Thank you for your advice but I'd like to find out if there is a rule on this grammar topic.Play safe and say "There are two pears and an apple on the table".
Play safe and say "There are two pears and an orange on the table".
Agreed.Think of the sentence as using an ellipted 'there'-be' phrase.
There is an apple and [there are] two pears on the table.
I might.
The form I suggested is acceptable to everybody.What's safe exactly?
The form I suggested is acceptable to everybody.
What if the sentence had "a pear and an apple"? There wouldn't be this safe option.Play safe and say "There are two pears and an apple on the table".
I like that one.If I had to talk about the fruit on the table, I might say:
There's an apple on the table, and there are two pears.
GRAMMAR NOTES FOR THERE
The verb following THERE is singular or plural according to the number of the subject that follows the verb: There is a message for you. There are patients in the waiting room. With compound subjects in which all the coordinate words are singular, a singular verb often occurs, although the plural may also be used: There was (or were ) a horse and a cow in the pasture. When a compound subject contains both singular and plural words, the verb usually agrees with the subject closest to the verb, although a plural verb sometimes occurs regardless, especially if the compound has more than two elements: There were staff meetings and a press conference daily. There was (or were ) a glass, two plates, two cups, and a teapot on the shelf.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/there
You could also say "There's an apple and two pears..." The contraction of "There is" gives you more freedom.
People have different opinions on this. There is no universally accepted 'correct' form.Not a teacher
Can't we just say 'There are an apple and two pears on the table'? Plain and simple. Doesn't 'an' stand for 'one'? To be honest, 'There is an apple and two pears' sounds as if 'apple and two pears' were a single entity.
It sounds odd. Not plain and simple. The problem is that while there are rules, there are also lots of exceptions to them. And custom trumps rules every time.Can't we just say 'There are an apple and two pears on the table'? Plain and simple.
Perhaps, but it also sounds natural.To be honest, 'There is an apple and two pears' sounds as if 'apple and two pears' were a single entity.
In what scenario would that sentence need to be said in the first place? Having said that, if I am talking to somebody on the phone and they ask me what's on the table I would say, "There's some fruit. There's an apple, and there are two pears."Not a teacher
Can't we just say 'There are an apple and two pears on the table'? Plain and simple. Doesn't 'an' stand for 'one'? To be honest, 'There is an apple and two pears' sounds as if 'apple and two pears' were a single entity.
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