There is\are
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RonBee
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Casiopea said:tdol said:
There are a couple of things....
a couple of things = two things
'things', plural, is the object, so the verb 'are' is plural, too.
That's the difference.
We say a couple is. (That is because couple is seen as a unit, while a couple of phrases are construed as plural.) Example:
- A couple is two.
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In colloquial BE, the singular form is very common and, living in London, I have found myself saying it. It's another example of us being lax with singular and plural. ;-)
RonBee
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I've been thinking about this one and wondering which really is used more often--is or are. I think it is a bit muddled. I think here (USA) we most often use are with couple. On the other hand, it seems that with pair we most often use is.
Interesting.
[Edited to put the "are" in the first sentence.]
- There are a couple of people in the room.
There are a couple of dogs running down the street.
There is a pair of scissors in the drawer.
There is a pair of socks on the bed.
Interesting.
[Edited to put the "are" in the first sentence.]
RonBee
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Casiopea said:
The first pair: both singular. The second pair: both plural? ("There's" is increasingly being used to mean "They are".) The third pair: both singular.
What's the rule? Is there a rule?
Harry Smith
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When I read all the replies to this thread "There is\are" I couldn't understand who was right and who wasn't. Concequently such discussions do not help students improve their knowlegde.
I myself think "there is" is followed by a singular noun, i.e "There is a couple" is correct.;-)
I myself think "there is" is followed by a singular noun, i.e "There is a couple" is correct.;-)
Murtadha Ali
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so what's the correct answer?
I have put "are", but I am not sure....
;-)
I have put "are", but I am not sure....
;-)
Harry Smith
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And what do you think? ;-)
LGSWE:
In fact, such examples [singular '"there's + plural noun phrase] are somewhat more common in conversation than the standard constructions with plural verb plus plural noun phrase.
...
The special behavior of there's is matched by a similar tendency for here's, where's, and how's:
Here's your shoes.
Where's your tapes.
How's mum and dad.
A: How's things?
B: Not too bad.
In fact, such examples [singular '"there's + plural noun phrase] are somewhat more common in conversation than the standard constructions with plural verb plus plural noun phrase.
...
The special behavior of there's is matched by a similar tendency for here's, where's, and how's:
Here's your shoes.
Where's your tapes.
How's mum and dad.
A: How's things?
B: Not too bad.
Harry Smith
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So ther is no explanation for it. We can use this construction as we wish: both there is and there are even if they are followed by a singular or a plural noun.;-)