Grammar question.
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1) There IS a few things
2) There ARE a few things
Which is the correct one? -
2
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number 2? hehe
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a few things can count?
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THat's the thing about english. Nothing is ever consistant. You sure it's number 2?
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Number 2 is the right one..
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it's number 3!
there arse a few things! -
Seriously guys..
I also think it's number 1 -
this thread will be featured on webthreads this sunday and MOE will have to jian tao the english syllabus in pri sch
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Dont get you leh, very chim...
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2 sounds more correct to me.
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That's what my fren said in the beginning but after a while, she said she's confused liao.
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2 I guess...
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1 !!
just like there is many people mountain people sea...there is dozens of eggs -
LOLOriginally posted by sinicker:it's number 3!
there arse a few things! -
No offense but if you know the answer den why don't you say it instead of being sarcastic?Originally posted by FireIce:this thread will be featured on webthreads this sunday and MOE will have to jian tao the english syllabus in pri sch -
'is' is quite a powerful word as many 'is' make a 'are', e.g. they is is is happy....means there are three people..simple and u know the number of people...so 'are' is quite an obselete word.
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Hello,
I believe you are confusing yourself because of the 'a'.
'A book' will be 'There is a book'.
But in your case, you want to point to 'things', which is plural, and therefore you should use 'are'.
So it should be 'There are a few things'.
It should not be 'There is a few things'.
Unless you want to point and stress on the 'few' or 'few things' as being singular, which becomes 'There is a few things'. Same like 'There is a book'. Which doesnt make sense, or uncommon usage.
Because we do not want to point specifically to the 'few' , nor 'few things' , we want to point to 'things' which is plural. So we need to use 'are'.
The subject in the sentence is 'things' , not 'few' nor 'few things'.
You can test it by constructing similar sentences of 'A few things are there'. and 'Are there a few things?'.
You can also train yourself with similar examples of 'There are a few cups', or 'There are a few pencils'.
Another aspect is, 'a few' is always needed to be accompanied by 'are'.
'A few' means you can count what you want to count, be it books or cups, or pencils, and these things are your subjects you want to point in your sentences. -
Spoken like a English teacherOriginally posted by Li Ka Shing:Hello,
I believe you are confusing yourself because of the 'a'.
'A book' will be 'There is a book'.
But in your case, you want to point to 'things', which is plural, and therefore you should use 'are'.
So it should be 'There are a few things'.
It should not be 'There is a few things'.
Unless you want to point and stress on the 'few' or 'few things' as being singular, which becomes 'There is a few things'. Same like 'There is a book'. Which doesnt make sense, or uncommon usage.
Because we do not want to point specifically on the 'few' , nor 'few things' , we want to point on 'things' which is plural. So we need to use 'are'.
The subject in the sentence is 'things' , not 'few' nor 'few things'.
You can test it by constructing similar sentences of 'A few things are there'. and 'Are there a few things?'.
You can also train yourself with similar examples of 'There are a few cups', or 'There are a few pencils'.
Another aspect is, 'a few' is always needed to be accompanied by 'are'.
'A few' means you can count what you want to count, be it books or cups, or pencils, and these things are your subjects you want to point in your sentences.
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spoken like AN English teacher.Originally posted by Qing^.^:Spoken like a English teacher -
Thanks Li Ka Sheng! You cleared that up with your sincere post, unlike some stuck up ppl who think there're too good to explain things.
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Originally posted by sinicker:spoken like AN English teacher.
didnt realise tt
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aiyah..they are not stuck up lar.Originally posted by newcomer:Thanks Li Ka Sheng! You cleared that up with your sincere post, unlike some stuck up ppl who think there're too good to explain things.
I also feel that the answer is 2, cos it sounds right.
Just that i dun really know how to explain. -
not stuck up ah. coz' we know it's 2 all the while.. seriously.
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i will stick to my guns... 1 !!