there is a lot of people or there are a lot of people?

[colloquium]

Originally Posted by David L.

mafatu69: I strongly disagree.

The subject in this sentence is 'lot'. The expressions 'a lot of' and 'lots of' are used before nouns to mean ‘a large number or amount of.’ In common with other words denoting quantities, 'lot' itself does not normally function as a head noun, meaning that it does not itself determine whether the following verb is singular or plural. Thus, although 'lot' is singular in : 'a lot of people', the verb that follows is not singular. In this case, the word 'people' acts as the head noun and, being plural, ensures that the following verb is also plural: : 'a lot of people were assembled' (not : a lot of people was assembled).

The final point is important. For instance if two sentences are constructed using both methods, problems appear.

There are a lot of people downstairs who were assembled outside the building earlier this morning; they are very angry.

There is a lot of people downstairs who was assembled...

The second sentence (using the singular verb) is obviously incorrect, yet the verbs must agree as they both (in spite of their locations in seperate clauses) refer to the same entity (the people).

How can these two uses be reconsiled when one clearly doesn't work?

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by colloquium

There are a lot of people downstairs who were assembled outside the building earlier this morning; they are very angry.

There is a lot of people downstairs who was assembled...

The second sentence (using the singular verb) is obviously incorrect, yet the verbs must agree as they both (in spite of their locations in seperate clauses) refer to the same entity (the people).

How can these two uses be reconsiled when one clearly doesn't work?

Easily. You use "who" only for people, not for lots.
There is a lot of people downstairs which was assembled...
That is the grammatical consequence of using "is".
However, "There's a lot people who are ... " is normal in my dialect, though I say "There're a lot of people ..."

[colloquium]

Originally Posted by Raymott

Easily. You use "who" only for people, not for lots.
There is a lot of people downstairs which was assembled...
That is the grammatical consequence of using "is".
However, "There's a lot people who are ... " is normal in my dialect, though I say "There're a lot of people ..."

Point well taken.

However I, personally, sense a difference in meaning.

Is a lot of people, to me, suggests - one lot of people; a fixed amount, a set.

Are a lot of people, to me, suggests - an undetermined number of people, a large amount, a (potentially) fluctuating, unfixed quantity.

Perhaps this is due to ingrained and incorrect connotations which I myself create.

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by colloquium

Point well taken.

However I, personally, sense a difference in meaning.

Is a lot of people, to me, suggests - one lot of people; a fixed amount, a set.

Are a lot of people, to me, suggests - an undetermined number of people, a large amount, a (potentially) fluctuating, unfixed quantity.

Perhaps this is due to ingrained and incorrect connotations which I myself create.

I think it's due to the inherent ambiguity of what verb to use in phrases such as this; so even after the teachers and linguists have stopped arguing over it, the masses will still use whatever sounds right on the day. And in cases like this I don't blame them for maybe getting it wrong.

[bhaisahab]

Originally Posted by colloquium

Point well taken.

However I, personally, sense a difference in meaning.

Is a lot of people, to me, suggests - one lot of people; a fixed amount, a set.

Are a lot of people, to me, suggests - an undetermined number of people, a large amount, a (potentially) fluctuating, unfixed quantity.

Perhaps this is due to ingrained and incorrect connotations which I myself create.

A lot of merchandise.
A lot of antiques etc.
But 'a lot of people' I don't think you can treat 'people' in this way.

[colloquium]

Originally Posted by bhaisahab

A lot of merchandise.
A lot of antiques etc.
But 'a lot of people' I don't think you can treat 'people' in this way.

I agree, and that fact adds to my confusion.

This is an example taken from the Cambridge dictionary website

Another lot of visitors will be here this afternoon.

However I feel that Raymott's last post probably sums the issue up fairly well.