should i say "there are not a lot of people" or "there is not a lot of people" ?
is or are ?
There are not a lot of people would be correct, I believe. However, "there is" seems to roll off people's tongues more often. It just means that not everyone speaks correctly all the time.
<<However, "there is" seems to roll off people's tongues more often.>>
Nope, I don't think "there is" is used instead of "there are". It's "there's" that is used for the plural too.
There's a lot of people = There are a lot of people
Nope, I don't think "there is" is used instead of "there are". It's "there's" that is used for the plural too.
There's a lot of people = There are a lot of people
This issue is a bit muddled, because "lot" is a singular noun, so one would expect singular agreement. But "a lot of" has become a fixed adjectival phrase that people don't really think about much anymore, so it's hard for native speakers to notice unless you point it out to them.
I have no idea what grammar and style guides say on this issue, but I suspect that neither one is generally considered incorrect. Of course, in cases where it's important to get it right, it's a simple matter to use "many" instead, which would require plural agreement. I think I prefer singular agreement, but it wouldn't surprise me if other people recommend plural agreement.
(Note that, to muddle the issue even further, in colloquial speech, people will often say "there's" even when plural agreement is normally required. The main reason is that it's just slightly easier to say than "there are" or "there're".)
- Kef
I have no idea what grammar and style guides say on this issue, but I suspect that neither one is generally considered incorrect. Of course, in cases where it's important to get it right, it's a simple matter to use "many" instead, which would require plural agreement. I think I prefer singular agreement, but it wouldn't surprise me if other people recommend plural agreement.
(Note that, to muddle the issue even further, in colloquial speech, people will often say "there's" even when plural agreement is normally required. The main reason is that it's just slightly easier to say than "there are" or "there're".)
- Kef