Does the correct form of the verb change if we say "There is more than two cookies" or "There are more than two cookies"? It seems like everything after "more" should be irrelevant, but it doesn't sound right unless the verb matches. If you know the answer, please explain.
2006-12-16 03:52:02 · 8 answers · asked by Aaron G 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
There is more than one cookie.
There are more than two cookies.
is/are has to match with the subject, which happens to be the cookie. More than one is describing the cookies.
2006-12-16 04:54:22 · answer #1 · answered by RainyDayz 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There is more than one cookie.
And yes, if you have two cookies, it would be "There are..."
Although very common sounding, "There are more than two cookies" is an inverted sentence.
In most sentences you have first the subject, then the predicate or verb, right? For example, "John ran to town."
"John" is the subject.
"ran" is the verb.
Well, in this one, the subject is "cookie".
If you put the sentence in subject-predicate form, it would sound like this:
One cookie is there. (leaving out "more" and "than")
or
Two cookies are there.
So, if you think about "cookie" as the subject, then think about it this way:
Cookie IS
Cookies ARE
Yeah, I think that was probably really confusing. :)
2006-12-16 12:02:18 · answer #2 · answered by jenlynfin 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is more than one cookie.....there are more than two cookies. You are referring to singular and multiples. The verb needs to change too.
2006-12-16 11:58:46 · answer #3 · answered by Bondgirl 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I believe it is "is," the first one. The subject of the "to be" verb is one, not the expectation of more than one. You conjugate it based on a singular subject.
With "are" you'd say "There are more than one cookies," which makes no sense.
So my answer is: "There is more than one cookie" is the right way to go.
Good question!
2006-12-16 11:57:21 · answer #4 · answered by ebillar 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is more than one cookie
There are more than two cookies
2006-12-16 12:34:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you’re answering a question or making a statement then "There is more that one cookie" is correct, the second one is not proper in anyway.
2006-12-16 12:04:40 · answer #6 · answered by Johnny 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is more than one cookie.
2006-12-16 11:54:41 · answer #7 · answered by caring_funlovingteacher 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is more than one cookie.
There are more than two cookies.
Use is for singular(cookie) and are for plural(cookies).
2006-12-16 11:58:48 · answer #8 · answered by honiebyrd 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋