there is/are

[aysaa]

Hello,

-There is/are an apple and pears for dessert.

-There is/are apples and a pear for dessert.

-There is/are a dog and a few cats in the house.

-There is/are a boy and a girl in the playground.


Could you please tell me which one must I use in the sentences, 'is or are'?

Thanks.

[sergeyrais]

The choice depends on the first noun.

-There

is an apple and pears for dessert.

-There are apples and a pear for dessert.

-There is a dog and a few cats in the house.

-There is a boy and a girl in the playground.

[aysaa]

Some people say that we must use 'are' because there are two things, but the others say that the choice depends on the first noun, which means, they agree with you. But yet, I don't know if they two are correct or not.
Please help.

[Rover_KE]

Sergeyrais's answer is good enough for me.

Rover

[5jj]

Sergeyrais's answer is good enough for me.

Rover

I think I could quite happily say:

There are an apple and pears for dessert.
There are a dog and a few cats in the house.
There are a boy and a girl in the playground.