[Grammar] Can we use "there is" with a plural noun?

[Mike MC]

As far as I know there is is used with singular and there are with plural nouns. We use a plural -s with any number except 1, e.g. 0 degrees Celsius. However, the following table says, "There is .81 ounces of sugar in an orange." How can it be explained?


Source: American English File 1 (workbook), second edition, page 58

 

[emsr2d2]

You've explained it yourself. Only the exact number 1 takes the singular. 0.81 is less than 1 (so it's not exactly 1) so it takes the plural.

 

[Mike MC]

You've explained it yourself. Only the exact number 1 takes the singular. 0.81 is less than 1 (so it's not exactly 1) so it takes the plural.

That's right, but my question is about the use of there is with ounces.

 

[Tarheel]

What about:

When it's 40 below it's cold?
:?:

 

[emsr2d2]

What about:

When it's 40 below it's cold?
:?:

That uses neither "There is" nor "There are".

 

[jutfrank]

That's right, but my question is about the use of there is with ounces.

For a start, we don't use decimals with ounces, so the example in your text is wrong.

 

[SoothingDave]

What about:

When it's 40 below it's cold?
:?:

That's correct. The temperature is 40 degrees. Not "the temperature are 40 degrees" or "there are 40 degrees outside right now."

Degrees aren't thought to pile up in the way that snow does. It is 20 degrees outside and there are 6 inches of snow.

 

[GoesStation]

For a start, we don't use decimals with ounces, so the example in your text is wrong.

Americans do. Right now, I'm looking at two small jars labeled "2.1 oz" and "1.6 oz". Another package says "4.5 oz". These were all in easy reach on my dining table.

 

[jutfrank]

there are 6 inches of snow.

Or more naturally: there is 6 inches of snow. Is that what you meant?

In this case, the quantity of snow would more likely be considered as a single quantity, even though a plural noun phrase is used to quantify it.

 

[jutfrank]

Americans do. Right now, I'm looking at two small jars labeled "2.1 oz" and "1.6 oz". Another package says "4.5 oz". These were all in easy reach on my dining table.

:shock:

I live in perpetual incredulity at your bizarre customs. Thanks for the info.

 

[Mike MC]

In this case, the quantity of snow would more likely be considered as a single quantity, even though a plural noun phrase is used to quantify it.

In the same picture:
"There are 16 ounces of jam in a jar."
I'm confused!

 

[probus]

In North America we aren't very fussy about differentiating between there is and there are. Especially in speech, we sometimes use is when are would be correct.

 

[Mike MC]

In North America we aren't very fussy about differentiating between there is and there are. Especially in speech, we sometimes use is when are would be correct.

Yes, I've heard things like, "There's two men at the door." But it's there's, not there is. It's the first time I've seen there is with a plural subject.

 

[emsr2d2]

In the same picture:
"There are 16 ounces of jam in a jar."
I'm confused!

I don't know why you're confused by that one. Clearly "16 ounces" requires the plural "There are". The fact that it's in "a jar" is irrelevant.

There are 16 ounces of jam in a jar.
There are 16 ounces of jam in every jar.
There are 16 ounces of jam in four jars.


Going back to the original question, you could make an argument for "There is" with 0.81 because you could think of it as "an eighth" (singular).

I was surprised to read jutfrank's post saying that we don't use decimals with ounces. I had a quick look online and found multiple examples of "0.5 oz" and similar. I wonder if this is simply because "1/2 oz" doesn't always come out well when written on a phone or computer. It can look like "1 or 2 ounces" rather than "half an ounce".

 

[5jj]

, you could make an argument for "There is" with 0.81 because you could think of it as "an eighth" (singular).

I see why you're a teacher of English, not of maths.

 

[tzfujimino]

It's jutfrank, emsr2d2, not Yankee.

 

[emsr2d2]

I see why you're a teacher of English, not of maths.

:lol: :shock:

Oops! Double-oops!

I can't even fix it because "four-fifths" wouldn't require "There is". Time for a break, I think!

 

[emsr2d2]

It's jutfrank, emsr2d2, not Yankee.

Oh, I'm on a roll this afternoon! (Fixed that, at least.)

 

[SoothingDave]

Or more naturally: there is 6 inches of snow. Is that what you meant?

In this case, the quantity of snow would more likely be considered as a single quantity, even though a plural noun phrase is used to quantify it.

No, I meant if I was being careful about language I would say there are 6 inches of snow. Casually, I'd probably say "there's 6."

 

[jutfrank]

I was surprised to read jutfrank's post saying that we don't use decimals with ounces.

Well, some of us wouldn't dream of it. Mixing decimals and imperial units? Whatever next!