Question
Zaktualizowano na
kami_kameliya
23 wrz 2018

  • rosyjski
  • angielski (brytyjski)
  • niemiecki
  • włoski
Pytanie o angielski (brytyjski)

What version is the right one: there is a book and two pens/ there are a book and two pens?

Odpowiedzi
Więcej komentarzy
dddora
23 wrz 2018

  • angielski (brytyjski) Niemal biegły
  • francuski (Francja)

"there is a book and two pens" is correct", but you say "is" for only one book.

You can say "there are two pens and a book", because you say "are" for the two books !

OldGeezer
23 wrz 2018

  • angielski (amerykański)
  • angielski (brytyjski)

There are a book and two pens.

You can't say there is three things.

Right: There are a book and two pens.
Right: There are two pens and a book.
Right: There are three items.
Wrong: There is a book and two pens.
Wrong: There is two pens and a book.
Wrong: There is three items.

Right: There are two pens.
Right: There are two items.
Wrong: There is two pens.
Wrong: There is two items.

Right: There is a book.
Right: There is one item.
Wrong: There are a book.
Wrong: There are one item.

0 Lubię to
Wysoko oceniany użytkownik
peterf
23 wrz 2018

  • angielski (brytyjski)

In British English at least "There is a pen and two books" is totally acceptable, as is "There are two books and a pen". We choose the verb to agree with the "nearest" subject in the sentence. See for example https://www.grammarly.com/blog/there-is-there-are/

0 Lubię to
Wysoko oceniany użytkownik
OldGeezer
24 wrz 2018

  • angielski (amerykański)
  • angielski (brytyjski)
"There is a pen and two books." I have heard this construction used in both Britain and America, and it is wrong grammar in both countries. The correct grammar in both countries is: - There is a pen. - There are two books. - There are a pen and two books. "A pen and two books" is a compound subject and it means three objects, three items, three things. You can not say "there is three things", so you can not say "there is a pen and two books" because "a pen and two books" are three things. In the link that @peterf gave, it says: "When you’re making a list of things, sometimes 'there are' sounds wrong: "There are a kitchen, a living room, and a bedroom in my apartment. "There are sounds bad because the noun that follows it, kitchen, is singular. Even though you’re really talking about multiple things, (a kitchen, a living room, a bedroom), it’s often better to use the singular verb is in a construction like this. "There is a kitchen, a living room, and a bedroom in my apartment. "Some language commentators still insist on using are in sentences like this despite the awkwardness, but actual usage is extremely mixed. Remember, if the sentence sounds awkward either way, you can always rewrite it to avoid the 'there is/are' problem altogether." In other words, "there is a pen and two books" sounds better. But "there are a pen and two books" is the correct grammar. The way to avoid this problem is to change the sentence: "there are two books and a pen" both sounds right and is right.

"There is a pen and two books."

I have heard this construction used in both Britain and America, and it is wrong grammar in both countries. The correct grammar in both countries is:
- There is a pen.
- There are two books.
- There are a pen and two books.

"A pen and two books" is a compound subject and it means three objects, three items, three things. You can not say "there is three things", so you can not say "there is a pen and two books" because "a pen and two books" are three things.

In the link that @peterf gave, it says:

"When you’re making a list of things, sometimes 'there are' sounds wrong:

"There are a kitchen, a living room, and a bedroom in my apartment.

"There are sounds bad because the noun that follows it, kitchen, is singular. Even though you’re really talking about multiple things, (a kitchen, a living room, a bedroom), it’s often better to use the singular verb is in a construction like this.

"There is a kitchen, a living room, and a bedroom in my apartment.

"Some language commentators still insist on using are in sentences like this despite the awkwardness, but actual usage is extremely mixed. Remember, if the sentence sounds awkward either way, you can always rewrite it to avoid the 'there is/are' problem altogether."

In other words, "there is a pen and two books" sounds better.
But "there are a pen and two books" is the correct grammar.
The way to avoid this problem is to change the sentence: "there are two books and a pen" both sounds right and is right.

0 Lubię to
Wysoko oceniany użytkownik
[Aktualności] Hej, Ty! Ty uczący się języka!

Wiesz jak poprawić swój język obcy❓ Potrzebujesz tylko, żeby Twoje teksty poprawił native speaker!
W HiNative native speaker poprawi Twoje teksty za darmo ✍️✨.
Zarejestruj się
Udostępnij to pytanie
What version is the right one: there is a book and two pens/ there are a book and two pens?
Related questions
Trending questions
Newest Questions (HOT)
Newest Questions
Poprzednie pytanie / Następne pytanie

Zadawaj pytania native speakerom bezpłatnie

Zarejestruj się za darmo
hinative app preview balloon background image flying monga
  1. HiNative
  2. What version is the rig...