In the garden is/are a cat, a dog, and a rabit.

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Teo

#445662 Sat, 24 Nov 07 02:40 AM

1. In the garden are a cat, a dog, and a rabit.

2. In the garden are a cat, a dog, and a rabit.

Which of the above sentences is NOT acceptable?

Teo

Joined on Tue, Sep 28 2004

Taiwan

Contributing Member (1,631)

Thank you very much for your reply.

Grammar Geek

#445665 Sat, 24 Nov 07 03:55 AM

Teo, I assume you meant for one of those to be "is" and not both "are," right?

I prefer "are" but "there is" is so frequently heard that it sounds okay.

Note that "rabbit" has two b's.

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,998)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Teo

#445682 Sat, 24 Nov 07 05:09 AM

I'm sorry for making so many typos.

1. In the garden is a cat, a dog, and a rabbit.

2. In the garden are a cat, a dog, and a rabbit.

3. There is a cat, a dog, and a rabbit in the garden.

4. There are a cat, a dog, and a rabbit in the garden.

Many people say that #3 is more idiomatic than $4. I wonder if #1 is also more idiomatic than #2. Grammar Greek prefers #2 to #1. For #3 and #4, does any native speaker prefer #4 to #3?

Teo

Grammar

Yoong Liat

#445710 Sat, 24 Nov 07 06:43 AM

Hi Teo

I hope the following will be helpful.

In BrE, it should be There is a cat and a dog.

Below is the information extracted from two books on English usage. The first book is on British English usage, the second on American English usage.

'The Right Word at the Right Time' states as follows:

There is an apple and pears for dessert.

There are apples and a pear for dessert.

'Merriam-Webster 'Guide to English Usage' states as follows:

When a compound subject follows the verb and the first element is singular, the verb may be either singular or plural.

There is a lake and several small streams.

There are a dog and a few cats in the house.

The singular construction is more common. Still, some writers insist on formal agreement and use a plural verb: There were an apartment house and a parking lot at the end of the block.

Best regards

Yoong Liat

Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006

Singapore

Veteran Member (6,085)

Yoong Liat

Regards, American English, Verbs, Plurals, Constructions, British English, Compound subjects