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Ask for help > WHICH IS CORRECT?
WHICH IS CORRECT?
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tania115
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WHICH IS CORRECT?
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THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS TO DO OR THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO DO? |
1 Oct 2011
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volga
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There are a lot of things to do. (Things - plural noun)
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1 Oct 2011
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PhilipR
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I second Volga, although when speaking many will say �there �s a lot of things to do �. |
1 Oct 2011
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anitarobi
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There is a lot of things... there are lots of things to do... the verb matches the word lot or lots in this case. |
1 Oct 2011
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petra29
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There �s no rule on usage: Both a
lot of and lots of
are used with plural count nouns and non-count nouns, like this,
Plural Count Noun
There are a lot of books
in your bag. (OK)
There are lots of books
in you bag. (OK)
Non-Count Noun
There is a lot of milk left
in your glass. (OK)
There is lots of milk
left in your glass. (OK)
In terms of grammar, the verb agrees in number with the noun: if the
noun is plural then the verb is plural,
A lot of books were
left on the table.
Lots of books were
left on the table.
if the noun is not plural, then the verb is not plural,
A lot of milk was
left on the table.
Lots of milk was
left on the table.
In academic writing, the more formal �a great deal of � or �many �,
with plural count nouns, and �a great deal of � or �much �, with
non-count nouns are used:
Plural Count Noun
There are a great deal of
books in your bag.
A great deal of books
are in your bag.
Non-Count Noun
There is a great deal of
milk left in your glass.
A great deal of milk
is left in your glass.
In terms of meaning, speakers tend not to make a distinction between
a lot of and
lots of; both refer to
a great quantity. But, for
some speakers, lots of tends
to mean, more than a lot of (i.e., a greater quantity).
http://www.englishdaily626.com/qna.php?013
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1 Oct 2011
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