There is or There are a lot of...

[Alexandre Derezhenko]

As is goes well with "a", is it acceptable English to say "There is a lot of sheep..."?

[Donbelid]

no... and yes!!!

forget about "a".

"a lot of" = many...much

So when you mean much "is" is acceptable: "there is a lot of space here"
But when you mean many "is" is not acceptable: "there are a lot of people here"

[Alexandre Derezhenko]

Sincerely thankful to Donbelid for the prompt and sufficient answer.

[Donbelid]

You're welcome.