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Everybody was happy vs Everybody were happy

The phrase 'everybody was happy' is correct. 'Everybody' is a singular pronoun, so it should be followed by the singular verb 'was'. 'Everybody were happy' is incorrect because 'were' is the plural form of the verb 'to be'. It does not agree with the singular subject 'everybody'.
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Explained by Jennifer
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: August 02, 2024

Everybody was happy

Correct. 'Everybody' is a singular pronoun, so it should be followed by the singular verb 'was'.

Use 'everybody was happy' when referring to a situation where everyone in a group is happy. This is the correct form to match the singular subject 'everybody' with the singular verb 'was'.

Examples:

  • Everybody was happy to see her.
  • Everybody was happy with the results.
  • Everybody was happy with the decision.
  • Everybody was happy at the party.
  • Everybody was happy to help.
  • Everybody was happy to see the war coming to an end.
  • The sun was out. Everybody was happy.
  • Everybody was happy, and they thought that Luciano would be on the next boat back to the United States.
  • The chaos that Roy ushered in when he hired Michael was starting to pay off and suddenly everybody was happy to be associated with Toontown.
  • It was, like, five seconds, when everybody was happy.
  • I'm just sayin', hypothetically, if some women wanted to have kids and their husbands weren't capable, and everybody was happy, and nobody got hurt, hypothetically, where's the crime?
  • And, it would arrive at an agreement that everybody was happy with, without having to manipulate them so much - which is basically what I do, I manipulate them.

Everybody were happy

Incorrect. 'Everybody' is a singular pronoun and should be followed by the singular verb 'was'.

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