Re: there is ~? OR there are ~?

Mike M wrote:

On 4 Nov, 14:00, man is hope <yijae...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Recently I faced this contradiction about grammar structure of English
usage. My English teachers emphasize the natural use when we speak
or write.

1) There are a pen and a notebook on my desk. ...........> my writing
2) There is a pen and a notebook on my desk. ..............> Native
speaker's correction

His remarks: 1) is grammartically right, but not natural, and 2) is
natural to use because the false subject 'There' can be harmonious
with the real subject 'pen' and 'notebook' with 'a' showing that they
are singular. Grammar book says 1) is right, but natural use should
not be ignored. Which should I choose?

Choose (2). Think of it as:

"There is a pen and {there is} a notebook on my desk".

However, if you alter the sentence somewhat, "are"becomes more
natural:

"The pen and the notebook are on my desk".

For some reason, I *wouldn't* think of this as:

"The pen {is on} and the notebook is on my desk", but:

"The pen and the notebook [i.e. a list of items] are {both} on my
desk".

Can't really say why - possibly putting "The pen and notebook" at the
start of the sentence emphasises their "list-ness"?

Has no one but me noticed the "a" before "notebook" in the original
example? To my ear, it just about destroys the case for a singular
verb -- despite which I wouldn't treat "there is" as wrong, if only so
as to indulge all those deluded souls who somehow consider it not only
correct but prefereable.
.

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