L
loria
Guest
I recently took a grammar test for an editing position. One of the questions on the test required the correct choice of "there is" or "there are." The test scorer marked this as my only error on the four-page, multiple choice/spelling/writing test.
Following is the question. Please tell me I have not been in error all these years.
1. is/are There ______ paper and water on the floor.
Now, this is obviously a poorly written sentence. Still, the answer would have to be "are," as the speaker must anticipate the ending of the sentence and the two subjects noted. The test scorer told me that "There" is the subject and therefore takes the singular form of the verb.
Will someone please respond in a clear way as to why "is" isn't possibly the correct answer? Once I've got the job, I'd like to approach the test scorer and have her re-think the answer. Or, maybe, the question : )
Thanks!
Lori
Following is the question. Please tell me I have not been in error all these years.
1. is/are There ______ paper and water on the floor.
Now, this is obviously a poorly written sentence. Still, the answer would have to be "are," as the speaker must anticipate the ending of the sentence and the two subjects noted. The test scorer told me that "There" is the subject and therefore takes the singular form of the verb.
Will someone please respond in a clear way as to why "is" isn't possibly the correct answer? Once I've got the job, I'd like to approach the test scorer and have her re-think the answer. Or, maybe, the question : )
Thanks!
Lori