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Depends on the context, but most often "are" is the verb form to use because "people" designates a multitude of individuals; just tradition, I guess. – Victor Bazarov Sep 30 '15 at 19:12
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2Also, if you use the singular, you should probably use "a" before "people": "There is a people" (i.e. "a nation"). – Victor Bazarov Sep 30 '15 at 19:13
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1related to this question: Is “people” a countable or a non-countable noun? – John B Sep 30 '15 at 19:50
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I'm sorry but I don't understand the dependence of the context to the question. Are there times that word "people" gets "is" and times that it gets "are" ?! If so, I would like to know and to learn. Thank you – Virtuous Legend Sep 30 '15 at 19:55
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A simple look at Oald would show you that "people" can be plural meaning persons and that there is a second use people/peoples meaning all people of one language/race etc. http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/people_1?q=people – rogermue Sep 30 '15 at 23:17
3 Answers
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People is the plural form of person (see irregular words), therefore, it has to be referred as plural. People are always minimum two, that's why we should say:
"There are people who like to help." [Correct ✅]
rather than
"There is people who like to help." [Incorrect❎]
Virtuous Legend
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People is usually used in the sense of "multiple persons tied by some common thread", hence it's used as a plural. Why is "people" used that way, and why is "community" not used that way? I can't tell you, because I don't know myself!
Examples
We the people
The people of California vote today - as against -Every person in California voteS today
When oppressed, people rise up vs. When oppressed a person riseS up.
Hope this helps.
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i think both are right. if you use "people" as a collective noun such as "family" then you may use "is." but for the word "people" itself is considered as plural, to use "are" is more usual.
sung
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