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Re: There is/There are |
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1. are 倒裝主詞"a book and a pen"是複數. 2. are 理由同1. 3. is 因為or的情況, 主謂一致要採"就近原則". 如果是"only two or three chaps", 就要用are.
Posted on: 2007/8/19 10:41
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A few rules from Collins Cobuild English Grammar Book:
I. 結構中的名詞詞組是複數時, 動詞"be"也相應用複數形式 (e.g.) There WERE two men in the room. II. 一系列事物的第一項是單數或是不具數名詞時, 用"be"的單數形式 (e.g.) There WAS a sofa and two chairs. (e.g.) There IS grief in his face and reproach at the injustice of it all. [**Note:- 表示複數的數量詞, 如"a number of", "a lot of"和"a few of", 儘管前面有"a", 却要用"be"的複數形式 --- "There WERE a lot of people camping here."] III. 表示數目的詞語, 如"a hundred", "a thousand"和"a dozen", 儘管前面有"a", 也要用"be"的複數形式 (e.g.) There WERE a dozen reasons why you had to upgrade your computer. More examples:- 1) → There WERE 'no other' jobs available. 2) → There AREN'T 'any' scratches on the table. 3a) → When I opened the fridge there WAS 'only' a bottle of milk, some eggs, and butter. 3b) → When I opened the fridge there WERE 'only' some eggs, a bottle of milk, and butter. HTH. ========================================================== In spoken English, many people simplify the grammar and use "there IS" instead of "there ARE" with plural headwords, and this is increasingly common in the written language. ==========================================================
Posted on: 2007/8/20 1:21
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Thanks a lot, Glot and Futari.
These are the answers: 1. There ____ a book and a pen on the desk. 2. In the room, there ____ an arm-chair, a table, and a desk. 3. There ____ only one or two chaps there. 1. is 2. is 3. were
Posted on: 2007/8/21 21:52
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第1句與第2句以嚴謹的文法而言, 應使用複數動詞are, 但在口語方面則是is較普遍. Futari所言之規則是後者, 而我40年前所學習之文法是以前者為標準答案. 其實這樣的題目並不適合出現在考試中, 因為有爭議性. 如果是: A book and a pen ______ there on the desk. 試問妳應填is還是are呢? 當然是are. 文法上不會因為倒裝就去改變動詞的數的. 第3句: 我仍維持原答案, 使用單數動詞is/was.
Posted on: 2007/8/22 17:16
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再次感謝 Glot 的解說。 對於這樣的句子,我也感到很疑惑,於是請教 Tim ,以下是他的見解:
Elinor: tim about "there is and there are" the answers should be singular? according to the rules Tim: those rules do not really apply in daily lives Elinor: only in tests?? Tim: it depends on the speaker's focal point Tim: u can say so Elinor: they could be singular or plural Tim: yep Elinor: what is the speaker's focal point? Tim: if the speaker used the singular, that means the items are treated separately Tim: if the plural form is used, all the items are counted at the same time Elinor: i got it Tim: or u can say, when the singular is used, the speaker might not have a total idea of what is going to be said Tim: the person says and counts it at the same time Elinor: i see Elinor: if it is a test, which is the best answer to chose? Tim: depends on what kind of test it is Elinor: formal one Tim: if it's really formal, it shouldn't test this kind Tim: traditionally, only plural forms should be used for questions 1 and 2 Tim: using singular forms is a recent development Tim: and somehow some people think this usage is the correct one Tim: the use of singular shows the speaker is not too clear-minded indeed Elinor: i see Elinor: maybe the speaker is counting Tim: u can say so Tim: u can even see "there's many...." in daily conversation Tim: http://www.crn.com/it-channel/188701715 Tim: u can see even from the topic of that article Elinor: i can see that, thanks Elinor: tim, this one: 3. There ____ only one or two chaps there. Elinor: were Tim: using the plural means the speaker treated the two items as a whole Tim: but singular is more proper in this case Tim: http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/grammar/archive/thereis_are.html Tim: Note that in informal speech, we often use there is with plural nouns: * There's some people coming in the front gate. * There's some biscuits in the tin in the pantry. Elinor: tim i got it Elinor: thanks Tim: if those grammar writers want to admit the use of "there is a..., a....", they should also mention this use Tim: this is a good one on there is/are Tim: http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/archive/2002-02/a-2002-02-06-10-1.cfm
Posted on: 2007/8/22 21:14
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Hi Elinor,
謝謝妳po出Tim的精彩解說, 我的觀點與他的是大致相同的.
Posted on: 2007/8/22 23:29
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More info on the usage of "There is" and "There are".
(Meant to send in more info from books, but unluckily, I had most of my books packed for shipment.) ========================================================== http://eltnotebook.blogspot.com/2007/03/there-is-and-there-are.html ========================================================== ... Notice that with this use the verb generally agrees with the first part of the complement. So : There’s a letter and two messages for you is correct, as is There are two messages and a letter for you. But There are a letter and two messages … is incorrect. What about There’s two messages for you ? Grammatically of course this is illogical. But ... ==========================================================
Posted on: 2007/8/23 19:00
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Home away from home
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再次謝謝 Glot, Futari 和 Tim 的解釋!
Posted on: 2007/8/23 19:49
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2006/1/16 17:41 From Taipei, 大羅天
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More info on the usage of there from some grammar books.
Quote:
Fowler's is said to be one of the best and most authoritative. The book was first published in 1926. Quote:
A Dictionary of Contemporary American Usage is also a famous one. The info there might be a little out-dated by now, but at least it shows the situation around half a century ago. Quote:
Hope the above info sheds some more light on the use and evolution of there. Tim
Posted on: 2007/8/26 20:51
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