Are these sentences grammatical?

[thincat]

Hi,

I got confused about the grammar and meaning of the below sentences... I guess some of them should be grammatical. If they are, is there any difference in meaning? I would appreciate it if I could help from a native speaker.

1. There are green and red apples in the box.
2. There are a green and a red apple in the box.
3. There are a green and red apple in the box.
4. There is a green and a red apple in the box.
5. There is a green and red apple in the box.

Thank you very much!

 

[Rover_KE]

1. There are green and red apples in the box.
2. There are a green and a red apple in the box.
3. There are a green and red apple in the box.
4. There is a green and a red apple in the box.
5. There is a green and red apple in the box.

#2 and #4 mean the same. You will hear both 'is' and 'are' used as the verb (click HERE for a discussion about that).

#3 is ungrammatical—there is only one apple: it's a two-colour one.

#1 is ambiguous: we don't know whether the apples are all green, all red, partly green and red, or a mixture of the three.

#5 is fine: there is one two-toned apple in the box.


Please note that 'Thread titles should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed' (Posting Guuidelines). 'Green and red apples' would have been a good title for this.

Rover

 

[thincat]

#2 and #4 mean the same. You will hear both 'is' and 'are' used as the verb (click HERE for a discussion about that).

#3 is ungrammatical—there is only one apple: it's a two-colour one.

#1 is ambiguous: we don't know whether the apples are all green, all red, partly green and red, or a mixture of the three.

#5 is fine: there is one two-toned apple in the box.


Please note that 'Thread titles should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed' (Posting Guuidelines). 'Green and red apples' would have been a good title for this.

Rover

Thank you very much! Your explanations are so clear!

 

[Rover_KE]

Your thanks are appreciated, but you don't need to send them in a separate post or quote our replies back to us.

We are all happy to accept a simple click on the Like button as your acknowledgement of our help.

Rover:-D