Are there/Is there a book and two pens?
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What is the correct variant to ask "there+be" questions about several objects?
Is there a book and two pens?
or
Are there a book and two pens?
According to the rule I know, we should say "there is" in positives. Does it work for questions as well? And what is the short answer? Where can I read the rule about it?
I know there are questions on "there is/are + lists" here, but I have never seen this in questions, that's why I'm confused.
there-is
asked Nov 29 at 19:51
Charles Xavier
42
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Charles Xavier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
1
What is the correct variant to ask "there+be" questions about several objects?
Is there a book and two pens?
or
Are there a book and two pens?
According to the rule I know, we should say "there is" in positives. Does it work for questions as well? And what is the short answer? Where can I read the rule about it?
I know there are questions on "there is/are + lists" here, but I have never seen this in questions, that's why I'm confused.
there-is
asked Nov 29 at 19:51
Charles Xavier
42
New contributor
Charles Xavier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Possible duplicate of "There Is"/"There are" depends on plurality of the first list element or not?
– Chappo
Nov 29 at 21:31
Charles, your "rule" is wrong, and the "short answer" is use what sounds right. You've correctly chosen the there-is tag - did you click on it to look at all the answers already posted? This long answer is arguably definitive, and even goes into the specific "one X and two Y" situation. When the sentence is a question, you simply invert as usual - "Is there a book and two pens?' but "Are there two pens and a book?"
– Chappo
Nov 29 at 21:45
2
I suggest it doesn't depend on plurality any more than it's about lists, as such. It depends on what's being considered, and whether the other items are somehow incidental; whether (a book and two pens) is a single subject. If (a book) and (two pens) are items in the same list, then the single list consists of (a book and two pens); otherwise, you're dealing with either a book as subject (and two pens) or (a book) and two pens as subject… That's like riding a bicycle: almost incomprehensible, until it suddenly becomes second nature. Here, which do you want to consider?
– Robbie Goodwin
Nov 29 at 22:04
I guess this one is about the book and pens being a single subject. Thank you!
– Charles Xavier
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
1
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
1
1
What is the correct variant to ask "there+be" questions about several objects?
Is there a book and two pens?
or
Are there a book and two pens?
According to the rule I know, we should say "there is" in positives. Does it work for questions as well? And what is the short answer? Where can I read the rule about it?
I know there are questions on "there is/are + lists" here, but I have never seen this in questions, that's why I'm confused.
there-is
asked Nov 29 at 19:51
Charles Xavier
42
New contributor
Charles Xavier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
What is the correct variant to ask "there+be" questions about several objects?
Is there a book and two pens?
or
Are there a book and two pens?
According to the rule I know, we should say "there is" in positives. Does it work for questions as well? And what is the short answer? Where can I read the rule about it?
I know there are questions on "there is/are + lists" here, but I have never seen this in questions, that's why I'm confused.
there-is
there-is
asked Nov 29 at 19:51
Charles Xavier
42
New contributor
Charles Xavier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Nov 29 at 19:51
Charles Xavier
42
New contributor
Charles Xavier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited yesterday
asked Nov 29 at 19:51
Charles Xavier
42
New contributor
Charles Xavier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Nov 29 at 19:51
Charles Xavier
42
asked Nov 29 at 19:51
Charles Xavier
42
42
New contributor
Charles Xavier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Charles Xavier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Charles Xavier is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Possible duplicate of "There Is"/"There are" depends on plurality of the first list element or not?
– Chappo
Nov 29 at 21:31
Charles, your "rule" is wrong, and the "short answer" is use what sounds right. You've correctly chosen the there-is tag - did you click on it to look at all the answers already posted? This long answer is arguably definitive, and even goes into the specific "one X and two Y" situation. When the sentence is a question, you simply invert as usual - "Is there a book and two pens?' but "Are there two pens and a book?"
– Chappo
Nov 29 at 21:45
2
I suggest it doesn't depend on plurality any more than it's about lists, as such. It depends on what's being considered, and whether the other items are somehow incidental; whether (a book and two pens) is a single subject. If (a book) and (two pens) are items in the same list, then the single list consists of (a book and two pens); otherwise, you're dealing with either a book as subject (and two pens) or (a book) and two pens as subject… That's like riding a bicycle: almost incomprehensible, until it suddenly becomes second nature. Here, which do you want to consider?
– Robbie Goodwin
Nov 29 at 22:04
I guess this one is about the book and pens being a single subject. Thank you!
– Charles Xavier
yesterday
add a comment |
Possible duplicate of "There Is"/"There are" depends on plurality of the first list element or not?
– Chappo
Nov 29 at 21:31
Charles, your "rule" is wrong, and the "short answer" is use what sounds right. You've correctly chosen the there-is tag - did you click on it to look at all the answers already posted? This long answer is arguably definitive, and even goes into the specific "one X and two Y" situation. When the sentence is a question, you simply invert as usual - "Is there a book and two pens?' but "Are there two pens and a book?"
– Chappo
Nov 29 at 21:45
2
I suggest it doesn't depend on plurality any more than it's about lists, as such. It depends on what's being considered, and whether the other items are somehow incidental; whether (a book and two pens) is a single subject. If (a book) and (two pens) are items in the same list, then the single list consists of (a book and two pens); otherwise, you're dealing with either a book as subject (and two pens) or (a book) and two pens as subject… That's like riding a bicycle: almost incomprehensible, until it suddenly becomes second nature. Here, which do you want to consider?
– Robbie Goodwin
Nov 29 at 22:04
I guess this one is about the book and pens being a single subject. Thank you!
– Charles Xavier
yesterday
Possible duplicate of "There Is"/"There are" depends on plurality of the first list element or not?
– Chappo
Nov 29 at 21:31
Possible duplicate of "There Is"/"There are" depends on plurality of the first list element or not?
– Chappo
Nov 29 at 21:31
Charles, your "rule" is wrong, and the "short answer" is use what sounds right. You've correctly chosen the there-is tag - did you click on it to look at all the answers already posted? This long answer is arguably definitive, and even goes into the specific "one X and two Y" situation. When the sentence is a question, you simply invert as usual - "Is there a book and two pens?' but "Are there two pens and a book?"
– Chappo
Nov 29 at 21:45
Charles, your "rule" is wrong, and the "short answer" is use what sounds right. You've correctly chosen the there-is tag - did you click on it to look at all the answers already posted? This long answer is arguably definitive, and even goes into the specific "one X and two Y" situation. When the sentence is a question, you simply invert as usual - "Is there a book and two pens?' but "Are there two pens and a book?"
– Chappo
Nov 29 at 21:45
2
2
I suggest it doesn't depend on plurality any more than it's about lists, as such. It depends on what's being considered, and whether the other items are somehow incidental; whether (a book and two pens) is a single subject. If (a book) and (two pens) are items in the same list, then the single list consists of (a book and two pens); otherwise, you're dealing with either a book as subject (and two pens) or (a book) and two pens as subject… That's like riding a bicycle: almost incomprehensible, until it suddenly becomes second nature. Here, which do you want to consider?
– Robbie Goodwin
Nov 29 at 22:04
I suggest it doesn't depend on plurality any more than it's about lists, as such. It depends on what's being considered, and whether the other items are somehow incidental; whether (a book and two pens) is a single subject. If (a book) and (two pens) are items in the same list, then the single list consists of (a book and two pens); otherwise, you're dealing with either a book as subject (and two pens) or (a book) and two pens as subject… That's like riding a bicycle: almost incomprehensible, until it suddenly becomes second nature. Here, which do you want to consider?
– Robbie Goodwin
Nov 29 at 22:04
I guess this one is about the book and pens being a single subject. Thank you!
– Charles Xavier
yesterday
I guess this one is about the book and pens being a single subject. Thank you!
– Charles Xavier
yesterday
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Possible duplicate of "There Is"/"There are" depends on plurality of the first list element or not?
– Chappo
Nov 29 at 21:31
Charles, your "rule" is wrong, and the "short answer" is use what sounds right. You've correctly chosen the there-is tag - did you click on it to look at all the answers already posted? This long answer is arguably definitive, and even goes into the specific "one X and two Y" situation. When the sentence is a question, you simply invert as usual - "Is there a book and two pens?' but "Are there two pens and a book?"
– Chappo
Nov 29 at 21:45
2
I suggest it doesn't depend on plurality any more than it's about lists, as such. It depends on what's being considered, and whether the other items are somehow incidental; whether (a book and two pens) is a single subject. If (a book) and (two pens) are items in the same list, then the single list consists of (a book and two pens); otherwise, you're dealing with either a book as subject (and two pens) or (a book) and two pens as subject… That's like riding a bicycle: almost incomprehensible, until it suddenly becomes second nature. Here, which do you want to consider?
– Robbie Goodwin
Nov 29 at 22:04
I guess this one is about the book and pens being a single subject. Thank you!
– Charles Xavier
yesterday