there is x there are x either

[beachboy]

How shall fill in? "Is", "are", or either?
- There ( ) 1 lawyer and 3 doctors in my class.
- There ( ) 2 books, 1 pen and 1 eraser on the table.
Thanks

 

[cclaff]

How shall fill in? "Is", "are", or either?
- There ( ) 1 lawyer and 3 doctors in my class.
- There ( ) 2 books, 1 pen and 1 eraser on the table.
Thanks

are.

 

[louhevly]

How shall fill in? "Is", "are", or either?
- There ( ) 1 lawyer and 3 doctors in my class.
- There ( ) 2 books, 1 pen and 1 eraser on the table.
Thanks

There is 1 lawyer and 3 doctors in my class.
But better: There are 3 doctors and 1 lawyer in my class.
There are 2 books, 1 pen and 1 eraser on the table.

It's strange, but the use of "there is" or "there are" depends on the first element that follows.

Lou