There is or there are

[Ju]

1. There is a lot of bread.

(I use 'is' because 'bread' is uncountable.)

2. There is a lot of bread and jam.

(I use 'is' because both bread and jam are
uncountable.)

Am I right?

 

[GoesStation]

You've used the right conjugation, but your reasoning is wrong. You would say, for example, There is a lot of cheese and crackers, because you're speaking about the ensemble as a unit.

 

[Ju]

You've used the right conjugation, but your reasoning is wrong. You would say, for example, There is a lot of cheese and crackers, because you're speaking about the ensemble as a unit.

There is a lot of bread, cups and chairs.

(I use 'is' because I am speaking about the ensemble as a unit. It doesn't matter whether it's countable or uncountable.)

Am I right?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Do you think bread, cups, and chairs make an ensemble or unit?

 

[Ju]

Do you think bread, cups, and chairs make an ensemble or unit?

I'm wrong. I should use 'There are' because they are not ensemble.

 

[Tarheel]

I'm wrong. I should use 'There are' because they are not an ensemble.

An unusual combination for sure.

 

[TheParser]

NOT A TEACHER




Ju, here is a "trick" that may help you when you do not have the time to decide between the singular and the plural verb.

"There is many people" is considered wrong.
"There are many people" is considered correct.
"There's many people" is the contracted form of "there is," and it seems that many (most?) native speakers here in the United States find no problem with it, at least in conversation and informal writing.