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Rothkowitz Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

locative

Correct me if I'm wrong:

When we want to be locative we say

"Ah, THERE are the cat and the dog." (There they are) not "Ah, THERE IS the cat and the dog."

this is something akin to "Where are the cat and the dog?" We don't say, "Where is the cat and the dog?"

but when we mean to be existential:

"There IS a cat and a dog in the house" (As resolved in a previous thread, the use of "is" is prefered to "are" in standard usage)

if anyone wants to add something to my previous "is/are" ... feel free

Thanks

if anyone has a reference link please give it
  

Top answer

Hi, Strictly speaking, it should be there is when singular, and there are in plural, but in informal language, this distinction is disregarded often. There are (a cat and a dog). (formal) (compound noun -- plural) There is (a cat and a dog) (informal) BTW, Why is locative the title of your post?

  • Hi, Strictly speaking, it should be there is when singular, and there are in plural, but in informal language, this distinction is disregarded often.
  • There are (a cat and a dog).
  • (formal) (compound noun -- plural) There is (a cat and a dog) (informal) BTW, Why is locative the title of your post?
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1 Answers
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Hi,

Strictly speaking, it should be there is when singular, and there are in plural, but in informal language, this distinction is disregarded often.
There are (a cat and a dog). (formal) (compound noun -- plural)
There is (a cat and a dog) (informal)
BTW, Why is locative the title of your post?

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