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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

There is or there are

Hi,
Should I use is or are in "There is/are a total of 10 students in the classroom."?
Thanks.
  

Top answer

There is would be correct because there is only one total.

— Rndwnrlst

  • There is would be correct because there is only one total.
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16 Answers
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There is would be correct because there is only one total.
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English is very flexible in these situations. You can hear both verb forms used. A total is singular but the total is made up of more than one student and British English in particular often favours the plural in cases like this. They even say England are up two goals to nil when talking about a football team.

CB
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Thanks for your answers.
A total of 10 students is/are in the classroom.
Should I use is or are here?
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AnonymousA total of 10 students is/are in the classroom.Should I use is or are here?
CB has already told you that both are in use.
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Hi MM,
Is 'are' also used and correct in the example?
"There are a total of 10 students in the classroom."

Thanks.
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AnonymousIs 'are' also used and correct in the example?"There are a total of 10 students in the classroom."
Yes; it is common and based on notional concord. In addition, as I think on it, 'a total of' seems much more like a quantifier, leaving 'students' as the grammatical subject as well.
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Mister Micawber AnonymousIs 'are' also used and correct in the example?"There are a total of 10 students in the classroom."Yes; it is common and based on notional concord. In addition, as I think on it, 'a total of' seems much more like a quantifier, leaving 'students' as the grammatical subject as well.
Adding fuel to the fire, here. Consider: A number of s
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PhilipAdding fuel to the fire, here. Consider: A number of students are/is in the classroom. I suppose either could be justified, as in the original post, but I would use the plural just for the sake of sound. Does anyone agree?
Traditionally, 'a number of' is plural (a quantifier) while 'the number of' is singular (a head noun). I find that eas
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Philip Consider: A number of students are/is in the classroom. I suppose either could be justified, as in the original post, but I would use the plural just for the sake of sound. Does anyone agree?
I usually use the plural in cases like this. My preference for the plural in sentences like England are up... is probably due to the fact that I have more B
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