Everyone is

[Rachel Adams]

I should use a singular verb with "everyone" but if I use "both" with plural nouns should the verb "are" be singular or plural?

"The dog is very aggressive and everyone, both adults and children, are afraid of it."

 

[Yankee]

I should use a singular verb with "everyone" but if I use "both" with plural or two singular nouns should a form of the verb [STRIKE]"are"[/STRIKE] "to be" be singular or plural?

"The dog is very aggressive and everyone, both adults and children, is afraid of it."

Plural.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Right. If you remove the words between the commas you'll see why.

 

[Rover_KE]

I'd use 'is'.

 

[Tarheel]

The verb "everyone" includes adults and children. I would say:

It's a vicious dog. Everyone is afraid of it.

 

[teechar]

Use "is" with "everyone"; "are" is wrong. What's between those two commas does not make a difference.

 

[emsr2d2]

Once you've said "everyone", there is no need to specify that you're talking about adults and children.

 

[Yankee]

Once you've said "everyone", there is no need to specify that you're talking about adults and children.

Unless you need to be specific as to whom the "everyone" refers in that instance e.g. "visitors and residents", "mail carriers and landscapers", "Santa and Rudolph". :shock: