1. ict companies and organizations

DESCRIPTION OF YOUR HOME TOWN

Task 1. Describe the picture using construction ‘there is/are’.

There is with singular subject series

We use there is before a series of singular subjects. Look at these examples:

• 
  There is fruit, bread and wine on the table.
  
• 
  There's a cup of coffee and some sugar on the table.
  
• 
  There's a red car and a blue car outside.
  

There is/are with mixed subject series

Sometimes we have a series of subjects that are mixed - singular and plural. In informal speech, the verb then agrees with the nearest subject. Look at these examples:

• 
  There's a girl and two boys outside.
  
• 
  There are two boys and a girl outside.
  
• 
  There's some wine and two apples on the table.
  
• 
  There are two apples and some wine on the table.
  

Note that this is common usage in informal speech only. It is not recommended for formal English such as essay-writing in an exam.

There is/are + lots of

Do we use there is or there are with lots of or a lot of? It depends on the noun: if it is singular, use there is; if it is plural, use there are:

• 
  There are lots of dogs in the street.
  
• 
  There's a lot of snow outside.
  

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