Plural verb after 'this' or 'that'

Writers often slip into sentences like "This reports are attached" or "That children are noisy." The problem: this and that are singular demonstratives. If you mean more than one item, use these or those, or recast the subject so the demonstrative legitimately points to a single unit.

Quick answer

This and that are singular and take singular verbs (this is, that was). Use these or those with plural verbs for multiple items, or rewrite so the demonstrative refers to one unit (this set, this group).

Single item → this/that + singular verb: This report is ready.
Multiple items → these/those + plural verb: These reports are ready.
Keep this but mean several items → recast: This set of reports is ready.

Core explanation: how demonstratives control number

When this or that stands in for a noun or idea, it carries singular number and requires a singular verb. When it points to more than one thing, the demonstrative itself must be plural.

This + singular noun → singular verb: This file is ready.
These + plural noun → plural verb: These files are ready.
Omitted noun? The demonstrative still sets number: This is (singular), These are (plural).

Wrong: This reports are due today.
Right: These reports are due today. / This report is due today.
Wrong: That dogs were barking last night.
Right: Those dogs were barking last night. / That dog was barking last night.

Grammar details and common traps

Watch collective nouns, plural-looking words treated as mass nouns, and sentences where the noun is omitted. You can keep this with a singular verb if you explicitly name a single unit that contains multiple parts.

Collectives: This team is ready. (If you mean individuals: These team members are ready.)
Data and mass nouns: In formal contexts use these data are; in casual use many people say this data is. To avoid debate, say this dataset is.
Omitted noun: "This is worrying" (one idea) vs "These are worrying" (several items).

Wrong: This team are meeting on Tuesday.
Right: This team is meeting on Tuesday. / These team members are meeting on Tuesday.
Wrong: This data are corrupted.
Right: These data are corrupted. / This dataset is corrupted.

Work examples: emails, reports, and deadlines

In business writing, correct agreement keeps your message clear and professional. Here are workplace sentences corrected and, where useful, rewritten for clarity.

Wrong: This reports are attached for your review.
Right: These reports are attached for your review. / This report is attached for your review.
Wrong: This files need to be uploaded before 5pm.
Right: These files need to be uploaded before 5 p.m. / This file needs to be uploaded before 5 p.m.
Wrong: This team are responsible for Q3 targets.
Right: This team is responsible for Q3 targets. / These teams are responsible for Q3 targets.
Wrong: That attachments are missing from the invoice.
Right: Those attachments are missing from the invoice. / That attachment is missing from the invoice.

School examples: essays, assignments, and feedback

Teachers and graders notice subject-verb mismatches. These fixes work for essays, feedback, and notes.

Wrong: This assignments are overdue.
Right: These assignments are overdue. / This assignment is overdue.
Wrong: This chapters are difficult to understand.
Right: These chapters are difficult to understand. / This chapter is difficult to understand.
Wrong: That students in group three are unprepared.
Right: Those students in group three are unprepared. / That student in group three is unprepared.
Wrong: This references are incomplete.
Right: These references are incomplete. / This reference is incomplete.

Casual examples: texts, social posts, and chat

In informal messages the quickest fix is swapping to these/those or naming the group with a singular noun so this works.

Wrong: This friends are the best.
Right: These friends are the best. / This group of friends is the best.
Wrong: That shoes look cool.
Right: Those shoes look cool.
Wrong: This pics are amazing!
Right: These pics are amazing! / This photo series is amazing!
Wrong: This updates are so helpful.
Right: These updates are so helpful. / This update is so helpful.

Try your own sentence

Test the full sentence in context-context usually makes the right choice obvious.

Rewrite help: a 3-step fixer and ready rewrites

A quick routine fixes most mistakes. Use one of these rewrites when a sentence feels off.

Step 1: Identify the referent. Is it one thing or many?
Step 2: If it's plural, use these/those with a plural verb. If it's singular, use this/that with a singular verb.
Step 3: If the sentence is awkward, recast: name the group (this set/group/series/dataset) or make the head noun singular.

Wrong: This problems are getting worse.
Rewrite: These problems are getting worse. (change demonstrative)
Rewrite: This set of problems is getting worse. (recast as singular)
Wrong: This suggestions are worth considering.
Rewrite: These suggestions are worth considering. / This suggestion is worth considering.
Wrong: This documents' status are unclear.
Rewrite: The status of these documents is unclear. / These documents' statuses are unclear. / This document's status is unclear.

Real usage and tone: formal vs informal and dialect notes

Follow standard agreement in formal writing. Informal speech and some dialects may drop standard agreement; use that only in dialogue or to show voice.

Formal: These data are consistent with the model.
Informal speech often uses this data is; avoid that in reports-use this dataset is to be safe.
Dialogue: Nonstandard forms can show character; use them deliberately, not by accident.

Memory tricks and quick checks

These fast checks work before you hit send.

Swap test: Replace this with these (that with those). If the sentence sounds right with the plural demonstrative, use it.
Name-it test: Add a singular noun after this (This report...). If that makes sense, keep the singular verb; if not, switch to plural.
Mnemonic: "This is one. These are many." Say it aloud when unsure.

Usage: Swap test: "This files are missing" → "These files are missing" (choose these).
Usage: Name-it test: "This is confusing" → add noun: "This sentence is confusing" (singular).

Hyphenation and spacing quick note

Hyphens and spacing don't affect demonstrative agreement, but fixing them while you edit improves readability.

Possessive: use an apostrophe, not a hyphen: This year's results, not this-year results.
Time: follow your style: 5 p.m. or 5 pm-be consistent.
Spacing: no extra space before commas or periods; follow your house style for spaces after periods.

Usage: Incorrect: "This-year results are in."
Correct: "This year's results are in."
Usage: Incorrect: "These files are due at 5pm."
Correct: "These files are due at 5 p.m." (or "5 pm" per style).

Similar mistakes to watch for

Fixing this vs these often reveals other number-agreement issues worth checking.

There is/There are: There are many options (not There is many options).
None/all: All of these documents are missing vs All of this work is missing (countable vs uncountable).
Collective nouns: This committee is... vs These committee members are...

Wrong: There is many reasons to act now.
Right: There are many reasons to act now.
Wrong: All of this documents is missing.
Right: All of these documents are missing. / All of this document is missing.

FAQ

Is "this are" ever correct?

Not in standard English. This is singular and should not take a plural verb. You may see it in dialectal speech or in deliberate dialogue, but avoid it in formal writing.

Should I write "this data is" or "these data are"?

In formal or scientific contexts treat data as plural: these data are. In everyday usage many people treat data as a mass noun-this data is. To avoid debate, use this dataset is or follow your field's style guide.

Quick test to fix a sentence in 10 seconds?

Do the swap test: replace this with these (that with those). If the sentence reads correctly with the plural demonstrative, use it. If not, recast the subject as singular.

What about collective nouns like "team" or "committee"?

In American English collectives are usually singular: This team is ready. If you want to emphasize individuals, write These team members are ready. British usage may treat collectives as plural-follow your house style.

Can a demonstrative point to a plural concept using "this"?

Yes-if you explicitly name a single unit that contains multiple parts: This set of examples is useful keeps this singular while referring to several items grouped as one unit.

Want to fix a sentence now?

Use the 3-step fixer: identify the referent, decide singular or plural, then swap or recast. A quick pass catches most this/that errors and tightens clarity.

If you want instant suggestions, paste a sentence into a context-aware grammar tool to see alternate rewrites you can paste directly into your text.