counter are

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "counter are" is not correct and does not make sense in written English.
It appears to be a fragment and lacks context to determine its intended meaning or usage. Example: "The counter are not functioning properly." (This example is incorrect due to the phrase itself.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Also available over the counter are vaginal moisturizers.

The New York Times

All fish at the counter are priced by the pound.

The New York Times - Food

The men behind the ticket counter are young and handsome.

The New Yorker

Spread before me on the counter are seven large glass jars filled with vodka.

The New York Times - Food

Behind the counter are back issues of Visionaire ($300 to $1,000).

The New York Times

bottles of vodka, though the faces behind the counter are Korean.

The New York Times - Food

All options and a memory counter are displayed on a liquid crystal display screen.

The New York Times - Tech

At the counter are fresh-baked brownies, carrot cake and cookies.

The New York Times

Above the counter are St George's flags on sale at £2. Imran is friendly.

The Guardian

The hosts are having less of the ball but, on the counter, are much more penetrative.

The Guardian - Sport

Three stools at the old lunch counter are missing their seats.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure subject-verb agreement. "Counter" is singular; therefore, use "is". "Counters" is plural; therefore, use "are".

Common error

Avoid using "counter are" because it uses a singular noun ("counter") with a plural verb ("are"). This creates a grammatical error that should be corrected to either "counter is" or "counters are" depending on the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "counter are" functions as a noun phrase followed by a verb, but it demonstrates incorrect subject-verb agreement. This is because "counter" is singular, while "are" is a plural form of the verb "to be". As Ludwig AI suggests, this construction is not grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

25%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "counter are" is grammatically incorrect because it combines a singular noun with a plural verb. As Ludwig AI accurately indicates, proper usage requires subject-verb agreement; therefore, the corrected forms would be ""counter is"" for a single counter or ""counters are"" for multiple counters. Despite its grammatical flaws, the phrase appears frequently across various contexts, particularly in news and media. Therefore, be mindful of this common error to ensure clear and correct communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

counters are

Plural form of "counter" requires a plural verb conjugation.

the counters are

Definite article specifies particular counters.

the counter is

Singular "counter" requires a singular verb conjugation.

behind the counter

Spatial relationship specifying the position.

at the counter

Prepositional phrase indicating location.

over the counter

Specifies something placed or positioned over the counter.

by the counter

Prepositional phrase indicating proximity.

along the counter

Specifies a position alongside a counter.

above the counter

Indicates something placed or positioned over the counter.

near the counter

Denotes close proximity to the counter.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "counter" with a verb?

The correctness depends on whether you're referring to a single counter or multiple counters. Use "counter is" for a single counter and "counters are" for multiple counters. For example, "The "counter is" made of marble" versus "The "counters are" arranged in a row".

What can I say instead of "counter are" to correct the grammar?

Instead of "counter are", use ""counters are"" if you're referring to multiple counters or "the counter is" for a single, specific counter.

Which is correct, "counter are" or "counters are"?

"Counters are" is grammatically correct when referring to multiple counters. "Counter are" is incorrect because it mismatches a singular noun with a plural verb. Use ""counter is"" if referring to one counter.

How does the context affect whether I use "counter is" or "counters are"?

The context determines whether you're talking about one counter or multiple ones. For example, if you say, "The "main counter is" near the entrance", you're talking about a single counter. If you say, "The "all counters are" clean", you're referring to multiple counters.