It was a bright and breezy morning in the meadow. Birds chirped, bees buzzed, and little Benny the Bunny bounced happily through the tall grass.
But today… something felt odd.
Benny paused beside his favorite carrot patch and twitched his ears.
Benny: (thinking) Hmm… something feels strange today. I keep hearing words that sound… different.
He hopped a little further and overheard two children walking by on the path.
Child 1: “The sky is so blue today!”
Child 2: “Yeah! And the flowers are so colorful!”
Benny’s ears perked up.
Benny: (scratching his head) Wait a minute. Why did they say is for the sky, but are for the flowers? I don’t get it!
Just then, there was a soft fluttering above him. A wise old owl named Ollie landed gently on the branch of a tree.
Ollie: (smiling) Hello, Benny! You look deep in thought. What’s on your fluffy little mind?
Benny: (frowning) Ollie, I heard those kids talking. They said, “The sky is blue” and “The flowers are colorful.” Why did they use two different words is and are?
Ollie chuckled warmly.
Ollie: Ah, Benny! That’s a fantastic question. Those words are special helpers. We use is when we talk about just one thing, and are when we talk about many things.
He pointed one wing up toward the sky.
Ollie: Look up. What do you see?
Benny: Just one big sky.
Ollie: Exactly! So we say, “The sky is blue.” One sky, one is.
Then Ollie nodded toward the field of daisies and tulips dancing in the wind.
Ollie: Now look over there. What do you see?
Benny: Lots and lots of flowers!
Ollie: That’s right. So we say, “The flowers are colorful.” Many flowers, many colors, and the helper word are.
Benny’s eyes lit up like fireflies.
Benny: Ohhh! So if I have one carrot, I say, “The carrot is orange.” But if I have many carrots, I say, “The carrots are orange!”
Ollie: (nodding) You got it! You’re a grammar genius, Benny!
Benny giggled and did a happy hop.
Benny: I didn’t know words could be so fun! Is this why we say, “Benny is a bunny,” but “Benny and his friends are playing?”
Ollie: (impressed) Absolutely! One bunny? Use is. Many bunnies? Use are.
Benny thought for a moment and then looked very serious.
Benny: Ollie, is there a time when both is and are go on vacation?
Ollie: (laughing) Not really, Benny. They’re always working hard in sentences. But they love being used correctly!
Benny sat on a rock, smiling. He looked up at the sky, then down at a single daisy.
Benny: The daisy is beautiful. And then at the field. The daisies are dancing in the wind.
He grinned proudly.
Benny: I’m going to teach this to my squirrel friend Timmy! He always says, “The apples is red.” Not anymore!
Ollie: Good idea! When you learn something new, sharing it makes it even better.
As Benny hopped off to find Timmy, Ollie called out:
Ollie: Remember, Benny—some of the smallest words make the biggest difference!
Moral: Even the tiniest words, like “is” and “are,” help us say big things clearly. When we understand them, we share our thoughts better—and that’s something to be proud of!
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