0
Mowgli Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
is or are?
Is it possible to use "is" in this sentence or do I have to write "are"?
There is a phone, pencils, pens, pieces of paper on the desk.
There is a phone, pencils, pens, pieces of paper on the desk.
Top answer
Hi Mowgli, Though it may sound strange to you, because of the word order, the correct verb is 'are'. You might get it to sound better if you rearrange the order in the sentence, of what is on the desk, like this: There are pencils, pens, a phone, and pieces of paper on the desk. ' But what is on the desk is a plural number of things.
- Hi Mowgli, Though it may sound strange to you, because of the word order, the correct verb is 'are'.
- You might get it to sound better if you rearrange the order in the sentence, of what is on the desk, like this: There are pencils, pens, a phone, and pieces of paper on the desk.
- ' But what is on the desk is a plural number of things.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
5 Answers
0
Hi Mowgli,
Though it may sound strange to you, because of the word order, the correct verb is 'are'.
You might get it to sound better if you rearrange the order in the sentence, of what is on the desk, like this:
There are pencils, pens, a phone, and pieces of paper on the desk.
You wouldn't, of course, say, 'There are a phone on the
Though it may sound strange to you, because of the word order, the correct verb is 'are'.
You might get it to sound better if you rearrange the order in the sentence, of what is on the desk, like this:
There are pencils, pens, a phone, and pieces of paper on the desk.
You wouldn't, of course, say, 'There are a phone on the
00
The correct word to use here is "are" because on the desk, there are more than one things. It may sound weird due to the arrangement of the items. However, since there are multiple items on the table, you have to use "are".
00
And what about this sentence. (There is no plural noun in this sentence, but two singular nouns. Is it also necessary to use "are" instead of "is"? (a small desk and my desk)
In the middle of the room near the window is (are?) a small desk with a photocopier and my desk.
In the middle of the room near the window is (are?) a small desk with a photocopier and my desk.
00
The correct verb, again, is 'are' because more than one thing is in the middle of the room near the window.
00
As others have said, "are" is the technically correct form.
It should be said, however, that in everyday conversation "there is" is common, especially as "there's", even when "there are" is technically correct.
CJ
It should be said, however, that in everyday conversation "there is" is common, especially as "there's", even when "there are" is technically correct.
CJ
0
Related Questions