is he

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is he" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are asking a question or making an assumption. For example: "I wonder if he likes pizza - is he a fan?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Is he scared or is he brave?

The New York Times - Books

"Well, he is — he is," he said.

The New York Times

"Where is he? "Where is he?

The New York Times - Sports

What is he, boys?

The New Yorker

And neither is he.

The New Yorker

So is he.

Independent

"What is?" he asks.

The New York Times

What is he feeling?

The New Yorker

Why is he smiling?

The New Yorker

"Sure is," he said.

Independent

This is he.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "is he", ensure the context clearly indicates who "he" refers to. Ambiguity can confuse the listener or reader.

Common error

Avoid using "is he" if the gender of the person being referred to is unknown or non-binary. Instead, consider using "are they" or rephrasing the question to avoid gendered pronouns.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is he" functions primarily as an interrogative structure, used to pose a question about a male subject. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in seeking information or confirmation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is he" is a common interrogative construction used to form questions about a male individual. As Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically correct and frequently employed across diverse contexts. The phrase's primary function is to seek information, and its register is generally neutral. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the subject to avoid ambiguity and consider more inclusive alternatives when gender is unknown.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

does he

Changes the auxiliary verb to "does" to inquire about habitual actions or general truths.

could he

Modifies the auxiliary verb to "could" to explore possibility or potential.

will he

Shifts the focus to future actions using the auxiliary verb "will".

can he

Employs "can" to question ability or permission.

has he

Uses "has" to inquire about completed actions or states.

was he

Changes the tense to past using the auxiliary verb "was".

should he

Employs "should" to ask about obligation or advisability.

might he

Replaces "is" with "might" to express a weaker possibility.

would he

Modifies the auxiliary verb to "would" to explore a hypothetical scenario or conditional situation.

shall he

Offers a more formal or archaic alternative to inquire about future actions, particularly in questions of suggestion or decision.

FAQs

How do I use "is he" in a sentence?

The phrase "is he" is used to form a question about a male individual. For example, "Is he coming to the party?" or "Is he the new CEO?"

What's a less direct way to ask a question using "is he"?

Instead of a direct question like "Is he ready?", you could say, "I wonder if he is ready" or "Do you know if he is ready?"

Which is correct, "is he going" or "he is going"?

"Is he going?" is a question. "He is going" is a statement. The correct form depends on whether you are asking a question or making a statement.

What can I say instead of "is he" when gender is unknown?

If the gender is unknown, using "are they" is more inclusive. You might ask, "Are they the new manager?" Alternatively, rephrase to avoid pronouns: "Is a new manager starting soon?"