Agreement after 'there ...'

Anonymous'There is\are a pen and a book on the table.'

Both are correct.

Aspara Gus Anonymous'There is\are a pen and a book on the table.'Both are correct.

Could you explain how please?

AnonymousThere is\are a pen and a book on the table.

In a there construction with a compound subject (a pen and a book), the verb may agree with the entire compound subject or with only the first element, so both is and are are correct in your example.

You can find several "Learn English" sites on-line that state this rule.

AnonymousCould you explain how please?

There is/are a pen and a book on the table.


Because the first noun is singular, the sentence may be approached either syntactically or semantically. Syntactically, the subject is there, which is singular. Semantically, there are two subjects: a pen and a book, calling for a plura

Aspara Gus AnonymousCould you explain how please?There is/are a pen and a book on the table. Because the first noun is singular, the sentence may be approached either syntactically or semantically. Syntactically, the subject is there, which is singular. Semantically, there are two subjects: a pen and a book, calling for a plural verb. If existential there is followed by a

AnonymousCan this case be seen as an ellipsis,ie,'...there is a pen and there is a book.. .'

Not really.

AnonymousDoes the same rule apply to a list of items?For example,'There is a book, pens, and a rubber on the table.'

Yes.