Is or Are

[jack]

All of the lake is out of bounds. <--why is "is" not "are"? and why is "bounds" not "bound"?
All of you are qually guilty. <---why is "are" not is?

 

[RonBee]

In an "all of" phrase "all" takes the number of the word following "all of". In the first sentence, "the lake" is singular. In the second sentence, "you" is intended to be plural. (It should say "equally guilty".)

 

[MikeNewYork]

All of the lake is out of bounds. <--why is "is" not "are"? and why is "bounds" not "bound"?
All of you are qually guilty. <---why is "are" not is?

The problem is that "all" has different meanings. When it means the entirety of a single thing, it is singular. When it means all members of a group, it is plural.

All of the cake was eaten.
All of the cakes were eaten.

Ron's hint about the number of the word after "of" controlling the verb is a good one. :wink: