to be

Question

Hi,I hope everyone is well this morning!I know that the following sentence is correct:'There have been problems'However, I'm unsure of what to do when 'to be' is being used...1) There has/have to be toys (plural) in the room2) There has/have to be people in the room(And on a similar note)3) There needs/need to be changes madeAny help would be appreicated.Thanks

Ticce · Accepted Answer

I think we need to use - has and needs.... because there is singular.

Loojka · Answer

Anonymous1) There ~~has~~/have to be toys (plural) in the room

2) There ~~has~~/have to be people in the room

3) There needs/need to be changes made - It doesn't sound natural to me. I would say '(Some) changes need to be made.'

Anonymous · Answer

I'm all confused now!

Feebs11 · Answer

AnonymousHi,

I hope everyone is well this morning!

I know that the following sentence is correct:

'There have been problems'

However, I'm unsure of what to do when 'to be' is being used...

1) There ~~has~~/have to be toys (plural) in the room

2) There ~~has/~~have to be people in the room

(And on a similar note)

3) There ~~needs/~~need to be changes made Reverse this: "Changes need to be made" and it is a clearer sentence.

Thanks

Goodman · Answer

Anonymous
Hi,

I hope everyone is well this morning!

I know that the following sentence is correct:

'There have been problems'

However, I'm unsure of what to do when 'to be' is being used...

1) There has/have to be toys (plural) in the room

2) There has/have to be people in the room

(And on a similar note)

3) There needs/need to be changes made

Any help would be appreicated.

Thanks

Hi People,

Ok first, I like to point out that “there” by itself has no singular or plural significance. It’s the “verb to be” which follows that determines it’s singularity or plurality.

Observe:

1) Everyday, there are thousands of cars using The Golden Gate Bridge.

2) There is s bus stop around the corner.

3) There are geological data which lead us to believe an earthquake measuring 8.0 or higher on the Rictor scale will strike northern in the next 30 years.

When “there” is used in conjunction with “has” and “have”, depending on which one, the “verb to be” and the noun must also conform to the context.

i.e.

“There has to be a reason……. Not reasons

“There have to be books somewhere in this place”. Not book

“There Have To Be Better Options” not option

However, with auxiliary words, i.e. should, could, may, must etc…, it can be either plural or singular.

“There must be someone / people shopping in the area at the time who saw the accident”. Note that singularity and plurality function just as well in the context.

There could be other reasons ….Note the plural context

There may be another reason….Note the singular context.

Are there anymore questions?

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