Grammar Item?

Question

Is it gramaticallym correct to say There IS a man and a woman on the beach or should it have been There ARE a man and a woman on the beach?

But if there's a series of single items, do we use is or are?

Answer 1

There is no doubt whatsoever that the correct form is "There are"; equally, however, there is no doubt that "there is" is the form that would be used in colloquial speech by the vast majority of people, including many who would not dream of writing it that way.

Answer 2

If you want to know about the usage in standard American English, then the only valid word is are.

a man and a woman makes 2. 2 is plural. End of story. A series of single items, in a case such as this, is not considered "a series", but rather 'items', with an s, representing plural.

Answer 3

I would use "There is". "IS" is singular because you refer to a singularity - "A" man and "A" woman.

It is hard to argue this logically, because not all grammar is logical, contrary to what your school teacher might have tried to teach you. Here's another example.

"If he or I go to the shop..." vs. "If I or he goes to the shop"- Here we have used a form of the verb "go" that matches the subject in number and person immediately prior to the verb, whether or not it is the right one. Argue that with logic!?

Answer 4

i disagree.... ARE
there ARE a man and a woman on the beach (this is a plural object)

just like your would say...
a man and a woman ARE standing in line (plural subject)

Answer 5

there are a man and a woman is correct....but it is confusing because you could say there is a brown one and a white one...that is correct as well

Answer 6

Use the verb form of the noun closest to the verb in the sentence. In your example, say "is."

Answer 7

would you say there is one man and one woman...blah blah blah
(there is two men and two women...
there is men and women...)

or

would you say there are one man and one woman...
(there are two men and two women...
there are men and women...)

all the same thing.