this are they

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this are they" is not correct in standard written English.
It is an incorrect subject-verb agreement and should not be used. Example: "This are they who will lead the project" should be corrected to "These are they who will lead the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Do people like this, are they happy with this?

Harvard Business Review

The French in particular, I thought, are just not going to get this, are they?

The Guardian - Books

"I thought how are they going to pay for this, are they getting some sort of grant?

The Guardian

"I kept saying, 'They're not all here for this, are they?' " It taught Mr. Stern, who went on to produce plays, musicals and movies, just how steeply the supply of stage performers outstrips the demand.

The New York Times

I knew I hadn't done anything but you always hear stories about people being convicted of things they didn't do so you can't help wondering: 'What do they think they have on me?' and: 'They're not actually going to go through with this, are they?'" It frustrates him that he still does not know why his name came up in the investigations.

The Guardian - Sport

Are they starting a letter, 'Dearest darling, as the Concorde takes off for France, I'm thinking only of you,' or are they writing a grocery list: 'Milk, eggs, toilet paper.' You have to pause and think, at the time somebody owns something like this, are they even paying rent anymore".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

This was, they said, "house-cleaning".

The Economist

This is, they believe, next year.

The New York Times - Sports

This is they NASA satellite assembly building.

Cornell University

This is they key to control him.

WikiHow

This is were they have there babies.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure subject-verb agreement. Since "this" is singular, it should be paired with "is". For a plural subject, use "these are".

Common error

Avoid using "this are" as it incorrectly pairs a singular demonstrative pronoun with a plural verb. The correct phrasing would be "these are" or rephrasing the sentence entirely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this are they" is grammatically incorrect. It attempts to identify or define a group, but violates basic subject-verb agreement rules. As the Ludwig AI indicates, the phrasing is incorrect and should not be used.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this are they" is grammatically incorrect due to a violation of subject-verb agreement. Ludwig AI confirms that is not standard English usage. The correct form is "these are they" or alternative phrasing to convey the intended meaning. Because of its incorrect nature, it's absent from authoritative sources, so pay careful attention to subject-verb agreement in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

These are they

Corrects the subject-verb agreement using the plural demonstrative pronoun.

This is who they are

Rephrases to use a singular demonstrative pronoun and a relative pronoun to clarify identification.

This is them

Uses the objective pronoun 'them' which, while grammatically questionable, mirrors a common colloquial usage where 'they' is implied.

These people are

Focuses on identifying a group of people.

These individuals are

A more formal way of identifying a group of people.

Here they are

Indicates the arrival or presence of a group.

This is their identity

Shifts the focus to the identity or nature of a group.

This defines them

Emphasizes a defining characteristic of a group.

This characterizes them

Similar to the previous phrase, but with a slightly more formal tone.

This represents them

Highlights how something symbolizes or stands for a group.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "this are they"?

The correct way to phrase it is "these are they", ensuring subject-verb agreement.

When should I use "this is" versus "these are"?

"This is" should be used when referring to a singular subject, while "these are" is used for plural subjects. For example, "This is my book" versus "These are my books".

Are there alternative ways to rephrase "this are they" to avoid grammatical errors?

Yes, you can rephrase it as "this is who they are" or simply "here they are" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "this is" and "these are"?

"This is" refers to a single item or concept, while "these are" refers to multiple items or concepts. The choice depends on whether you're talking about one thing or several.