Are is the form of the verb “to be” that we use with you, we, and they, or with plural nouns. It connects the subject of a sentence to information about that subject.

When you say “you are tall” or “we are friends” or “they are ready,” the word are links the subject to a description or state. It tells us something about what someone or something is, feels, or does. Are can describe what's happening right now: “The kids are playing outside.” It can state facts: “Elephants are mammals.” It can express feelings: “We are excited about the field trip.”

The word are is one of the most common words in English, appearing in questions too: “Are you coming?” “Are we there yet?” Without are, we couldn't easily describe the world around us or ask about it. While it seems simple, are does essential work connecting ideas and building meaning in almost every conversation we have.