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Daddyjohn Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Is or Are?

Would you kindly identify which of these two sentences is correct?

1. There is a book and a bag on the table.

2. There are a book and a bag on the table.

Thank you very much.
  

Top answer

Both are common. A written essay would require #2.

— Mister Micawber

  • Both are common.
  • A written essay would require #2.
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4 Answers
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Both are common. A written essay would require #2.
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Thank you so much, Mister Micawber.
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When a sentence starts with there the subject follows the verb. The subject is compound therefore the verb will be "are". "There are a book and a bag on the table."

Alia
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aliajWhen a sentence starts with there the subject follows the verb. The subject is compound therefore the verb will be "are". "There are a book and a bag on the table."

Alia

Question

Doesn't 'there' in this case function as a provisional subject of some kind? Second, there aren't
any compounds in the sentence, am I right?
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